Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tom, Your first paragraph says it all and you needn't defend the price any further. Engineering should be judged for its efficacy, not its complexity; and the engineer justly rewarded for his ingenuity. Like the auto mechanic who charged the customer $100.50 for causing his automobile to restart by simply rapping the engine twice with a hammer. The enraged owner demanded a breakdown of the charge. "Twenty-five cents for each hammer tap" was the answer, "and $100 for knowing *where* to tap." Regards, Nigel On Sat, 14 Nov 1998 14:19:43 EST TTAbrahams@aol.com writes: >Nigel, >The Softrelease is an improvement over most of the other available >ones. The >diameter of the surface is the same as the cup surrounding the release >button >of a M release, it is made from a very durable aero space alloy, which >means >that the threads do not distort or wear out. The top of it is dome >shaped and >this allows you far more control over the pressure applied to the >release. You >trigger it as you would a trigger on a gun, with the second joint of >the >finger. Most other releases are made with a cup shaped depression in >the >centre, this tends to guide the tip of the finger to it and the >downward >movement of the finger tip is less controlled than the smoother >"stroke" of >the 2nd joint of the finger. I find that I can shoot about a stop >slower, >without camera shake, with the Softrelease in place, than without it. <snip> > These Softreleases are turned on a CNC machining centre and this >gives the >knurled edge and the thread a better appearance as well as durability >that >most of the cast plastic or soft aluminium ones lack. The cast ones >are >usually cast in a split "form" which means that the thread is not a >continuos >thread, but has a casting "ridge" on the thread. This makes the thread >less >durable and also gives it a tendency to wobble loose. > As for cost, the material alone is more than 20% of the retail sales >cost, >machining these are not cheap, a CNC turning centre costs anywhere >from >US$50,000 and up and all the tools are custom made for the product. As >with >everything, if I sold them in the 100,000's volume, the price would >probably >drop by 15-20%, but these Softreleases are sold in small batches or >individually, packaging, postage etc., adds up quickly. The fact that >I can >supply different colors, or if the customer wants it, custom engraving >on the >top of the Softrelease is another added cost factor. So far it has >held its >own and I have managed to recoup most of the developing cost, but it >is >certainly not a high profit centre. > It is very much a fact of volume, if you do a quality product in >small >volume, the price is bound to be higher than a large volume, low cost >material >product. > I tried a lot of the other Softreleases and found them lacking in >quality. >Over the years I have collected a lot of accessories, made by outside >companies, for Leica's. There has been some good ones. The Camian >rewind crank >of the 60's is a thing of beauty - and today it would probably cost >$100 to >make! Some of the grips are very good. Most of the Softreleases I >found >lacking the quality I wanted. A lot of what I make is based on the >frustration >of being unable to find something that matches the quality of a Leica. > >Softly, >Tom A >Subj: Re: [Leica] SOFTLY RELEASE YOURSELF >Date: 11/14/98 8:56:07 AM Pacific Standard Time >From: nbwatson@juno.com (N. B. Watson) >Sender: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Reply-to: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Please pardon my apparent ignorance, but how (aside from the >assortment >of colours) do these $10 soft releases improve upon the ones from Kalt >or >Hama which my local dealer sells for $1.95? >Regards, >Nigel >On Fri, 13 Nov 1998 19:06:56 EST TTAbrahams@aol.com writes: >>SOFTLY RELEASE YOURSELF from the Pressures of the Festive Season… >>----------------------------------------------------------------------------- >----------------- >>The Abrahamsson Softrelease is now available in: >>- gold >>- green (new great color hue - made once only - then back to the >darker >traditional green) >>- purple >>- blue >> >>and of course in the traditional colors: black, chrome and red. >>The Softrelease fits Leica's - and also any other camera with a >>standard cable release. > >>The Softrelease(s) would make a great Christmas Stocking Stuffer for >a >>Leica user! >> >>Please see below regarding the price and how to order. You can find >>the same information also in: >>www.rapidwinder.com >> >>What's the Price and How to order: >>------------------------------------------ >>The cost of an individual 'Softy' is US$ 10. Dealers who buy in >larger >>quantities - 20 or more - get them at $ 7 each. Both prices include >>shipping by regular mail. >>The way you get your Soft Release(s) is to mail me an address label >>with your name and address written on it and your check (or money >order). >Once >>it has arrived, your Soft Release(s) will be on its (their) way. >>Signing off softly, >>Tom A >>Tom Abrahamsson >>#203-1512 Yew Street >>Vancouver, B.C., V6K 3E4, Canada >>Tel: 604-731-0036, Fax: 604-731-0868 >>e:mail: TTAbrahams@aol.com >>www.rapidwinder.com >>__________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. 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