Trouble with a softie

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I have one of Tom Abrahamsson's soft releases installed on my M6TTL. Sometimes the shutter release is very smooth while other times it is rough and "catchy". The shutter release is consistantly smooth without the soft release. Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this problem? TIA.

-- Bob (robljones@attbroadband.com), February 10, 2002

Answers

As you press on the soft release you are unknowingly and unavoidably putting some force laterally against the shutter button so it's binding on the way down. It won't harm anything but if you don't like it you can either train yourself to press straight down on the release (I suppose such a finger contortion would defeat the whole idea of "soft releasing"), or just do what I do: use the Leica the way it was designed, with the OEM shutter button. It works fine. Really, it does.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 10, 2002.

The soft release just threads into the regular button - there is no way it can cause any difference in the actual release. More likely is that the soft release allows you to feel the "catchiness" of the shutter release in the M6. My M6 (1992) shutter release is as you describe. My M2's shutter release is MUCH smoother. The shutter release can be adjusted which may help. I've never had it done but I plan to send my M6 to Sherry Krauter for CLA soon (when I get my M2 back from her) and I'm going to ask her if the adjustment will improve smoothness.

-- MikeP (mike996@optonline.net), February 10, 2002.

Interesting problem, putting a SoftRelease on my TTL camera improved in no end. Try it for awhile and see if it improves.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 10, 2002.

Funny, I tried my ttl this weekend without the soft release and yes, it does work just fine without it. However, I find the action much smoother and quicker with the release. Just push straight down.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), February 11, 2002.

Hi Bob,

I've got Softies on all my Leicas and several other cameras, including a Fuji 6x9. I've never experienced the "catchy" problem.

In fact the Softie improved the firing of my Bessa T (I had to slightly bevel the area by the shutter speed dial).

One thing though, as I said before, the Softie turns your shutter release into a hair trigger, like Jame Bond's Beretta. It takes a little getting used to, and you've got to be careful in storage.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp), February 13, 2002.



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