Sick of losing Soft Release buttons?

[Indulis Bernsteins]

OK for those of you who don't use them, they are a great tool to reduce camera shake if used properly, and not lost. If lost they increase camera shake due to frustration and the (quite high!) cost of replacement.

Maplins to the rescue.

Screw Set 60 Pack

Hidden in the cover are some white (silicone) and black (rubber) washers or o-rings.

For my Match Technical Red Ladybird Soft Release the right combination was 1x white silicone washer closest to the actual button end (i.e. put it on first), plus one black one (put it on second).

YMMV for different soft releases. You may have less or more space between the button and the soft release.

I previously had a soft release from Decamera in Singapore which I liked too. 8mm or 9mm, max 10mm diameter. Avoid aluminium, find brass or tougher materials.

http://www.decameraconsultant.com/decamera/web/soft-shutter-release/soft-shutter-release.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=113&category_id=1

If you are not in the UK try your local enthusiast computer store, find one that does anti-vibration washers and other "case gear" for the people who customise their PC cases.

The black o-rings are the same small o-rings used for the "M3" screws. You could try to stack a few of these washers/o-rings. M3 screws are normally used for mounting optical drives, the 6/32 screw size might be too large- again YMMV.







I'm hoping this will help, time will tell (I normally only take a week or two to lose a Soft Release).

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Use plumbers teflon tape.

 

[Indulis Bernsteins]

If you've used it on plumbing you'll know this may not be a good solution, because it gets "cut" by the threads and then can flake off into the shutter release hole. Or not.

You can also use different screw locking solutions. Again, not for me.

Personally, I'd rather have the ant-vibration washer doing its job than the tape or "Loctite".

 

[Ray Sachs]

I keep seeing this topic pop up and I never get why people are having so much trouble keeping soft release buttons on their cameras.

I've been using soft releases on one or two cameras since I first bought an X100 over three years ago. I've lost exactly one, and it wasn't because it fell off of the camera - I took it off and just misplaced it.

When I screw them in, I just torgque it hard enough to turn the camera on and then give it a little additional when it hits the hard stop once the camera's on. I've never damaged a camera this way - I've heard of one guy who did but he must have REALLY cranked hard on it - and the soft releases stay put. Every time I turn the camera on, I do it by twisting the soft release rather than the little on/off tab and that gives it an extra little bit of tightening. But when I turn it off, I use the tab so it doesn't loosen. If I ever need to take the soft release off of the camera, it usually takes a pretty good little twist to the left to break it loose.

I can't imagine why people have so much trouble with this?

-Ray
--------------------------------------
We judge photographers by the photographs we see. We judge cameras by the photographs we miss - Haim Zamir

Ray

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www.flickr.com

 

[Chuck Snyder]

Lensmate soft release buttons come with o-rings. A little pricey, but they work great.

 

[Daniel Lauring]

OK for those of you who don't use them, they are a great tool to reduce camera shake if used properly, and not lost. If lost they increase camera shake due to frustration and the (quite high!) cost of replacement.

I like the feel of soft releases, and the look, but I don't see how they can actually reduce shake because the actual force, applied to the camera is the same.

 

[DanielFjall]

Sand down the very top of the screw-mount and never loose it.
2 years, still there.

 

[Indulis Bernsteins]

I like the feel of soft releases, and the look, but I don't see how they can actually reduce shake because the actual force, applied to the camera is the same.

you are not moving the end of your finger, you use the inside of the 2nd joint to squeeze down.

Less movement because you are not moving the end of your finger, you use the inside of your finger's 2nd joint to squeeze down. Once you've tried it you can see why there is less shake- just like there is less shake from a gentle (normal) push of your finger instead of a "stab" on the trigger button.

http://www.rapidwinder.com/softies.htm

 

[Daniel Lauring]

I like the feel of soft releases, and the look, but I don't see how they can actually reduce shake because the actual force, applied to the camera is the same.

you are not moving the end of your finger, you use the inside of the 2nd joint to squeeze down.

