Official Nikon F/F2 soft release vs aftermarket

[George Mann]

Are aftermarket AR-1 soft release buttons good and useable, or does one have to pony up for a Nikon?

 

[BrianShaw]

I’ve wondered the same. It’s a rather inexpensive experiment to buy an aftermarket and try it. $13, about. In general, the quality of aftermarket camera parts has been quite high over the past years. Might be worth the bet.

 

[BradS]

I have the genuine article but I rarely use it because it makes it very, very easy to accidentally trip the shutter while walking around with the camera. The one very nice thing about AR-1 is that it raises the shutter release button such that, when your finger is on the button, it is laying right along side the shutter speed control dial. Which makes for a little quicker operation.

 

[George Mann]

I bought the aftermarket model because I think it may be less easy to accidentally trip do to its shorter height.

At $13.58 shipped, It won't set me back too much to find out.

 

[BradS]

I wouldn't have guessed that the AR-1 was that expensive. The one I have came on a body.
Why do you want or need a soft release?

 

[jwd722]

I've never used the Nikon version but I have 2 no-name versions. They work just fine, no roughness or sticking or anything negative, they just do what they are meant to do.

Forgot to add picture...
Despite the fact that the release looks taller on the F over the F2, they are the same even when switched with each other.

 

[mshchem]

I have 4 or 5 of the Nikon version. Will trade for late model full size truck.

 

[BradS]

I'd trade mine for a cord of firewood.

 

[George Mann]

I've never used the Nikon version but I have 2 no-name versions. They work just fine, no roughness or sticking or anything negative, they just do what they are meant to do.

Forgot to add picture...
Despite the fact that the release looks taller on the F over the F2, they are the same even when switched with each other. View attachment 287969

I have an F2. Do you find these too easy to trigger some times (accidentally)?

 

[jwd722]

Actually no, I think it all depends on how you carry it. I can honestly say I have never accidentally triggered it that I can remember. With the release in place it just makes it more convenient and it doesn't trigger any easier than without it plus your finger is closer to the shutter speed dial making for faster operating speed. Not blazingly fast, just a tiny bit quicker.
On the F it's a godsend since the shutter release is on the rear of the top deck making it awkward without the soft release.

 

[Huss]

I have both the knock offs and the real ones and they both are great.

 

[mcrokkorx]

I own several genuine Nikon AR-1s and previously owned a few knockoffs, and do notice a distinct enough difference in "feel" to prefer the Nikon version. However, I don't think I would pay the current asking prices for an AR-1 to satisfy that preference. All of mine came to me at no cost, already attached to various F and F2 bodies that have passed thru my hands. After discovering I liked the genuine AR-1 better, I sold the knockoffs and picked up a couple spare AR-1s whenever I saw one pop up for $19.95 or less.

If the choice was between a Nikon AR-1 at $40+ or knockoff at $13, I'd opt for the knockoff with no regrets. Tho to be honest I don't use the soft release all the time. As jwd22 said its more of a boon on the F due to its awkward shutter button placement. The basic unadorned F2 shutter button feel and responsiveness is the best I've experienced with any camera over 40 years of shooting, so I only occasionally feel the need to gild the lily with an AR-1. It does seem to help minimize camera shake when I'm shooting the big pre-AI 85/1.8 or 135/2.8 at "slower-than-recommended" shutter speeds.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I went the cheap way with the Bower Soft Touch, and it works very well on my Nikon F. However, for the first few shots, I had some sticking issue, so I unscrewed the release and worked the fit with a couple of back and forth movements to loosen. No issue since.

 

[mshchem]

I'd trade mine for a cord of firewood.

Red Oak!

 

[CMoore]

Are aftermarket AR-1 soft release buttons good and useable, or does one have to pony up for a Nikon?

I have and use both. I like them equally.
If not for the "Nikon" logo that is stamped on the "real" ones, i would not know which is which.

I wouldn't have guessed that the AR-1 was that expensive. The one I have came on a body.
Why do you want or need a soft release?

Just speaking for myself.........it is a much more comfortable and "natural" feel for me.
I have tried shooting without them. It feels like something is missing.
Like the rewind crank is missing a portion of its length.
Or if the film advance lever is missing some of its length.

