[RR84]

During my travels in Japan last month, I managed to pick up this Pentax shutter button. It was unopened, new old stock. Looks great on the MX, will post some photos soon.

[jatrax]

Ok, what does it do?

[RR84]

Ok, what does it do?

A soft release shutter button just helps to stabilise the shutter by adding more surface area for your index finger to press. There's some nice custom made ones here.

[jatrax]

Thanks, never saw that before.

[stevebrot]

Thanks, never saw that before.

They only work for shutter releases having a threaded cable release fitting. I have never seen a Pentax version before, but they are very popular with rangefinder film photographers. Some are large and some tiny and many of them serve as sort of a subtle bling. Tom Abrahamsson is credited for much of the resurgence in the popularity of these items. His product page gives a short rational for using one:

Abrahamsson Softie – Regular and M-Softie | Rapidwinder


Steve

(...am thinking about getting one for my Bessa R3M...)

[jatrax]

Some are large and some tiny and many of them serve as sort of a subtle bling.

Yeah, saw that on the site linked to. Kinda cool, but unfortunately I'm not drilling and tapping a threaded hole in my k-3

[RR84]

Here's the new Pentax soft release shutter button on my MX. To my surprise, it actually makes a compact SLR like this easier to handle and gives you more leverage on the shutter.