mini soft releases -- worth it?

bessa_L_R3a · Jan 10, 2008

they look so cool, and all those colors. I figured maybe a red one on my black body. Anybody know if they really help shooting at 1/15 or 1/8 with a steady hand?

Richard Wasserman · Jan 10, 2008

I use a regular soft release on my M6 and a mini on a Rollei and find that they really do help hold the camera steadier. I like them a lot, plus you can color coordinate!

Richard Wasserman

Larry.Manuel · Jan 10, 2008

I like my Mini Soft Release. Caveat: may lead to inadvertent exposure.

They work well for me on my Bessa L [which has exposure lock] and on my M3 which does not. Previously, I was in the habit of winding my film on immediately after an exposure. With my double-stroke M3, I now make one stroke after the exposure and try to remember to make the second stroke before I expose. I'm still forgetting the latter. They do work well, and I recommend them.

Jim Jones · Jan 10, 2008

They are helpful when one must shoot while wearing gloves.

bessa_L_R3a · Jan 10, 2008

there´s an on-off switch on the R3a which locks the shutter, I think, so accidental exposure wouldn´t be a problem. I don´t understand why there wouldn´t be a lock on all cameras to prevent this sort of thing.

I´ll go ahead and buy a mini ...

Thanks!

elekm · Jan 10, 2008

I used a soft release with the M6, because I hated using the camera otherwise. The release point is near the bottom of the travel of the shutter release.

With most cameras, it's somewhere around the 2/3 or 3/4 point. With the M6, it felt like you almost had to bottom out the release.

The only other camera with which I use a soft release is a Rolleiflex SL 35 M. With this camera, the film advance sits much too high, and you have to hook your finger at an odd angle to reach the shutter release.

More recently, one of the nicest shutter releases is on the Carl Zeiss Zeiss Ikon. It requires just the right amount of pressure. The travel is short, and it's predictable.

Nick Merritt · Jan 11, 2008

I'm a convert. The Minis enhance almost any camera, but I find them especially useful with the Contax rangefinders and the Canon P and 7. I like the regular Abrahamsson soft releases even more, but they're too big for a number of cameras (such as those with controls surrounding the shutter release). However, they are great for the Leica Ms, and a real luxury for a Minolta SRT.

dmr · Jan 11, 2008

I haven't really decided if they help or not, but they definitely don't hurt!

They give me a more sure feel on the release button. Whether they actually allow me to shoot a stop slower is unknown. I have them on 2 of the cameras I regularly use. I don't really miss them either.

DBP · Jan 11, 2008

I like them, but keep losing them. Anyone have any suggestions?

niimo · Jan 12, 2008

I've got a reg soft release for my Canon 7 and M3, would hate to shoot without them. Whether it actually helps steady or not, I don't know, but they really help with comfort in shooting. I also picked up a mini for use with various cameras, Canonet, Spotmatic, Electro 35 GSN, feels great on these as well. Though if it fits, the regular soft release is better.

Nokton48 · Jan 12, 2008

The Mini's are nice on my Voigtlanders, as well as Pentacon-Sixes, and Exakta 66.

I just got a silver regular from Tom A. for my new button-rewind Leica M2, which just arrived today. Helps alot in reality, and works well, when shooting at 1/15th and 1/8, in no-light conditions.

I think I may pick up some of the regular softies for my Minolta SRT's.

40oz · Jan 13, 2008

I have them on my Kiev's, and a Leica CL I had. The shutter on those bodies is in a depression (so it wouldn't go off in a bag) but that made pressing the shutter without tilting the camera awkward for me. I used a small screw for a while, and determined that such a device actually did help. So I bought a few mini soft releases. I'm kind of surprised they aren't more common in camera shops.

Mark Layne · Jan 16, 2008

bessa_L_R3a said:
they look so cool, and all those colors. I figured maybe a red one on my black body. Anybody know if they really help shooting at 1/15 or 1/8 with a steady hand?

If you mean an Abrahamsson release -definitely yes
Mark

vics · Jan 16, 2008

I have two regular softies and use one on my 1951 Rollei and the other in the bag for the RF cameras. I always take it off when the camera goes back in the bag. Too many blank frames! I think they really help me with the slow shutter speeds.
Vic

awaken77 · Jan 31, 2008

I use it on my Bessa R3A and very like it. It acts very smooth, as a tiny "cable release".

kivis · Sep 18, 2009

I use both soft release and mini soft release and love them. Found recently that a soft release on a Leica M7 actually makes shutter louder. Drat.

arigram · Sep 18, 2009

Are you talking about these?
http://www.rapidwinder.com/softies.htm

Are they only directly available or do stores in the EU carry them?

kivis · Sep 18, 2009

arigram said:
Are you talking about these?
http://www.rapidwinder.com/softies.htm

Are they only directly available or do stores in the EU carry them?

Yes that is what we are talking about.

Vanishing Point Ent. · Sep 21, 2009

Keep an Extra in a Fuji Film Canister.

DBP said:
I like them, but keep losing them. Anyone have any suggestions?

Here's the suggestion that you asked for.

There's an old saying; buy an extra & keep it handy,
then you will NEVER Need It.

To that end, I always carry an extra & I put it in a clear, or semi-clear Fuji Film Canister.

This also provides you with a place to put the one on
the body, when you need to use a cable release.

I use standard Soft Touch Releases & Love Them.

arigram · Sep 28, 2009

The MiniSoftrelease fits my Hasselblad 501CM just fine with all the CFi/CFE lenses I tried.

Vincenzo Maielli · Dec 14, 2009

I use, on my Leica M cameras, the Nikon AR9 soft releases: work very well.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

Mike Kennedy · Dec 14, 2009

I echo what Jim Jones said.I need them when the temps. drop below -15c.
I wonder if a very small bit of super glue,on the very tip, would help them stay put?

Richard Wasserman · Dec 14, 2009

No super glue! A drop of clear nail polish will keep the Softie from unscreing, and still allow you to remove it if you choose to.

Mike Kennedy said:
I echo what Jim Jones said.I need them when the temps. drop below -15c.
I wonder if a very small bit of super glue,on the very tip, would help them stay put?

Ian Grant · Dec 14, 2009

I have one somewhere that came with an Ebay purchase, I found it made sweet FA difference, sure they may fit a fat finger better but they don't really help at all except at a cosmetic level.

IaN

rmolson · Dec 14, 2009

what ever you do don't try gluing them Cost me a camera when the glue seeped into the shutter. If you must glue then hold the camera upside down to keep the glue from running into it. May still mess up your release

mini soft releases -- worth it?

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