Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/04/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> > I love the Tom A. Soft Releases. I have 4 of them, each a different color. > > They really fell good on the camera, but......I'm getting more dead > > batteries and pictures of the inside of my bag since I've been using them. > > I'm using a Domke F-803. A fairly tight fit. John Collier says: >Use an o ring! Attach it to the camera strap ring and slip it over the >soft release so it fits between the soft release and the release collar. >Voila, the shutter cannot be depressed. I was thinking about this yesterday, as I just found a "store demo" Billingham "small Hadley" bag for half price And Just Couldn't Resist(tm). The soft release tends to trip the shutter unless I put the camera in just right. Here are my Top Ten possible cheap, quick and dirty solutions, most of which involve inserting some foreign object underneath the lower surface of the soft release to block the shutter from tripping: 1. Tie a loop in a thick rubber band. Slip it over the soft release before storing the bag. 2. Go to the supermarket/corner store/boulanger. Buy a loaf of bad, non-nutritious white bread. Make sure the bread has one of those flat square plastic closures with a slotted hole in one side. Using strong scissors, wire cutters or other instrument of destruction, enlarge the slot until it is big enough to just barely fit around the center portion of the soft release with a little difficulty. If it isn't thick enough, get two. 3. Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old soff-tee! 4. If you're using a leather or plastic camera strap of appropriate thickness, determine where the right side of the strap would naturally fall on top of the release. Cut a slit in the strap just long enough to fit the release through. Before stowing the camera, open the slit, slip it under the release. 5. Cut a little strip of double-sided velcro just wide enough to block the shutter. One turn of material underneath the soft release does the trick, and it locks on contact. Pull the ends to open. 6. Use the slotted end of one of those "slip the pointed end into the slot" garbage bag ties (elongate the slot with appropriate cutting instrument). If anybody asks where you got them, tell them they are custom made for you in Italy by Donatella Versace, and they are *very* expensive. 7. Convince Tom A. to make a deluxe model soft release. It should have a little mechanism on it that blocks the shutter from tripping when rotated a certain way. A rotatable lever with a right-angle bend and a rubber or teflon tip ought to do the trick. 8. Ask Dr. Blacktape(tm). 9. What John said. 10. Film is cheap. Who cares? I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV. There is no implication of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose in this post. Your milage may vary. Don't blame me if you get klutzy and mess up your Leica. Do not use duct tape or any other sticky material. Batteries not included, because none of the proposed solutions involve batteries. - --Peter Klein Seattle, WA - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html