Just a word of caution about after-market...

I use the ProDot from Custom Slr. They are made of a soft rubber/plastic and have a peel off adhesive backing. They stay on too. I've used them on several cameras. They are readily available from BH and Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Custom-ProDot-Shutter-Button-Upgrade/dp/B00AOFF8XK

Ben Herrmann wrote:

The adhesives on the Lolumina soft shutter release add-ons aren't the problem as they stick on just fine (and stay on). The issue is that there are two parts to the lolumina buttons - that is, one part is the extension (picture an upside thumb tack to get an idea). Using the thumb tack as a visual reference, now visualize the thumb tack portion (flat side) having the adhesive, while the pin side (which is a small screw), is the part sticking up. Now take that second part - the actual shutter release button - and screw it on that end. you now have an extension that sticks up quite a bit more.

The problem is that now you risk sideways pressure, depending how the camera is stored - whether it's the shutter release button rubbing on the inside of the bags, or the camera straps grabbing a hold the side of the extension button.

And if your OEM shutter release button is cheaply made (i.e. Olympus) - even if the cap on that button is made of metal (and not attached well at all), the Lolumina setup can rip off the cap from the OEM button. That's the caution here.

I made my own soft-release buttons from buttons salvaged from an old mp3 player. They work very well.

As you say, the problem is with the extremely poor method that Olympus uses to attach the shutter-release buttons. On my EPL5, the button is held on by two very small and very flimsy tabs and has a spring pressing against it. While, on my EP5, the button was held with a micro-dot of adhesive. Both very poor.

So far, the shutter-release button on my EPM1 seems to be holding well. It is clearly a different construction. The soft-release button has not dislodged it.

BTW: I used contact cement to re-glue the button on my EP5. So far, so good.

Allan

Note the Soft-Release button on the shutter button

Ben Herrmann wrote:

The adhesives on the Lolumina soft shutter release add-ons aren't the problem as they stick on just fine (and stay on). The issue is that there are two parts to the lolumina buttons - that is, one part is the extension (picture an upside thumb tack to get an idea). Using the thumb tack as a visual reference, now visualize the thumb tack portion (flat side) having the adhesive, while the pin side (which is a small screw), is the part sticking up. Now take that second part - the actual shutter release button - and screw it on that end. you now have an extension that sticks up quite a bit more.

The problem is that now you risk sideways pressure, depending how the camera is stored - whether it's the shutter release button rubbing on the inside of the bags, or the camera straps grabbing a hold the side of the extension button.

And if your OEM shutter release button is cheaply made (i.e. Olympus) - even if the cap on that button is made of metal (and not attached well at all), the Lolumina setup can rip off the cap from the OEM button. That's the caution here.

Again, the screw in types that you find on the most of the Fuji's and now the Pen F won't have any issues at all, unless you try to screw in an after-market add on with such tight force that something snaps off.

Thank you for the nice warnings and review.

Can you please be more specific with the scew-in types of soft release buttons?

I am interested specifically in adding a soft release button from Gariz to my Olympus Pen-F.

Do you think the screw-in type of Gariz can cause any faults to my Pen-F?

Also does olympus make OEM soft release add-ons buttons?

Thank you

Ben Herrmann wrote:

...add-on soft shutter release extender buttons - particularly, when used on Olympus camera models.

OK, so you're wondering what in the hell am I'm talkin' about here. Well here goes...

Right now you have the option of purchasing various 3rd party add-on soft shutter release buttons on line - whether on eBay, or from companies direct. They come in various sizes and colors and are meant to extend the feel of the shutter button , thus making sure you have a good "feel" where the button is. I've been using them for years.

There are the screw-in types - meaning, those that screw into the shutter release buttons that have recessed/screw openings. These can be found on various Fuji cameras, but very few (if any) of the micro 4/3 models. I've never had any issues with these types of soft shutter releases at all.

The other type is a design whereby the add-on button "sticks" on to the current buttons on your micro four three cameras using an adhesive. One of those manufacturers, Lolumina (which is a hi-quality manufacturer of these products), is one that I began using early on. Now keep in mind that although Lolumina versions are the best of the "stick-on" types, their button assembly height adds quite a bit more height to the shutter release button when attached.

But here's the key, and you have to be very careful - in particular, with Olympus cameras. To begin with, Oly shutter release buttons usually have a metal or plastic cap that slips over the plasticized shutter release button mechanism underneath. For the most part, you never notice this because it rarely comes apart. These OEM caps are not glued on firmly at all and can easily be yanked apart with the right pressure. Now, by sticking on a soft shutter release button (which raises the profile of the shutter release button) - in particular, with the Lolumina ones - you now run the risk (with any type of sidewards force/pressure, which can occur in a camera bag, or a camera strap catching it) of the soft shutter release ripping off the cap that Olympus places on their mechanisms.

It's happened to me several times now (using the Lolumina versions). In one case, the cap (with soft shutter release firmly attached) was pulled off. Although I baby all of my cameras, the camera strap on my E-P5 caught the edge of the Lolumina soft release button and it ripped off the base cap. OK, I thought, I'll just apply a very, very small amount of Gorilla glue (we're talkin' using a pinhead to apply) inside of the cap. I then pushed it back on, thinking that this would solve the situation. Boy, was I unpleasantly surprised when it dried. Somehow, even that small amount of gorilla glue managed to solidly lock the entire shutter release button. I subsequently had to eat the $145 cost to send it in to Olympus to replace the shutter button mechanism. Obviously, I'd never do that again.

Then it happened 3 more times (same scenario - the Lolumina button with sidewards pressure, pulled off the caps on the Fuji X-S1, Oly E-M5, and E-PL7). I managed to fix the Fuji X-S1 button which is this really chintzy (cheap) little clothespin device, which came out. I managed to just push that one back in until it clicked into position. But with the other Olympus cameras I mentioned, instead of trying to glue them again, I sought advice and assistance from an engineer friend of mine on how to fix it, and he did (don't ask me how he did it - but he did). I'm guessing he used a different type of glue.

So what I'm getting at is that although these soft shutter seem convenient and are great add-on devices for many cameras, there are some cameras whereby their OEM shutter buttons assemblies can become damaged (usually with sideways pressure thanks to the extended soft release button that was stuck on them).

Please - I'm just offering this up for advice. If it never happened to you, well good for you, but that doesn't mean it can't occur. Be cautious when sticking on any types of soft shutter releases. They look great, but by the mere nature of their extended height, sidewards pressure can dislodge or damage the shutter release buttons on various cameras - mostly Olympus from what I've discovered.

I lost the top of my shutter button on E-PL5 without sticking anything to it. It just came off one day. I still have that E-PL5 as a secondary camera and use it without the top cap, works like a charm and is better to the touch since the black plastic below the top has ridges and is easier to locate by touch.

Have you guys seen the OEM Olympus Pen-f Decoration kit?

Soft release button plus hot shoe cover.