Tom Abrahamsson Classic & MiniSoftrelease
Classic Softrelease; since July 1998 & MiniSoftrelease; since Feb. 2002
Softreleases (Classic & Mini) in 6 colours - for Leica, Nikon, Bessa/Voigtlander, Rollei, other Rangefinder cameras.
Above The 85 Iconic Mr B-softies (part of profits were given to BCSPCA)
Sometimes the simplest of things makes a big difference. There have been many variations of the Softreleases made over the years, but they were either too tall or even worse had a concave surface. This “directed” the finger to the center of the Softrelease and, of course, pushed the camera downward.
The Abrahamsson Softie has a convex surface that allows you to touch the release at the edge for fast shooting (no more hunting for the center) and more importantly; you can “hook” your finger over the convex surface and, as with target shooting, use the 2nd joint of the finger to control the pressure on the release.
After some training you can gain as much as 1 stop in slow speed shooting and with some luck, up to 1.5 stops. It is possible to shoot at 1/8 sec with a 50mm lens and get sharp images. Wider lenses work even slower, down to ½ sec.
The material used for the Abrahamsson Softie is aerospace alloy which allows multiple colors to be produced.
Colours can be used for “coding” film; Tri X –green
softie, Ektachrome – blue Softie, etc.
The aerospace alloy also allows engraving.
The Softie works basically with any camera with a standard cable release thread. The “Mini” version of it was a response to customers wanting to use the Softrelease on other brands of cameras as well as with the Leicas.
How to use the Softrelease
For slow exposures you "hook" the finger over the Softie - using the second joint to squeeze it down. Once perfected you gain at least 1 f-stop in hand-held speed. Please see picture of Tom showing this below.
Prices & Payment Methods
Both the Classic and MiniSoftrelease cost US$ 19/each -
excluding delivery, VISA/MC & Paypal and handling-charges.
For larger quantities - 20 or more Softies - please contact us on the price.
Please e-mail us regarding delivery cost to your location/country and your payment method (VISA/MC & Paypal-charges)
We accept payment by Paypal, VISA, MasterCard, International Money Order (IMO) and personal check drawn on North American Bank. Please make IMO's and checks payable to "One-Off Industrial Designs". Please send VISA & MC- information in two e-mails; first one with VISA or MC-number and second with exp. date. Charge for payment with Paypal and VISA and MC apply.
The Classic Softrelease (15mm diameter) available currently in
·
matte black
·
chrome
. green
- red
- blue
- purple
The MiniSoftreleases (8mm diameter) is available in
matte black, chrome, green, red and blue
Both the Classic and Mini Blue Softie are good match with Zeiss Ikon (see below)
Softrelease description and Cameras they fit according to shooter/user reports
The Abrahamsson Softrelease is a simple device that can help you get sharper pictures by smoothing out your shutter release technique. It is a dome-shaped "button" that screws into the regular cable release (using the same thread as the cable release).
There are/have been a lot of these done over the years: dish shaped cast aluminum ones (notorious for breaking off in the thread), small plastic ones with camera names on them, and of course, the Leica one; a complex, tall spring loaded device that forever got caught in straps and stood ¾" proud of the camera (it is also a highly collectible device, easily costing $50 at the trade shows).
I
decided to design my own Softrelease - I disliked the dish shaped version, it required
that you use the tip of your finger
to release the shutter - not conducive to a smooth action. By making the top
dome shaped you can use the joint
on your finger to squeeze the release - very much akin to firing a
target-pistol or a rifle. The diameter is the same
as the cup surrounding the M release button. The edge is knurled so
you
can easily unscrew it if required.
It is machined of aerospace alloy on a CNC (computer numerically
controlled) machining center. It comes in
a variety of colors (some users indicate film-type with the different colors).
Nothing is of course perfect - the Softrelease is also prone to releasing the
shutter every time you put it in a
camera bag, but in my estimation, that's a low price to pay for the sharper
image that you get, at least when
you are shooting in the very slow range. Without the release I can probably get
a 50% success rate with a 50-mm
lens and 1/15th speed. With the Softrelease I can get down as low as ¼ or 1/8 of a
sec and still be reasonably sure of
getting sharp images. It is amazing what you can get on film with a 50/1 and
Delta 3200 film.
Cameras Softies fit - info ( as of Sept. 15/09) based on feedback from our customers & shooters:
Both the Classic (diameter 15mm) and MiniSoftrelease (diameter 10 mm) fit a Leica or any other camera with a standard cable release.
The release in the Leica M7 can cause a "notchy" feel as there is a small switch on the shaft of the release .
Occasionally users have mentioned that the Softie "magnifies" the feel of the switch engaging. I used the Softie on my M7 when I had one and
encountered no problems. Many shooters seem to also prefer the MiniSoftie on their M7.
