Which soft-release for my M8?

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m.galimathias

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Hello!
Due the fact the my M8 got this noisy ugly high vibrations shutter, I am looking for a softrelease. But the question is: Which one should I buy?
One the one hand there is the classic choice, the abrahamsson soft release and on the other Zhou's one. Which one is better? I dont want that the little thread of the release injures my leica shutter thread.

Hope you can help me! 😱
 
Hi. A kind person gifted me a Tim Isaacs/Match Technical Bug :

http://matchtechnical.com/Beep.aspx

I'm amazed at the difference it made to using the M8. I've been critical of the M8 shutter release , but the Bug lets me work with soft hands, which minimises transmitted unsteadiness when firing the shutter. I now drape my index finger across the shutter release with the Bug under either my first or second joint and fire the shutter with light flexing of the index finger.

I still think my M8 shutter release is poor in respect of it's design, placement, and construction, but the Bug has [surprisingly] significantly redeemed many of those shortcomings.

For those ambitious to strip their shutter release for a little tuning look here :

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/39745-fixing-shutter-release.html

AND :

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/27130-adjusting-shutter-release-feel.html

........ Chris
 
I've used Tom's classic on my M8 since I got the camera. Can't imagine shooting without it. No problems with feel, shutter firing, etc. Takes a bit of shooter adjustment to activate the meter without firing a shot, but that comes in a day or so. Haven't tried the others, but I use Tom's classics on all film Ms and the lone ZI. Couldn't be happier with them.
 
I have the limited edition concave Koi soft release from Match Technical.
What I like about it is the fact that it's much easier to meter and re-compose without accidentally pressing too far and taking the shot. And it's pretty snazzy looking imho as well.
What I do not like about it is I can no longer leave the camera power set to ON if I'm wearing the camera on a sling, or in my bag, because I end up with a memory card full of unintentional shots. So I am currently struggling with wether or not to continue use.
 
If you want one, get the Abrahamsson one. I had a Match Technical Beep I bought used from an RFF member and just lost it yesterday. This is unprecedented! I only had it a month or so. Meanwhile, the Abrahamsson soft release I have had on my M4 since September 2004 is still there. I went through 3 weeks of intense urban combat in Iraq with that thing on and never thought it would fall off. Still performing perfectly!

Only go for the Tom A soft release.

My $.02

Phil Forrest
 
The match technical 'Dragon' beep looks great on the M8.2 . . . . .

5455037544_e4ca7c8f6b_z.jpg


. . . . . as well as the 'Fish' boop . . . . .

5298920123_82f3d71055.jpg



and the soft release is a comfortable fit and works well for me.

Life is Grand!

Dan
 
I trip my shutter accidentally with the soft release when the camera is at my side all the time! It is so funny. I'll be shooting with a second camera and hear "click" "click" ! I look down to see I accidentally hit the top of the leica and the soft release got touched and fired!
 
I have the match technical "Bip" left unpainted brass to match the "Thumbs Up" that has begun to brass around the edges. A small drop of Loctite222 for small fasteners prevents the loss of this soft shutter release.
 
seakayaker1 said:
The match technical 'Dragon' beep looks great on the M8.2 . . . . . and the soft release is a comfortable fit and works well for me.
Click to expand...
I have one of those for my M8. The paint is almost all gone now, but I like the feel. I also have a couple of the 'Bugs' that I use with other cameras, but on the M8 I think the larger soft release works better. This is of course very much personal preference and many rather go without any soft release.
 
I just got the Abrahamsson today in the mail. I'm not sure about the claims on being able to shoot in lower light (haven't shot with it yet) but I can say that I prefer the ergonomics of it, as well as the aesthetics. I got the mini black, and I have to say it makes my M6 look even better. It's easier to find when your eye is up to the viewfinder, and seems to make for a much more controlled release, though I'm skeptical on how big a difference that will actually make.

The only downside for me is I'll have to get used to not winding directly after a shot before I put it in my bag. To me just the feel seems worth it. It's the same release, just a bigger button.
 
Last edited:
m.galimathias said:
Hello!
Due the fact the my M8 got this noisy ugly high vibrations shutter, I am looking for a softrelease. But the question is: Which one should I buy?
One the one hand there is the classic choice, the abrahamsson soft release and on the other Zhou's one. Which one is better? I dont want that the little thread of the release injures my leica shutter thread.

Hope you can help me! 😱
Click to expand...

Get Tom A's. Its better made than its imitators and will NOT harm your shutter release threads.

Stephen
 
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