Hello,

I read somewhere that you can purchase these little gizmo's for the shutter release. Probably screw in the shutter release where the cable release would go.

Anyone use them, like them, where do you get one, how much?

-- David S Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), July 02, 2001

Answers

David,

The soft release can be purchased from Tom Abrahamsson's web site. They are $10 each and come in black, chrome, red and green, www.rapidwinder.com (just click on soft release for more details)

-- Geri Brandimarte (gbrandimarte@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

Some people love 'em, some hate 'em. I think it's a nifty little "helper".

Also comes in Black Paint and Titanium (if you ask real nice...)

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), July 02, 2001.

Got one made by Rollei that fits well, small flat disc with serrated sides, stainless I think. Seems to be easier to fire the shutter with it. Don't have to press so deep and hard and so contributes to a less shaky release. Only costs US$5- here ....... Some say it might cause premature firing when packed but hasn't happened yet.

-- Yip (koklok@krdl.org.sg), July 03, 2001.

It definitely reduces camera shate when you shoot at slow. Otherwise, it really depends on your taste. I find it useful to grab snapshots. Some people hate the fact that it's easy to trip the shutter accidentaly. I don't really mind; Film is cheap. You can get one used from several manufacturers. I use the ones from Tom Abrahamsson.

-- Xavier (xcolmant@powerir.com), July 03, 2001.

I've used Leica M's for over 30 years and never thought the shutter release needed any aftermarket add-ons. If I did, I'd sure not spend $10 on one, as I've seen them by the binful at camera shows for under $1 ea.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), July 03, 2001.

I have an Abrahamsson soft release, bought it at my local camera shop for $10. Every now and then it gets bumped and a frame is wasted. Whatever. I really like it, especially for vertical shooting: it is easy to release the shutter with my right thumb.

-- jeff voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), July 03, 2001.

I haven´t ever seen one but I don´t think I would like it, specialy because I always carry my camera in a thigth veltbag and take it out for a fast snap, and hate when it is unloaded after it fired by accident in the bag, so a soft release to help it wonı be wellcome.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001.

i thought i wouldn't like it, but then i tried it and it provides a much better feel to the shutter release. i then ook it off and tried shooting without it for a while but i didn't like shooting without it.

-- Tristan (tristan@tristantom.com), July 03, 2001.

While it does reduce camera shake, you have to be careful not to leave your camera in the "on" position if you are using an M6, any slight pressure on the soft release and it will activate the meter and wear out your battery in a very short period of time. This tends to happen if you put your camera in a bag, with the camera meter on and it makes contact with the inside of the bag somewhere, thus activating the meter. If you remember to turn it off whenever it"s put away then no problem.

-- Alan Cursonn (acurson@bellsouth.net), July 08, 2001.