I have a vague recollection that a problem was identified with some soft releases which snapped off leaving the thread in the shutter button. Has this happened with Tom Abrahamsson's in anyone's experience? I currently use the old Leitz ones but have seen his version knocking around and would like to give them a try. Does anyone know, BTW, how he's doing health wise? I read that he was very ill before Xmas - he has a lot of well wishers - me included.

-- steve (stephenjjones@btopenworld.com), January 15, 2002

Answers

All I can say is It didn't happen to mine so far. More seriously, it should be very sturdy: A reason to the relatively high price of Tom's soft release is that he uses a high quality alloy very hard to machine. See his web page if you want more info.

-- Xavier Colmant (xcolmant@powerir.com), January 15, 2002.

I use mine for half a year now, but never had any problems. Only once I lost one because I was toying around with it it didn't screw it in tight. I can only recommend these (I have 3 of them).

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), January 15, 2002.

The Softie is really sturdy. I even keep an o-ring slung around the thread to secure it before I put the camera back into the bag... helps avoiding blurred knee shots...;o) As for his health, he sounds well and has travel plans for the weeks to come - hope I'm not too intimate in disclosing this, Tom. But a lot of us do care, me included. Cheers.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), January 15, 2002.

Great product, I have them on all my cameras and have had no problems.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 15, 2002.

Ditto what John said, and FWIW, I have never needed any kind of thread-locking material or device!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 15, 2002.

Thanks for your concern about my health. Yes, I am on the mend. - The Softrelease was conceived to counter the problem with cheap ones breaking and jamming the release. It is machined (CNC'd) from a high strength aerospace alloy and to my knowledge none has ever broken off. I suspect that any material used for the landing gear of a C-130 Cargo plane can also withstand the abuse heaped upon it by a Leica- user. I am working on a smaller diameter version Softie for use on Cosina/Voigtlander Bessa's (the current version is just a fraction too large for some models of these cameras) and also for the use on Rollei TLR's. Tom A

-- Tom Abrahamsson (TTAbrahams@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

Tom, I'd love to have a soft release for Rollei TLRs. Please keep us updated .

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

Tom:

Glad to hear you're on the mend! Hope to see you in Portland for the LHSA meeting this year -- we missed you in San Antonio.

:) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 15, 2002.

I wouldn't leave home without Tom's soft release on my M6. The camera feels awkward without it.

Tom, thanks for your efforts, and may God rapidly improve your health.

-- Robert L Jones (mail@visionsurgery.net), January 15, 2002.

Both my M6 have them. No problems. Also recommend Lutz's "thingy" for reducing the dreaded "viewfinder flare".

-- Don M (Maldos@home.com), January 15, 2002.

Anybody know where I can get a concave one? I had a black painted brass one for years but recently had it fall out of my M4-P. Tom's softreleases are well-made, but I still prefer the concave over convex and I don't think Tom makes those.

-- Peter B. Goldstein (peter.goldstein@us.cgeyc.com), January 15, 2002.

I've tried several kinds, but the softrelease has the best fit and feel for me. Always on my M's, so I put one on my R8 - improved the shutter release feel 1,000%.

The concave release causes me to press with the tip of my finger - I've found this not the best touch. The convex shape encourages me to press with the 1st joint in kind of a lever style - I've found this produces a really controlled and steady release.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), January 16, 2002.

Asolutely, without question, Tom's Softie is the best soft release ever made. Period. I have a flottila of Softies gracing not only Leicas but also a couple of classic Nikons and Canons (SLR/RF), the Fuji 6x9 that I used to shoot the cover photo for the July/August 2001 issue of "The East," my Bessa L, and, yes, my Bessa T. Which is a story.

Regard the the T. I took a silver Softy, slightly beveled the part touching the shutter speed dial and it went down, no problem. I put a circular wood veneer thingy, made for some piece of furniture I bought ages ago, on top and laqueured it. The world's first Softie Woodie. But am very glad Tom is making a special Softie for Bessas.

Tom's Softies don't break, they don't break your camera, they don't inadvertantly fall off, and they feel soooo good.

I tried a number of release buttons on my Bessa T and realized only a Softie would do. The T's shutter release was a bit awkward, not like my L's, but the Softie solved that problem. The T w/ Softie Woody went with me to Paris this winter. It even smoothed my way through US boarding inspection--a story too long to tell here.

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Hey Tom! Glad to see you are recovering! That you're writing is a very happy sign. My love to you and Tuulikki. --Alex

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-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), January 18, 2002.