M9 "soft release"???

[nhabedi]

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I waded trough all of the M9 threads and found no discussion of this particular topic. My apologies if I missed something.

 

The leaked M9 microsite talks about a new "soft release" mode (in addition to the "discreet mode", so this is not just a new name for an old concept). The whole sentence says:

 

When longer exposure times requiring an extremely steady camera are essential, the shutter can be set to "soft release" to enable sharp images even when the light is very low.

 

Any idea what this could be or how it could be achieved? Surely they don't mean OIS or they would have said so?

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[stunsworth]

I wondered the same, but I have no idea.

[Steve Ash]

I could think of a modus that works in fully manual control, ie you do not measure the light. The slightest touch of the shutter release will initiate the shot.

 

Regards

Steve

[SJP]

I would guess that it is a 0.1 s self timer mode, short enough to be acceptable for capturing an event (fireworks & such) but long enough to reduce shutter release shake.

 

 

(Note the M8 self timer is triggered by a very light press of the shutter release & I usually use 2s self-timer on a tripod at night, see here )

[andrewrossphotographs]

I was thinking "soft release" would be a mode whereby the camera lag was significantly better than the "normal release" mode and would allow for longer exposure response to be better in hand held shooting or better shutter lag response at higher speeds. I must say it would be great to have a better lag time then in the present M8.2 as an option.

[xrogers]

According to a pdf I've perused, in soft release mode "slight pressure" on the shutter button takes the photo.

 

This must be like the self-timer, where the press to do meter activation makes the camera start self-timing and shoot. I expect/hope this mode will be one where the meter activation press (if the meter is already active) takes a photo immediately. Reduced photographer movement should make handheld long shutter speeds easier to attain.

 

Later,

 

Clyde

[anupmc]

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Didn't they're mean that inadvertent M9 brochure leak.... a "soft release"?

(Just kidding )

[photoshutter]

Look like it will be in a same action like M8 in timer mode, but without delay.

[adan]

The soft release setting is mentioned in the brochure (p. 17 or 33 depending on which numbering set you use)

 

4. Silence and discretion...."slight pressure on the shutter in 'soft-release' mode is sufficient to trigger the shutter"

 

I don't see that this has anything to do with the self-timer - except that both functions or modes are controlled by the master controller chip. In a digitally controlled camera with random-access capabilities, you don't have to tell the circuits "act like the self-timer, but with no delay" - you just tell them "fire on first shutter pressure instead of third" - it would work even if the M9 HAD no selftimer function.

 

In the 21st century, abandon linear thinking...

[ronaldh]

The shutter release button and its surround in the photo on p32 looks different.

[xrogers]

I don't see that this has anything to do with the self-timer - except that both functions or modes are controlled by the master controller chip.

 

I think you're talking about implementation (and I agree with your assessment), and I'm talking about interface. The one thing this does have to do with the self-timer is that the button tap that normally just turns on the meter is also used to start the self-timer countdown in the M8, and (I expect) to trigger the shutter in the M9's soft release mode.

 

This sounds like a really simple and effective idea to me.

 

As an aside, I do a fair bit of embedded firmware development. I'm happy with the steady progress in features and stability of the M8 firmware. The M8 firmware very likely provides much of the M9 firmware, and I think that's a real positive point for the M9. I don't expect perfection out of the gate with the M9 firmware, but I also don't expect anywhere near the firmware teething pains of the M8.

 

Later,

 

Clyde