does any one use a soft release on their M. I know what the claims are, you can shoot slower and there is less jerk to the camera, but to me it just seems like another thing to get snagged.

-- greg mason (gmason1661@aol.com), May 23, 2002

Answers

I use one. Helps me to keep her steady at slow speeds without a Tripod!

Heck, try one out, they only cost 10 bucks!

www.stevehoffman.tv

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), May 23, 2002.

I have one made by Tom. I don't use it because the feel of the meter switch on my M6 TTL is adversely affected. Also the convex shape doesn't help either.

A similar model made by Nikon seems better to me because of the concave surface. Haven't tried it though.

-- Andrew (mazurka@rocketmail.com), May 23, 2002.

I don't use one on Ms (all unmetered) becasue I don't fell any need for them and they DO stick up some.

I use one on the Leicaflex SL all the time. Because the camera's button 'hides' down inside the shutter dial, and the camera is taller, I have to really arch and stretch my finger to fire, so I find the "T" release makes it easier to squeeze off a smooth shot with a predictable firing point.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 24, 2002.

The two accessories I find indispensable on my M are the (concave) soft shutter release that I fashioned myself. It's about the same height as the Nikon model and I believe it helps immensely in the feel it adds to the control of the camera, but that could be debatable; in any event, it's very cool and I've had it on this latest M6 since 1991.

The second accessory is an eyecup that a friend turned me on to back in 1988 when I bought my first M6 (it was an accessory for a now- defunct German movie camera that fits the M6 viewfinder perfectly; it keeps out stray light very well and enhances one's depth perception through the viewfinder by blocking out all peripheral visual "noise").

-- Cosmo Genovese (cosmo@rome.com), May 24, 2002.

I use one, I think I do better without it at slow speeds. heres why: if you look at the finger on the trigger without the release, the second part below the tip actually leans on the concave of the original button, now I believe this steadies the camera a bit. Hech try it, for 10 or 12 bucks you cant make a mistake. mike

-- mike (thearea19@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

It feels nice when U use one, though if you tend to cock the shutter, you will most likely end up either dead batteries or blank shots!

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), May 24, 2002.

Also works nicely to reduce the kick back from the motor.

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), May 24, 2002.

I use them on all my M cameras. They work as advertised.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@shaw.ca), May 24, 2002.

The pad of my index finger is a plenty soft enough release for any camera I've ever used.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Use them on all my Ms.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), May 24, 2002.

I received one as a "freeby" from Rich Pinto (Photo Village) after buying my first M6 body from him. I discovered I really liked it. So much so, when I purchased my second body from Rich I noticed I didn't get a Soft Release. I called Rich and asked him why? He told me Tom Abrahmson had been very ill and was behind in his deliveries and that as soon as he got some new ones he'd send me one. I find I miss the additional leverage I get with the Soft Release. My $0.02 worth, your mileage may vary.

J.

-- lexx-1 (james.kuhn-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov), May 24, 2002.

I use them on all of my M's and carry a spare just in case one falls off...

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 24, 2002.

Greg: I use them on both my M and R bodies. They are great. The trick is to press down slowly using the middle portion of the index finger and not the tip. It does make a difference,

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), May 28, 2002.

Greg,

I used them and love them. The original sits on my Ms except the M4 which has the new Mini-Softrelease--do my R2 and my Canon RFs. I had a Mini on my Bessa T but replaced it with my own custom fitted alfa Softie. Various SLR have Softies too. There are worse way to spend 10 bucks good friend. Try one out!

best,

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp), May 30, 2002.