Christian Photographers Community

Several weeks ago I ordered these over the internet, they are called soft releases, when the invoice came up on the computer, it said, the order was being shipped from Shanghai, half way round the globe to get here, took three weeks to come, but they got here, and even a greetings card to go with it. What are they, they are little stainless steel buttons that screw into the top of the shutter release button like a cable release button, at over £6 each they are expensive but not as dear as getting them through Leica, about £14 each.

As I say a godsend, as I have neuropathy in my right hand I cannot feel the shutter button as is, and having these screwed into the top of the release makes firing the shutter ever so much easier. Is there anything cheaper, well yes, you can use a computer screw for fixing modules into the computer, but these are too small and uncomfortable to use. There are mirror screws, absolutely ideal, there are both flat and dome headed ones (dome ones shown in picture) but, there's just one problem they screw into the top of the shutter release ok, but will not fire the shutter because of a raised collar that prevents the mirror screw from going all the way down all for the sake of a couple of millimeters.

These soft releases are well named as it only needs a featherlight touch to fire the shutter, and like image stabilisation in digital cameras, you can sometimes get away with a slower shutter speed in dim light situations handholding the camera, for me, well its took the fumble out of photography. 

Summicron, I have to admit your descriptions and explanations go right over my head.  But I'm surprised to find out you've had trouble using your camera - the photos you post are so great!   

That's because I've lost most of the use out of my right hand, apart from violent stinging pains that are related to neuralgia. On most film cameras the shutter button has an inner thread that can take a cable release like a plunger, these screw into the top of the shutter button to fire the shutter.

I'm glad you've found something that will make it easier for you.   

What a neat find.  Good that it enables you to continue something you enjoy.
Becky