 

[swchris]

There seem to be different versions of the original AR-1.

In (I think so) 1980 I've bought one for my then new FM. The black trigger part appears to be plastic.

In the last years I got a F2 from the bay which included an AR-1. On this AR-1 the trigger is metal. The black paint is worn off at the edges and you see metal below. That's the one I'm using since I got it.

 

[Dismayed]

I had a Nikon soft release on my SP. It was lost in an orchard last year while we were picking apples. So definitely go for the cheaper after-market release.

 

[BradS]

....Just speaking for myself.........it is a much more comfortable and "natural" feel for me..

..

Yeah, I agree. The AR-1 does improve the already excellent ergonomics of the Nikon F2. The problem I have with the AR-1 and the reason I do not use one is that when the AR-1 is fitted, I seem to take an awful lot of photos of the lens cap or whatever random scene was bouncing around in front of me while I was walking. For me, the slight improvement in ergonomics and speed of handling is not worth the five or six wasted frames per roll...but that's just me. I'm pretty active and typically have the camera on a strap over my shoulder or around my neck. All this fuss about the AR-1...I feel like I should try it again.

 

[swchris]

..
The problem I have with the AR-1 and the reason I do not use one is that when the AR-1 is fitted, I seem to take an awful lot of photos of the lens cap or whatever random scene was bouncing around in front of me while I was walking. For me, the slight improvement in ergonomics and speed of handling is not worth the five or six wasted frames per roll...but that's just me. I'm pretty active and typically have the camera on a strap over my shoulder or around my neck. All this fuss about the AR-1...I feel like I should try it again.

I don't walk around with the camera cocked, so no chance to accidently trip the shutter. Is that good? IDK. I've had some missed opportunities because the shutter wasn't ready...

 

[BradS]

I don't walk around with the camera cocked, so no chance to accidentally trip the shutter. Is that good? IDK. I've had some missed opportunities because the shutter wasn't ready...

Yeah, hey...man...whatever works for you. No judgement. Really...it's no big thing.

As a general rule, I do not tension the shutter until just before tripping it. However, there are many times when I'm out hiking in the back country or walking in an urban area and I see something that I'd like to photograph, I tension the shutter as I lift the camera to my eye, and then I'll look for a composition that works...and the scene changes or the light changes or somebody steps in front of me or the critter runs off or I just cannot find a good composition so I put the camera down and keep moving....and then it happens, I bump the shutter release and loose a frame. This is how it always happens.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

One point to note is that the original AR-1 weight is quite high for such a small item. I've heard that the reason the AR-1 was discontinued was the environmental law changed and the chromium plating over the (weighty) brass was not able to be continued.
I have both of the aftermarket types and original AR-1 and I prefer the original. It has a slightly different composition of the plastic part that slides and it feels and triggers smoother. When I did full film wedding coverage I often used an F2 as the 'around the neck' camera (I'm quite robust around the neck and shoulder area from surfing so not an issue, I don't recommend an F2 around the neck for a full day otherwise), and I could consistently trigger the F2 while either trying to lift it into position or just by nudging my right elbow down. Whether or not I wanted that exact moment I still would get interesting shots that sometimes be quite successful. It should be called a Quick Release Trigger. I used to swap that neck camera with a Leica M4 fitted with a Tom A. Rapidwinder shutter release and that was nearly the equal in 'alternative release strategy' around my neck.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

AR-1 on an F2A

 

[George Mann]

I received this generic trigger a few days ago, and it has solid plunger (no spring or damper).

How can anyone call this a soft release?

 

[CMoore]

I received this generic trigger a few days ago, and it has solid plunger (no spring or damper).

How can anyone call this a soft release?

I suppose it is a bit of a misnomer.
I have always called them a "Soft Shutter" which is probably more inaccurate.
I think it is because it makes the pressing of the release more comfortable and the taller button gives your finger more leverage......so it seems "Easier" to fire the shutter.?

 

[George Mann]

I think it is because it makes the pressing of the release more comfortable and the taller button gives your finger more leverage......so it seems "Easier" to fire the shutter.?

The taller shaft provides more leverage, yes.