Okay, I now have a self-timer (automatic shutter release) for my M6TTL (from the company "Hama", Article 5401, priced here between DM 44.95 and 64.95). I know that's a personal thing but I just need it, so I got it. It seems to work fine and that is the main thing.

But I still have the following question. How long can/should the extention or insertion or penetration length of the inside release pin (inserter pin) be, so that it does its release stroke job *smoothly and cautiously* after having been screwed into the threaded socket of the camera's shutter release button?

Short instruction summary: loosening and tightening of the lower knurled screw on the self-timer allows the "pipe element" (threaded housing) outside of the release pin (which goes into the camera) to be adjusted. This adjustment consists of (a) screwing that pipe element more up into the above part of the timer, which makes the release pin become all the more visible for a long penetration into the camera, or (b) screwing that pipe element more down out of the above part of the timer, which finally hides the release pin and allows only a short penetration of it into the camera.

After first experimenting with my Leica cable release, I see that the above-mentioned distance necessary for a shutter release path (inside/below the camera's shutter release button) seems to be only about 4.1 mm. If I adjust the timer's "pipe element" so that I indeed get a release pin penetration of only 4.1 mm, that "pipe element" hangs so far out of the knurled screw above that it looks like it will simply break right off. If I get the "pipe element" screwed in enough that everything there looks good and sturdy, the release pin penetration (which of course still worked on my M6) seems to be as much as 7.9 mm. Whew!! Here's the question again: can I remain by this 7.9 mm calibration -- applying and using the self-timer on my M6TTL only occasionally -- without ever having to worry about any thereby resulting overweight pressure possibly wounding the mechanics of/inside/below my camera's shutter release button?

Thanks for any help here. Thanks for your patience. Hope you understood what I was getting at.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), May 23, 2001

Answers

I've used these shutter-release gadgets for years, and they're all basically a piece of crap. This evaluation is based on the fact that the ones I've had don't retain any adjustment you make in that knurled collar. However, used only occasionally, I doubt they will damage your camera as long as you take a minute each time to set the depth of extension to about what it needs to be. I'm often puzzled by they way manufacturers will design a basically good, sturdy gadget that fills a need, however minor, but then screw up one simple feature so that their product is more frustrating than useful. Another example is free-standing projection screens that have a stop welded to the standard so that the bottom of the screen cannot be lowered to accommodate projectors on low tables or stools.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols@iopener.net), May 23, 2001.

Here's what I did: Adjust the selftimer so that the "pipe element" is at its shortest, strongest position (i.e. maximum "pentration" of the pin). Then mark and cut the end of the pin off at the length where it penentrates only what is needed to release the shutter, and smooth off the end (round it a little). I have 2 of these, one I cutomized for the Leica and the other for Hasselblad.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 23, 2001.

You may want to take into account the feature I posted here earlier, namely the locking up of the metering diodes in the viewfinder when pressing down the M6TTL release button to near-firing position. Sounds like if your pin is too long you might encounter that problem if you engage the light meter with the self release unit in place (if that's possible - I'm not familiar with self release units).

-- Peter Mackay (pm@novonordisk.com), May 23, 2001.

Jay. I thought about doing exactly what you describe (cutting the excess length of the auxiliary self timer pin). Please tell me exactly how much you cut off (in millimeters) for Leica M6. Thanks. Sorry about the alias but I don't like seeing my real name pop up on internet searches attached to old comments from years past. Too personal.

-- Suetonius (suetonius@netzero.net), May 23, 2001.

I have a "Made in Japan" timer, primarily for my Rollei 35 and 16

I am looking for a timer with a long cable release, any one seem such a device ?

Or is there any cable release, on which a timer can be attached ?

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 27, 2001.