Best cable release avalaible

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makanakijones

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I want a cable release that will last for years, preferably cloth or braided, no plastics.
Any advice? Any known seller or maker?
 

Nicholas Lindan

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Another vote for Nikon. Had mine for close on 40 years, looks like new. See if you can get one of the all metal ones, there's usually NOS on ebay. The ones with the black plastic grip work just fine, I just think the all chrome grip looks better.

Compared to others, it's a bargain at $20. I can't think of how it can be improved, just about perfect.
 
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lxdude

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My older Pentax cable release looks to be identical to my old Nikon release. I figure they were made by a third party.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Linhof.
 

Rob Skeoch

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I find the ones made by Ebony large format cameras to be very good.
-rob
 

John Koehrer

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I've got two of the Horseman releases & they work well. Picked them up for cheap though. The head is relatively heavy.
Nikon,Minolta and Canon all made high quality cr's.
With Nikon there are apparently two varieties, one standard, one for the old Leica/Nikon/Yashica style attachment AR2, it's a female thread. There is an adapter to go to a standard male thread available but not real common.
 

epatsellis

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Tallyn's has some nice ones, house branded but durable and flexible. I've had several for a while now (4-5 years) with no degradation whatsoever.
 

removed account4

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degroff air release.
you can find them on eBoink
very inexpensively ( the old pistons )
they don't go bad. you would just need to
get a length of hose and a blood pressure bulb.
total investment less than 20$ usd ...
 

36cm2

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The head is relatively heavy.

Something to consider is that heavy headed cable releases, especially metal ones, can be harmful to the health of precious glass. A friend of mine shooting a 4x5 field camera once fired a shot, let go of the cable release and had it whip around and strike the front element of their lens. It left a very nice chip in the glass and a very large frown on their face. I've used cheapo plastic ones ever since then without complaint.
 

billbretz

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So, Makanakljones, how do you like the release you ordered?
(Just had a couple of inexpensive releases fall apart, so I'm in the market).
 

Andrew K

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funnily enough the "free" one that comes with a Holga camera is really nice..my favorites are 2 Pronto ones I have - one with a timer, and a 20 inch one you can just about tie into a knot and still use it easily..
 

lloyd

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I've always liked the nikon releases but just acquired this--http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/BR5120/--and it's the nicest most elegant/smooth release I ever had.....
 

AgX

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Something to consider is that heavy headed cable releases, especially metal ones, can be harmful to the health of precious glass. A friend of mine shooting a 4x5 field camera once fired a shot, let go of the cable release and had it whip around and strike the front element of their lens. It left a very nice chip in the glass and a very large frown on their face. I've used cheapo plastic ones ever since then without complaint.

One can install some kind of hook/holder for the release grip at the rear standard, the tripod head or such. So it would be at hand anytime and not swing around uncontrolled
 

Martin Aislabie

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Avoid black coloured released - they disappear in the grass and undergrowth when you drop them

If you buy a black one tie something bright to it

Martin
 

flatulent1

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Forgive me if this seems a foolish question, but do these cable releases come in different sizes, or are they universal? Such as one size for 35mm cameras and another size for LF lenses? I'd hate to spend $50 or so on a non-returnable item only to find out it won't fit my Minoltas or Canons.
 

AgX

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All cameras/shutters with a female thread, have the same size of conical thread.
 

Rick A

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Forgive me if this seems a foolish question, but do these cable releases come in different sizes, or are they universal? Such as one size for 35mm cameras and another size for LF lenses? I'd hate to spend $50 or so on a non-returnable item only to find out it won't fit my Minoltas or Canons.
They come in different lengths, and some cameras require whats refered to as a "Leica nipple" which screws over the shutter release instead of into it. There are some cable releases that do not work with all cameras due to the working length of the rod that actuates the internal portion of the shutter release. This is more prevelant with view camera shutters than 35mm or medium formats.
 
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