Pressing the shutter.

Diapositivo said:

OK but then, why is it called "soft"? It shouldn't make the shutter release any softer, should it? What usefulness can it provide in real use?

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I had a thread about this and after Matt King’s post I decided to try one. My opinion is currently out on these at the moment, as it certainly makes it easier to press the shutter, even by accident (nothing soft about it). But can’t yet decide if I prefer it. Time will tell.

The "soft touch" accessory changes the geometry of the process of releasing the shutter. Some people find that it allows them to gently "roll" their finger over the release + accessory, rather than having to push the release, and for them that is better.

In my case, because the release is now taller, it permits me to use my low-dexterity right hand to take the photo.

Unfortunately, I have no end of trouble with a couple of my cameras - the accessory releases won't stay on, and I lose them!

All that a soft touch does is present a larger and more confident "landing" area for the finger. There are so many about that it is quite a risk to take a stab in the dark with just any one when in fact they must be matched to the thrown of the shutter release and any nearby controls which could interfere with the release because of the size or design of the "soft touch". There is of course the physical perception of less shutter "whack" with these things, that are also perceived to reduce jerkiness, though in active practice I haven't found much of a difference. All my photography is done with a cable release (as bulb mode is very often used).

Poisson Du Jour said:

Use a cable release!

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Beat me to it.

Twice now I have found myself without cable release when shooting the Zeiss Ikonta. Both times I resorted to folding stems of dry grass into a shape suited to pressing the shutter lever on the front of the lens. In one case the tripod was too spindly for the double duty of holding camera still and steady. So I had motion blur.

Note to self. This defeats the "double-exposure-prevention" interlock.

Shutter release is important... I love the challenge of shooting at slow shutter speeds. Be calm, breathe, follow through...all of that. I use a wall, post or whatever too, if possible. My husband always does the "angry jab..." cracks me up and he gets nice blurry pics every time.

Bill Burk said:

Beat me to it.

Twice now I have found myself without cable release when shooting the Zeiss Ikonta. Both times I resorted to folding stems of dry grass into a shape suited to pressing the shutter lever on the front of the lens. In one case the tripod was too spindly for the double duty of holding camera still and steady. So I had motion blur.

Note to self. This defeats the "double-exposure-prevention" interlock.

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My little Welti Weltix presents me with the same problem. I don't use it often enough to recall the unlock/advance/cock/release shooting sequence until I have wasted a frame (or two). It's not until the shutter refuses to fire that I realize that I've got the order wrong (again. ). A cable release bypasses the idiot proof mechanics of the camera and allows me to fire the shutter.