Less movement because you are not moving the end of your finger, you use the inside of your finger's 2nd joint to squeeze down. Once you've tried it you can see why there is less shake- just like there is less shake from a gentle (normal) push of your finger instead of a "stab" on the trigger button.

http://www.rapidwinder.com/softies.htm

That goes against what they teach you with handgun shooting where they recommend using the last pad of your finder and not the second joint for better accuracy. The goal is to keep the finger normal to the trigger and not impart any twisting or rolling and have the least effect on your grip.

 

[Alohaman]

Great! I haven't lost one yet, but I have to keep tightening the one I use or else it would fall off.

 

[Jeff Charles]

If you've used it on plumbing you'll know this may not be a good solution, because it gets "cut" by the threads and then can flake off into the shutter release hole. Or not.

My Mr. Tay's soft release has been on my X100 for 3 years, secured by plumber's tape, and it hasn't come off once. The one from Amazon that I'm using on my X-E2 came off only once in a year. I think the better cut threads of the Mr. Tay's help.

 

[Aaron Sur]

I second that, had mine for 6 months now never came off, the rubber oring seems to do the job

Aaron

 

[Matt Mikulla Photography]

After losing so many I gave up. Thanks for the tip.

What's a good soft release that's affordable? Probably buy a few just in case.

 

[Indulis Bernsteins]

I never found a good, cheap release. The good ones seem to be $20 and up. The cheap ones are aluminium, which I wouldn't trust on my camera, as the screw thread is too small to be strong.

 

[Chuck Eklund]

I agree with those who have the Lensmate soft release buttons. They stay in place and you have a wide choice of shapes and designs.

Chuck

 

[Indulis Bernsteins]

That goes against what they teach you with handgun shooting where they recommend using the last pad of your finder and not the second joint for better accuracy. The goal is to keep the finger normal to the trigger and not impart any twisting or rolling and have the least effect on your grip.

The same principle applies, least effort and least imparted movement. The gun trigger and handle is very different ergonomically to a camera body and shutter button. So different techniques for each case.

 

[Daniel Lauring]

That goes against what they teach you with handgun shooting where they recommend using the last pad of your finder and not the second joint for better accuracy. The goal is to keep the finger normal to the trigger and not impart any twisting or rolling and have the least effect on your grip.

The same principle applies, least effort and least imparted movement. The gun trigger and handle is very different ergonomically to a camera body and shutter button. So different techniques for each case.

I think it is very much the same. As you move to the last digit of your finger you impart less gripping change as you apply force, thereby imparting less twist in your grip. It is easier to isolate the action of the last digit while holding everything else steady. Steady with "follow-through" is how you avoid camera shake.

 

[mr moonlight]

That goes against what they teach you with handgun shooting where they recommend using the last pad of your finder and not the second joint for better accuracy. The goal is to keep the finger normal to the trigger and not impart any twisting or rolling and have the least effect on your grip.

The same principle applies, least effort and least imparted movement. The gun trigger and handle is very different ergonomically to a camera body and shutter button. So different techniques for each case.

I think it is very much the same. As you move to the last digit of your finger you impart less gripping change as you apply force, thereby imparting less twist in your grip. It is easier to isolate the action of the last digit while holding everything else steady. Steady with "follow-through" is how you avoid camera shake.

I personally prefer soft releases because they allow you to hit the trigger at different angles rather than straight on with the tip of your finger. I don't use my joint, but I do use the center of my last pad which allows me to get a better grip of my camera. Without the soft release I end up having to use more pressure to get past the ring around the trigger or use a sub-optimal grip while using my finger tip.

I imagine the place where your finger hits the soft release will vary from person to person depending on hand size.

 

[anglotexian]

Match Technical Services have 'released' their redesigned buttons which now incorporate a compression O-ring:

http://www.matchtechnical.com/Pages/OurNewSoftReleases.aspx

 

[ayukawa]

I used cheap one from Amazon, came off in few months.

Bought Decamera Consultant one from Mr. Tay, now is holding up to a year.

Will try Lensmate version soon together with the thumb rest.