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

["Ben U. Aston" <debugger@jps.net>]

Please tell me where I can get more information about the softrelease
and rapidwinder products.  I see these being talked about in this group,
but I have no idea what it is.
Ben

Patrick R. McKee wrote:

> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >