Shutter Release Cable/Don't Bu Junk

[Hubigpielover]

It snowed way down in South Louisiana and went take some pictures but my crappy shutter release broke. Hopefully the pictures won't have noticeable camera shake. Don't buy junk kids!

I need recommendations on a shutter release. Grepe, Linhof, something else. It needs to be at least 30".

 

[jim10219]

I buy used, no-name ones that only say “made in Japan”. I’ve never had a problem with them, but I do take care of them. What kind did you buy?

 

[Hubigpielover]

I buy used, no-name ones that only say “made in Japan”. I’ve never had a problem with them, but I do take care of them. What kind did you buy?

Fostay, I got it from Amazon. The cable sits in my bag until being used which has been three times.

 

[BAC1967]

Bolex cable releases are well made but a bit rigid.

 

[Hubigpielover]

Bolex cable releases are well made but a bit rigid.

I'll see if I can find one. Is it a standard screw in? Plus I kind of want a Bolex.

 

[BAC1967]

I'll see if I can find one. Is it a standard screw in? Plus I kind of want a Bolex.

The screw is standard, some of them come with a bracket for use on the H series cameras but the bracket unscrews from it.

 

[Hubigpielover]

The screw is standard, some of them come with a bracket for use on the H series cameras but the bracket unscrews from it.

Cool, they look short. Might continue to keep searching.

 

[BAC1967]

Cool, they look short. Might continue to keep searching.

They go up to 1 meter in length, you should be able to find a long one.

 

[jim10219]

Fostay, I got it from Amazon. The cable sits in my bag until being used which has been three times.

I just looked those up. They do look pretty cheap. I wouldn’t say you have to spend a ton for a good one that will last, but you may have to spend a bit more than you did for that one.

All of mine are either cloth or wire wrapped, with no plastic parts.

 

[Arklatexian]

It snowed way down in South Louisiana and went take some pictures but my crappy shutter release broke. Hopefully the pictures won't have noticeable camera shake. Don't buy junk kids!

I need recommendations on a shutter release. Grepe, Linhof, something else. It needs to be at least 30".

Snow in Thibodaux. What will they think of next? I make it a point to never have less than two cable releases with me, no matter who makes them. With two, they never seem to break or get lost (usually the latter). As with most equipment, I find the better ones (as above) last longer but that does not keep them from getting lost. Here in Shreveport, we only had light rain followed by cold. No snow! Hope the folks in California get rain soon even if it does cause rock-slides...........Regards!

 

[M Carter]

I've found anything with a woven fabric or woven metal-braid shield lasts forever; the plastic ones die - usually the plastic sleeve also holds the thing together and it fails. The big choice is what sort of lock you want - the screw-to-lock on the side (my pref) or the locking-plunger-thing.

 

[Alan Gales]

I use Gepes and Prontors. Mine are all shorter than 30". You can find Gepes new but you have to find Prontors used. B&H has Gepe in a 40".

 

[AgX]

Either just buy used for a few cents and decide what model fits you best, (Typically the cloth covered ones are more flexible.) Or buy new from the manufacturer though with a limited choice in models.

 

[jack straw]

Out of curiosity, what is the advantage of a long cable? I’ve only used the shorter ones in my limited tripod experience.

 

[AgX]

A longer cable yields the chance for less transfer of shake to the camera.

 

[Hubigpielover]

They go up to 1 meter in length, you should be able to find a long one.

I'll check it out.

I just looked those up. They do look pretty cheap. I wouldn’t say you have to spend a ton for a good one that will last, but you may have to spend a bit more than you did for that one.

All of mine are either cloth or wire wrapped, with no plastic parts.

The screw got stuck and I was trying to fight it with gloved cold hands while daylight was fading. Ended up just trying to get the shots. Hopefully, the camera shake won't be there but who knows.

Snow in Thibodaux. What will they think of next? I make it a point to never have less than two cable releases with me, no matter who makes them. With two, they never seem to break or get lost (usually the latter). As with most equipment, I find the better ones (as above) last longer but that does not keep them from getting lost. Here in Shreveport, we only had light rain followed by cold. No snow! Hope the folks in California get rain soon even if it does cause rock-slides...........Regards!

Mais it was cold cold. That is a good suggestion on getting two. I bought a used one to try out and want to get a back up incase something like this happens again. I have a feeling that I wasted film and in turn wasted the chance of capturing snow so far south. Did you see the video of cos driving through what looked like Dante's Inferno? It was surreal.

I've found anything with a woven fabric or woven metal-braid shield lasts forever; the plastic ones die - usually the plastic sleeve also holds the thing together and it fails. The big choice is what sort of lock you want - the screw-to-lock on the side (my pref) or the locking-plunger-thing.

