Cable release not fitting into socket on shutter

[JohnF]

I have a 150 mm Symmar-S f 5.6 mounted on a shutter that’s only brand labelling is ‘Lens made in Germany’ and the numbers 051-30.
I am unable to confidently fit the cable release to the shutter. Its travel into the socket is very small and the cable easily falls out. I have tried a number of different cables - all have the same problem.
I assume there is damage to the thread within the socket. Is there any solution to this?
Thanks

[Alan Klein]

Can you try to rethread it? I don;t know what threader you need though.

[domaz]

I'm pretty sure cable release sockets are "fluted" so it would be difficult to rethread with a conventional tap. If you can find a part just replacing the shutter socket is not usually that difficult.

[xkaes]

I have a 150 mm Symmar-S f 5.6 mounted on a shutter that’s only brand labelling is ‘Lens made in Germany’ and the numbers 051-30.

It could be an AGFA shutter -- does it have the tiny "AG" icon on it? -- but all the ones I've seen use a "normal" cable release thread.

[Tin Can]

I found the Taper Tap long ago

it is somewhere here

not looking for it

[Drew Wiley]

The socket threads eventually strip. With most shutters they are removable and replaceable. If it's a Symmar S which was sold in the US, it's most likely a Copal shutter, with the socket attachment held by two tiny screws. But the quality control of release cables varies widely, and some don't fit anything well, and tend to prematurely wear out the shutter socket threads.

[Tin Can]

expedables

[Alan Klein]

The socket threads eventually strip. With most shutters they are removable and replaceable. If it's a Symmar S which was sold in the US, it's most likely a Copal shutter, with the socket attachment held by two tiny screws. But the quality control of release cables varies widely, and some don't fit anything well, and tend to prematurely wear out the shutter socket threads.

I keep a cable on each of my four lenses ready to shoot. It saves time having to screw it in and out. I suppose that should help also with not stripping the threading.

[Maris Rusis]

This has happened to me twice. Each time I found a tiny broken off cable release tip still in the socket. A little screw driver was used to back the piece out and all was good.

[John Layton]

I'm with Alan K...in that I keep good quality (Pentax 20" cloth covered) cable releases on my four most-used LF lenses. Helps to prevent wear on those sockets, and also compensates for the age-related wear on my brain...which leads to things like forgetting my cable releases!

And yes...quality control of cable releases is all over the map! They either don't fit properly and/or they seem to spring apart at the most inconvenient times. I'd gotten a recommendation a few years back to look into the Pentax cloth releases (I prefer the cloth releases for their suppleness)...and I'm glad I did!

[Alan Klein]

I'm with Alan K...in that I keep good quality (Pentax 20" cloth covered) cable releases on my four most-used LF lenses. Helps to prevent wear on those sockets, and also compensates for the age-related wear on my brain...which leads to things like forgetting my cable releases!

And yes...quality control of cable releases is all over the map! They either don't fit properly and/or they seem to spring apart at the most inconvenient times. I'd gotten a recommendation a few years back to look into the Pentax cloth releases (I prefer the cloth releases for their suppleness)...and I'm glad I did!

You just reminded me why I did that. I too would take the camera with lens mounted from the car to the spot to shoot only realizing I forgot the cable release left in the camera case and have to walk back to the car. That's why I added them to all my lenses. They still unscrew and get loose if I don't tighten them right. I'm using these Gepe 20" cloth type. I can wind them around the lens when I store the lens back into the camera case.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272789-REG/Gepe_602011_Cloth_Covered_Cable_Release.html

[John Layton]

Ha! Also reminds me that I actually got pretty good at tripping the shutter (very...very carefully!) without a cable release!

[Jim Andrada]

Ah yes, the "breathe gently on the shutter and it will trip without a cable release" trick. Have to admit that I've gotten pretty good at it as well. Beats driving home to find the release cable that I was certain was in the camera bag.

[Tin Can]

Maybe 2011 I bought on eBay 2 Ten packs of NOS 6” cloth cable shutter releases

$20

They fit inside most camera case

The seller had many more

For a while

[Tin Can]

Seems many cable releases' are a bargain right now

Just bought a fistful

Seller asked me how long and what type

[Jim Jones]

Old American made cable shutters and releases (and perhaps some imports intended for American markets) used a straight, not tapered, thread. That thread was American Standard Thread No. 5-rr NF-2. The OP's problem sounds like what I experienced when using the standard tapered thread cables in the old American Standard thread shutters. Sometimes it works, but the cable release is not securely attached to the shutter.

[Alan Klein]

Old American made cable shutters and releases (and perhaps some imports intended for American markets) used a straight, not tapered, thread. That thread was American Standard Thread No. 5-rr NF-2. The OP's problem sounds like what I experienced when using the standard tapered thread cables in the old American Standard thread shutters. Sometimes it works, but the cable release is not securely attached to the shutter.

What thread and cable release should be picked for standard Schneider, Nikon, Fujikon, etc lenses? Tapered? Non tapered?

What are normally sold at B&H and other retailers?

[Jim Jones]

Tapered thread has been the standard everywhere for many decades. The straight thread in the above post was an American oddity that hasn't been used even on American cameras for decades.

[Greg]

Its travel into the socket is very small and the cable easily falls out.

Is the female thread in the shutter tapered? I have two shutters that their threads are not tapered. If you try to screw a regular tapered shutter release into them, the tapered thread on the cable release will only catch on maybe one thread and if you press the release the cable falls out. FYI: Polaroid Copal self cocking shutters have non-tapered female threads in them.