Re: [Leica] Tom Abrahamsson's Soft Release Prototype Trial

["Patrick R. McKee" <info@photonewsnetwork.com>]

Hello,
I took my M-6 with Tom's softrelease and rapidwinder to the beach. MTV has
selected a spot to have their Beach Party this summer. Even though I am not
sure that I know the celebrities I was there. The soft release was very
useful as the sun was setting on the Jersey Shore. Tom, as usual, has a
winner so far. Should they come color coded?
Pat McKee
prm@photonewsnetwork.com
Minox007@aol.com
1-732-288-0009

- ----------
> From: Leikon35@aol.com
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] Tom Abrahamsson's Soft Release Prototype Trial
> Date: Thursday, May 28, 1998 5:49 PM
> 
>  After using a prototype of Tom Abrahamsson's soft release for a week,
> my first impressions are that Tom has another winner.  The device seems
> to be made from aluminum or a similar alloy just like Fred Ward's (which
> I had been using on my M2, M3 & M4 -- but it has a wider diameter than
> Freds (15mm compared to 12mm) therefore fits flush with the cameras
> release ring and the heftier release also has a knurled rim compared to
> the sharp rim allowing a better finger grip.  I didn't try it on a M6
because
> I am rough on my Leicas and want them always to be in a ready to shoot
> condition, so I put them in my bag with the shutter cocked.
> 
> I don't like the term "snap-shot" & prefer & recommend "sqeeze-off" as a
> better word as well as a better method of taking pictures.  Even though
the
> M2,M3 & M4 have no meters to activate - there is still almost 1/8" of
play
> before the shutter goes off and it is only the last millimeter that
activates
> the shutter.  I wonder if there is any adjustment for this play?  Tom
would
> probably know but he is still in Tokyo. The important thing to remember
> for shooting at slow shutter speeds is to squeeze not snap.
> 
> Before Tom left on his trip, he told me that one of the changes will be
to
> shave 1/1000" off the thread, which will enable the release to "sit" on
the
> shoulder of the camera release button & thereby "pull" the thread against
> the camera thread making it less likely to come off & get lost.  I don't
like
> the idea of using lock-tite or anything like that and I have used all
three
> releases: Fred's, Tom's & the Leitz OZTNO without any coming off and
> getting lost.  Maybe Ted and I have both been fortunate & born under a
> a lucky star about a year apart or maybe it is treating a Leica like you
> would treat a car, with a CLA at least every 5 to 10 years although I
have
> heard that the suggested first tune-up for the new BMW is 100,000 miles.
> 
> As far as cosmetic looks, if there is any demand for it they can be made
> in red or black, like the idea behind the after market US made Leica
hand-
> grip so that the user of 2 Leicas with 2 films can easily tell them
apart.
> 
> Marvin Moss
> 
>    
> 
>