I had a locking plunger just because the one I bought was cheap. I liked it because I could operate it with one hand. Why do you like screw to the side? I'm always interested in learning.

I use Gepes and Prontors. Mine are all shorter than 30". You can find Gepes new but you have to find Prontors used. B&H has Gepe in a 40".

Grepes are on my wish list for BH and I will check out Prontors.

Either just buy used for a few cents and decide what model fits you best, (Typically the cloth covered ones are more flexible.) Or buy new from the manufacturer though with a limited choice in models.

Thanks, I bought a used Horseman and will try to find some different makers.

Out of curiosity, what is the advantage of a long cable? I’ve only used the shorter ones in my limited tripod experience.

I like it because if I am shooting low there is no bending over or kneeling. Also, since my tripod is kind of crappy, I don't accidentally move the camera.

 

[AgX]

Manufacturer:
http://gebr-schreck.com/ESITE/P5.html

 

[jgoody]

Got a good standard cable release from DAG (Don Goldberg, the guy who repairs Leicas and other RFs). Not sure if it was new, but not expensive and solid.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

Interesting link, AgX, thank you. Instantly added to my favourites. I've had many cable releases over the years, and all but one failed miserably sooner or later, and most of those were not cheap stuff! For some reason, my experience has told me that a good, reliable cable release is not as easy to find as it would seem.

Did you actually buy anything from them, and could speak about the quality of their products?

 

[AgX]

Schreck offer more information in their German section, here the starting page for the many versions of their cables (grip, cover, tip / Griffstück ,Mantel, Endstück):
http://gebr-schreck.com/SITE/P7.html

However only a fraction of these versions show up in their shop meanwhile.

No, I never bought from them, but a Apug fellow following my advise did so ans posted positively.
I myself use a variety of second-hand releases.

 

[M Carter]

Why do you like screw to the side? I'm always interested in learning.

I think it's just a muscle-memory thing, oddball preference maybe - but when I'm doing pinhole shots and watching the stopwatch, sometimes I have to fiddle with the plunger to make it open - I can do the thumbscrew with one hand as well. Just never got used to the plunger lock, but in that sort of "I'll never get used to this" way!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Gepe, Linhof, Kaiser, Nikon, Pentax, Hasselblad.... None are cheap or crap; you do get what you pay for (Linhof and Gepe are personal favourites) and none of these marques has given me any fault over the years. But I have witnessed lots of $5.00 cloth Chinese-made crap cable releases fail spectacularly at the most inopportune moments. Don't economize or skimp on critical components. But sadly so many do.

Also match the plunger action to the trigger depth necessary for the camera you are using. All releases are not the same in this regard.

Two cable releases made by Ger. Schreck (one stainless steel, one black plastic covered) and trumpeted with various glowing commentary seized abruptly in 2012. These were sent back and I was refunded. All the same, I would not recommend that manufacturer at all.

 

[AgX]

Gepe, Linhof, Kaiser, Nikon, Pentax, Hasselblad.... None are cheap or crap; you do get what you pay for (Linhof and Gepe are personal favourites) and none of these marques has given me any fault over the years.

I very much doubt that any of these manufacturers ever made cable releases themselves. It would noth have been economical.
(And at least one current Schreck model is identical with its grip to a Linhof model.)

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I think the best ones sported the branding of camera manufacturers, typically Japanese. Nikon, Canon, etc. They all seem to be made by the same company and they are cloth covered and all good, although not as long as the OP desires. There is one that I think is the best, but I only have four of them. When I get to six or eight I will spill the beans. Not many of those around and I don't want to inflate the price.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I very much doubt that any of these manufacturers ever made cable releases themselves. It would noth have been economical.
(And at least one current Schreck model is identical with its grip to a Linhof model.)

Linhof has been manufacturing it's own cable releases in its own factory in Germany since the early 1970s. They are very expensive here in Australia (about $70).
Gepe, another German marque, makes its own also. The woven stainless steel releases are beautiful designs and very smooth. But unfortunately losing one in New Zealand in 2015 reminded me also they are not cheap to replace ($50)!
Pentax and Nikon both share the same design -- just the name stamped on the plunger changes.
Kaiser makes the Hasselblad "bell" releases, rebranded from its own (and conveniently given a hefty mark-up for the privilege).
On eBay a few years ago I picked up an extremely rare red/black and highly-polished stainless steel cable release, stamped simply Japan. It bares no relationship appearance-wise to anything from Nikon, Canon or Pentax and to this day it remains a talking point for its unusual colouring and shimmering metal parts. As this release has a long-throw plunger it is ideal for my Zero Image pinhole cameras and the Pentax 67 (the P67 favours the Gepe though!).