The shooters report that they also use the Classic Softie on:
- R4M
- Rollei 35
- Rolleiflex T
- Pentax (not Pentax LX)
- Fuji 645 (rangefinder)
- Nikon FM
- Nikon FE2
- Nikon F3/T
- Nikkormat FTN
- Nikkormat FT2
-Canon P (according to Karen Nakamura)
- Koni-Omega Rapid (which means it should fit the Rapid M, 100 and 200 models
as well)
- Kodak Retina IIIC (so-called "Big C" - should fit the IIIc as well)
- Kodak Retina Reflex
- Bessa L
- Bessa T (the early models only?)
- Zeiss Ikon
- Olympus OM1 and OM2 and OM3
- Fujica GW690
- Canon F1 ( the original version - don't screw in all the way on the new model F1)
The MiniSoftrelease fits according to user/shooter info:
Voigtlander Bessa L, T, R, R2, R2A, R3A, R2M, R3M,R4
RD-1
Rollei 35
Rollei TLR's including the GX
Rolleiflex (does not fit Rolleiflex 35E the thread of which is too small)
Leica R 6-2
Canon F1, FTb, FL, L1, etc. (manual focus SLRs)
Nikon FM2, FE2, FM3A (not original FM and FE)
Pentax Manual Focus SLRs such as K1000, ME, MX
Fuji GW series
Seagull 4a-107
Zorki 3m
Super Ikonta C
Super Ikonta III
Agfa Super Isolette
Leica M Rangefinders (not screwmount Leica rangefinders)
Olympus OM series (not Pen F, FT, or Pen half frames), Olympus 35 SP, Olympus 35 RC
The MiniSoftie fits most mechanical fixed lens rangefinders, including the compact '70s rangefinders.
The Mini does not fit Minolta 7sII, Pentax Spotmatic (too small for it) or Contax S2 or Rolleiflex 35E.
Will the MiniSoftrelease Fit YOUR camera? If your round shutter release button has a threaded socket for a mechanical cable release, the chances are the MiniSoftrelease will work.
The MiniSoftrelease does NOT fit cameras requiring a cable release adapter which fits OVER the shutter release (instead of screwing INTO the shutter release), such as Nikon rangefinders, Nikon F and F2, and Leica screw mount rangefinders
"It works like a charm on the ROLLEIFLEX 2.8GX and should work well on the E, F, and T", Terry Cioni reported.
"The Minisoftrelease I bought a while ago for my Spotmatic F now fits perfectly on my Minolta Hi-Matic 7. It's a useful tool, since the shutter release of the Minolta is very deep and demands a strong squeeze. It helps spreading the pressure a little bit on the finger", Michel emailed on June 29, 2007
The Mini does NOT fit Voigtlander Prominent.
the Mini does not fit Rolleiflex Planar 3.5 C.
MiniSofties on Hasselblad's
Dr Gabor Samjeske gabor@cat.hokudai.ac.jp
in
"I just had a look at your web site again, regarding which cameras the soft release will fit. I tested the Mini-Softie with my Hasselblad 500 C/M and it works !! It screws into the thread and the shutter can be fired."
However we also have some conflicting information from another shooter who wrote:
The cameras I cannot seem to fit your softies on are my Hasselblad 500C, 500C/M and SWC."
Problem fits with Classic Softie
- Canonet G-III QL17 and Konica Auto S3. (On these two, the SoftRelease threads don't seem to screw all the way in?)
The Classic Softie does not fit Yashicas.
The classic Softie on Pentax 67II does not work. The threads go all the way in and never catch
Suggestions how not to lose the Softrelese in case of crude cable release attachment:
The reason for the loosening of the Softie is that the thread in the cable release attachment is very "crude" - it is only about 2 ½ turns from loose to lock and that makes it difficult to tighten the Softie down hard. It's a good habit to check once in awhile that your Softie is tightly screwed in. - I occasionally have also used some LocTite (the BLUE LocTite) on some of my Softies to keep them in place. This does work well, but if you use it you have to be careful when you apply it, or you could have a permanent locked shutter release.- Another trick that seems to work also is to paint the thread with nail polish and let it dry until it is slightly sticky and then screws it in. The Permatex works the same way as the LocTite, or even white glue, allowed to dry prior to screwing the Softie in.
Custom Engraved Softies for Companies & Organisations:
We also make laser-engraved Softies for various purposes (LUG - & LHSA-meetings we attend, etc.). Please contact us about getting your own engraved Softie(s) at TTAbrahams@shaw.ca Our engraver prefers to work in batches of 100 and you might have to supply the Adobe Illustrator (AI) file for the engraving.
In September 2009 we will make a Limited edition Classic "Mr B-Softie" - for design pls click at
http://flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/490755432/in/set-72157600193787563/
Below pictures of some of the limited edition LUG/LHSA-Softies (100 of each edition) we have made
