Soft shutter release Poll

[stump4545]

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How many longtime M shooters prefer to use a soft shutter release?

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[davidbaddley]

I prefer Soft/Discreet on both my M9 and MM.

[derleicaman]

I have used Toms Softies from the very beginning. Tom is a personal friend and I got one of the very first ones he made. I must have at least ten of them floating around. When I got my M9-P, I mounted the LHSA - Photokina 2006 special edition model to it. Seemed fitting as the theme was film to digital for Leica, which the M9-P was for me! Don't leave home without it (softie that is).

[Jay B]

Yep, had one on the M6 for years, and now have them on both the MM & M9.

[pfhrased]

I like to use a soft shutter release, unless the camera is hanging around my neck (I have a braided silk strap on one side, so it spins around and takes photos for me if there's a soft shutter release on).

[Ecar]

Tried a couple back in M8 times. Did not like the feeling and could not see a benefit. Put them in the bits-and-pieces drawer.

[jcraf]

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Tried a couple back in M8 times. Did not like the feeling and could not see a benefit. Put them in the bits-and-pieces drawer.

 

+1

[DigitalHeMan]

I bought one for my M-E. As you may know, the M-E has a shorter thread in the shutter so needs a modified version of the beep/bloop from match, which I ordered. Unfortunately the threads are no longer long enough to gain adequate purchase, so after a couple of hours round my neck it had fallen off liked it whilst I was using it on the few shots I managed to make, but it's going to be an expensive toy if I need a new one for every shoot, so I don't think I will bother replacing it.

[jdlaing]

I had one on my M-9P and liked it. Wouldn't fit my M. I miss it.

[01af]

Those so-called "soft-release" buttons increase the risk of damage to the shutter-release mechanism and, quite paradoxically, reduce the photographer's ability to release the shutter smoothly. So they are just pointless toys. The possible exception to the rule are photographers with arthritic or otherwise handicapped fingers—to them, such a button might actually be helpful. To everyone else, not.

 

So why are they so popular? I guess it's due to the perceived smoothness they appear to add to the act of firing the shutter. This is comparable to the "big parcel effect". Put a small and heavy thing into a huge card-board box, and the object inside will become lighter! Of course, it doesn't really (in fact, it's heavier due to the added weight of the box); it only appears to be lighter because we expect big things to be proportionally heavier than small things. Now the "soft-release" button increases the size of the shutter-release button's surface, so pressing it down feels smoother while it actually isn't ... in fact, it's even less smooth.

[knisely]

Wow, 01af you sure know a lot about everyone! Very impressive.

 

I think the way to know if they are best for a person, is to try one on your camera. I have one on my MM and don't have one on the M240. The reason being the cameras have a different feel in my hand. I'm not sure if it really makes a difference, it may just be my perception. For me, photography is based on my emotions; so the feel is important!

[Photoskeptic]

I've used them ever since my first M4.

[DigitalHeMan]

I had one on my M-9P and liked it. Wouldn't fit my M. I miss it.

 

M Has the shame shutter release as the M-E - also needs one with a shorter thread, and most probably just as likely to fall out

[DigitalHeMan]

Those so-called "soft-release" buttons increase the risk of damage to the shutter-release mechanism and, quite paradoxically, reduce the photographer's ability to release the shutter smoothly. So they are just pointless toys. The possible exception to the rule are photographers with arthritic or otherwise handicapped fingers—to them, such a button might actually be helpful. To everyone else, not.

 

Why do you think they would increase the risk of damage? The convex nature of the release certainly allows your finger to softly press the release, rather than having to use a jabbing motion with out one.

[Manolo Laguillo]

I don't really 'press' the shutter button, I do actually make a sort of 'rolling' of the index's part where the digital lines are. The index has to be relaxed, the more the better. Therefore the finger must rest on the ring around the button, and a shutter release would not allow for that.

[TomB_tx]

I've never cared for them on my M3,4,6, or 9. However, I use a very small one on my M5, as it has to depress further due to the meter cell action.

[brill64]

Unfortunately the threads are no longer long enough to gain adequate purchase, so after a couple of hours round my neck it had fallen off if I need a new one for every shoot, so I don't think I will bother replacing it.

 

try a tiny dab of nail varnish on the softie thread before screwing it in place. This should help to keep it in place for longer however, it's not permanent & won't damage the camera. I was doing this before they changed the thread pitch because general use will loosen them regardless.

[pharyngula]

I find a softie to be helpful. I drape my finger over it (distal knuckle just beyond rim of softie) and press down almost with a rolling movement. It certainly improves my ability to shoot at slower shutter speeds.

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[Dikaiosune01]

I had one for years. It was one of those lady bug designs. It brassed more than the leica's I had been using it on. It would often be transposed from one camera to the next. Fuji X100 to Voigtlander R3M to leica M3 to Leica MP to hasselbald 501 c/m and back again. It was always there on teh camera I was using it on for that day.

 

Then I put it on my M 240. At the first event I used it, It fell off somewhere and I'll never see it again. I haven't been able to bring myself to get another soft release yet.

[DanielBraun]

I like soft release buttons.

I have it on my m4p and m9.