A really nice cable release

[Kornscharfsteller]

I am about to get my first 4x5 camera and it is going to be a beautiful Chamonix C45F-2.
So far I only shot 35mm and medium format and used the cheapest prehistoric cable release from the flew market for this.
I know the ones I‘ve got may be good enough but because I am going 4x5 and the Chamonix is such a nice camera, I would like to do myself a favor and also get a really nice cable release for it.
Can you suggest a beautiful and decent cable release? What properties should a good cable release have when we‘re talking 4x5?
I know I may be overthinking it but it feels just wrong to use the 1€ releases with a 1500€ camera.

[Keith Pitman]

I recommend Nikon AR-3 cable releases. Well made and not expensive. You can find them on Ebay. Get two; cable releases are easy to lose and can be broken.

Edit: Just looked the AR-3 up on Ebay and found them more expensive than when I last bought. Still a good cable release.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Minolta SR-T Cables releases are also good. Also well made and not expensive. Prontors are good too.

[tgtaylor]

I picked up one of these last month at a local camera store for $20 in like new condition: https://kaiserfotous.com/20-professional-cable-release-with-lock/ It works on all of my lenses including Ilex and Alphas #5's which require a long throw. Best manual cable release I have owned to date.

Thomas

[grat]

Buy two.

[LabRat]

Most cable releases are ok, but the bad or broken ones really stand out... I hate the ones with the locking screws, prefer the self locking ones...

As mentioned, the Japanese camera OEM cables tend to be very good... Some fancy high-end cables I have had little to like about them, so I avoid them...

But cables are usually fairly cheap, so one you don't like can end up in the bottom of the kit in case of loss of your loved one...

Steve K

[grat]

I have two inexpensive ("cheap") cable releases (one went into 'backordered' status the instant I clicked "buy"), neither of which is particularly fancy. Both have the "twist" lock around the base of the plunger-- so I have to remember to test the cable release, and make sure the lock is (dis)engaged. One of them has a brightly colored handle to make it more obvious should it be left lying on the ground. The other is black on black on black.

[Peter De Smidt]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37073-REG/Nikon_664_AR_3_Mechanical_Cable_Release.html

[LocalHero1953]

I was advised to get a long one, and I'm glad I did. Everything in large format is on a bigger scale, so having a cable release that you can operate from the back of the camera is useful. Mine is 18", came s/h from ebay, and was sold as a 'vintage' cable release. I was lucky - got it for £2.50 and it is in excellent condition, very smooth, and has a lock-and-release disk around the plunger end.
And, yes, I have left it up the hills overnight, and found it again the next morning. Maybe I need a second one.

[esearing]

Get one with the twisting lock rather than a thumb screw lock that protrudes, at least 2feet in length. Before you take it out in the field wrap a thin layer of red or orange electrical or duct tape on both ends of the tubing to make it easy to find if you drop it. Check the thumb rest to see if it comes unscrewed easily. If it does, put some loctite or super glue on the threads then screw it back on. If you shoot in or around water frequently, get one of those small floating foam key chains and attach to it when near water. One for your Loupe too.

[Ethan]

I recommend Nikon AR-3 cable releases. Well made and not expensive. You can find them on Ebay. Get two; cable releases are easy to lose and can be broken.

Edit: Just looked the AR-3 up on Ebay and found them more expensive than when I last bought. Still a good cable release.

Nikon AR3 can still be bought new for $20. For some reason they're selling on ebay for twice that, which is more than a bit odd. I use one as well, and agree that they are a good choice

[PRJ]

The best release I've used is the old Minolta Cable Release II from back when quality was a priority. Incredibly well made. Covered white cable with heavy chrome ends. They are kind of hard to find. They have gone up on ebay over the last few years as well, but I have four of them now so I'm letting the cat out of the bag... The Minolta is super smooth. The other cable releases from back then are good too. Canon was a little better than Nikon in my opinion. I have a Canon somewhere around here too. The Nikon one used plastic in places, but for a new one they aren't very expensive. I agree with the above posters that say avoid the ones with the thumb screw lock. Those are horrible. The auto locking ones are best.

[Graeme Hamilton]

KEH has the Minolta ones in stock LN. Just picked up a couple they look really nice.

[William Whitaker]

Buy two.

+1

[Alan Gales]

A really nice cable release? If buying new, try the Gepe cloth covered ones. Not cheap but worth the money.

Prontors are also very nice but you have to find them on the used market.

Why just one? It's good to have a spare in case you lose one. Personally, I keep a cable release with each of my lenses.

[ic-racer]

I have never purchased a cable release. I have so many of them...where do they come from?? I think they came attached to shutters or in bags with 35mm cameras along with a bunches of filters and lens wipes...

[Pieter]

https://www.drahtauslöser.com/SITE/index.html

[tgtaylor]

https://www.drahtauslöser.com/SITE/index.html

Actually this is the one I have and not the Kaiser which it resembles.

Thomas

[Bob Salomon]

Actually this is the one I have and not the Kaiser which it resembles.

Thomas

They make all of Kaiser’s German releases. Also all of the GepePro releases.

[tgtaylor]

They make all of Kaiser’s German releases. Also all of the GepePro releases.

That makes sense Bob as it is almost identical in appearance. However I took a closer look at mine tis morning and on the top of the locking release it says "Made in Japan." Here's a photo on mine: 216792

The bell handle is metal with the incised stripes red. In addition the top of the bell is thicker with an incised red stripe. The end piece rotates and is reinforced with a buckling spring. Here's a photo of it attached to a 300mm Imagon on a recent shoot showing the action of the buckling spring:216793

I believe that I saw this at K&S i Palo Alto a number of years back when looking for a cable release (the red stripes ring a bell). But it was too pricey
at the time and I ended up getting another one for half the cost.

Thomas