Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>butzi@halcyon.com (Paul & Paula Butzi) wrote to leica-users@mejac.palo- alto.ca.us, Date:98-05-18 12:22:35 EDT >Hey! What's this about a soft release? Would that be release as in shutter release? >Tell us more! It's not fair to tease like that.< - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -------------------------------- Vancouver, B.C., Canada , May 18, 1998 Paul & Paula and other LUGgers, Yes, the long rumored Abrahamsson Softrelease has been prototyped. What it means is that the CNC lathe (Computer Numerically Controlled) has spat out a small amount of my initial design. What remains now is the fine-tuning of the design and the other mundane things like: “How much will they cost to make? Can they be anodized? What is the shipping and packaging cost? And how much are the users going to have to pay for them?” My Softrelease screws into the regular cable release thread. It has a slight dome shape to it, knurled edges, and is the same diameter as the “cup” in which the regular release button of a M camera sits. The initial batch is made of a 6000 series alloy (easier to machine and adjust the machine). The production version will be done in a 7000 series alloy. This one takes the anodizing better and will also take wear and tear better. There have been quite a few of different Softreleases done over the years. Leica used to make one; a very complex and a too tall one. There are Softreleases for Nikon F’s (very nice), and there is a current crop of Softreleases from Japan (small diameter and mostly decorated with store names or product names). The Softrelease has certain advantages; you gain about a stop in speed and can moderate your pressure on the release button better. The dome shape (or mushroom shape) allows you to release the shutter with the first joint of the finger, rather than with the tip of the finger. This allows you a more controlled pressure, very much the same principal as used for shooting targets with a pistol. There are disadvantages to the Softrelease, too. Everytime you put your camera in the bag with the shutter cocked you will get a shot of the bags interior. The cable release thread is notorious for unscrewing whatever is screwed into it (it is a steeply tapered thread) and a lot of Softreleases are lost every year! On my design there is a small shoulder at the bottom of the release and this “locks” the Softrelease down on the shutter release button. It can still unscrew itself, but with less frequency than the other ones I have used (and lost). The timeline for a production run is difficult to establish right now. Probably another month at least. I have decided that the Softrelease must be able to sell for no more than $10/each - and then I have to count backwards to see what the various stages of production costs. If the anodizing can be done I will probably make the Softrelease available in a variety of colors; Green for the users of Tri-X, Red for LUGgers or “chrome” users, chrome for those using chrome cameras and black for the more formal occasions! Once the production has proven itself feasible I will let the availability and the final costs on the LUG. Most likely I will request a minimum order situation to cut down on mailing costs. I have already had request from LUGgers to serve as agents and I might take them up on that. Also, the Softrelease is NOT limited to the Leica M. It will fit any camera that uses a standard cable release fitting in the shutter-release button. For those of you who like to know why I am doing these; it is the same thing as with the Rapidwinder. I wanted some for myself and once you made one, you might as well make a dozen or a thousand of them! At this writing I will be sending around 30 Abrahamsson Softrelease Prototypes to various LUGgers and friends for them to try out and comment upon. To be continued! Tom A Tom Abrahamsson #203-1512 Yew St., Vancouver, B.C., V6K 3E4, Canada, Phone: 604-731-0036,Fax: 604-731-0868, E-mail:TTAbrahams@aol.com Rapidwinder Webpage in English: (compliments of Hans Pahlen, Sweden) http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-24872/rapidw.htm http://www.komvux.skola.mark.se/rapidw.htm (mirror site) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/5799/ (Hans Pahlen’s Homepage) Rapidwinder Webpage in Japanese: (compliments of Jun Nakajima, Japan) http://www.magicalights.co.jp/decadant/tom/index.html http://www.magicalights.co.jp/decadant/tom/ctom.html (mirror site)