Tullahoma Posted April 13, 2009 Share #1 Posted April 13, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) When I bought my Leica IIIa in 1952, it had a soft release installed that seemed very desirable for the camera. It was not until later that I realized that all Leicas were not made this way. Does anyone know the origin of this device? Was it made by Leitz, or someone else? It now resides on my Leica IIIf RD. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Hi Tullahoma, Take a look here Soft Release for Barnacks. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Dr. No Posted April 13, 2009 Share #2 Posted April 13, 2009 looks russian to me, definitely not Leitz! cheers, NO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted April 13, 2009 Share #3 Posted April 13, 2009 Definitely not of Russian origins. These soft releases were quite common during the 1950's and were mostly made in Japan. Many Japanese Leica copies used the same thread around the shutter release collar and the releases could be used on all of them. I still have a couple of them burried somewhere among my old Leica paraphernalia. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tullahoma Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks, Jan. That makes sense to me. I like this release because it keeps my finger from dragging the shutter speed knob, and also provides a better control of the shutter release. Jim N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted April 14, 2009 Share #5 Posted April 14, 2009 Actually, this LEITZ device it´s the opposite of a softrelease, because you had to touch the releasebutton within the mould to trigger the camera. The device made sure, your camera was´t fired unintentionally too often. The mushroombutton on the early LEICA I was the prototype of the softreleases. O. B. had done it already in the very early days ... Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tullahoma Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted April 14, 2009 You are correct that it is a great improvement in preventing unintentional operation of the shutter. Are you indicating that they were actually made by Leitz? Jim N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted April 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted April 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) You are correct that it is a great improvement in preventing unintentional operation of the shutter. Are you indicating that they were actually made by Leitz? Jim N. Jim, This accessory was never produced by Leitz. As I mentioned in my first post, it was made in Japan as were many LTM accessories during the 1950's. It is actually quite well thought out - it is spring-loaded to provide extra resistance when tripping. As mentioned before, the outer collar also prevents accidental shutter release. Also, one can rest a part of one's finger on its edge, while applying pressure against the release - this results in better balance and smoother release. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. No Posted April 14, 2009 Share #8 Posted April 14, 2009 definitely not Leitz! This accessory was never produced by Leitz. As I mentioned in my first post, ... any questioins ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted April 14, 2009 Share #9 Posted April 14, 2009 any questioins ! No, no "questioins" at all. I was just humbly responding to K. G. Wolf's post...... Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. No Posted April 14, 2009 Share #10 Posted April 14, 2009 No, no "questioins" at all. I was just humbly responding to K. G. Wolf's post...... Best, Jan never mind, I was actually refering to tullahoma! yours OLAF PS. I like Vancouver! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tullahoma Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted April 14, 2009 Sorry that I created such a furor. I conclude that this useful device was made in Japan, not by Leitz, and would only be of interest to the users of old Leicas, such as myself. My thanks to everyone for putting this question to rest. Jim N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismon Posted April 15, 2009 Share #12 Posted April 15, 2009 Looks like a 1949 SOREI, from E.Leitz (NY). Some are engraved, some not. Might also be an aftermarket copy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. No Posted April 16, 2009 Share #13 Posted April 16, 2009 Looks like a 1949 SOREI, from E.Leitz (NY) ... ... definitely not Leitz!cheers, NO OK, definitely not Leitz, Wetzlar, Germany! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tullahoma Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted April 26, 2009 Looks like a 1949 SOREI, from E.Leitz (NY). Some are engraved, some not. Might also be an aftermarket copy. Since my IIIa had been fitted with a flash-synchronized baseplate and flash unit by E.Leitz (NY), it is quite likely that is the source of the added release. I can find no engraving on it. Thanks, Jim N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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