Cable Release 4x5

[Alan Klein]

Just starting out. I have a Schneider 150mm APO Synnar f/5.6 lens with Copal 0 shutter for 4x5 camera. What shutter release cable do you recommend?

Length:
Covering: Cloth? PVC? etc?
Lockable type? Yes/no Why would I need that since the lens comes with B and T shutter settings?

Tks
Alan

[BrianShaw]

Length might be more important than any other concern you’ve listed above. Too long and they bind. Too short and they hard to work with. Six inches.

[Alan Klein]

Here are my specific questions.

Length:
Covering: Cloth? PVC? etc?
Lockable type? Yes/no? Why would I need that since the lens comes with B and T shutter settings?
DOes stroke matter for a 4x5 Copal 0 lens?

[BrianShaw]

What cable releases do you currently have?

What are the functions you expect a cable release to do for you?

Stroke length is largely irrelevant except for specific vintage shutters.

[Alan Klein]

Brian: I have a 20" cloth covered one that I used with my medium format camera. I have no idea the brand. See pix. Since stroke doesn;t matter, it should work. It has a little locking knob on the side. SInce the 4x5 lenses I ordered comes Copal 0 B and T shutter settings, do you even need the lock? Couldn;t you use one of those settings and press it twice to open the shutter and close the shitter?

[Alan Klein]

Here's pix.

[John Kasaian]

Just starting out. I have a Schneider 150mm APO Synnar f/5.6 lens with Copal 0 shutter for 4x5 camera. What shutter release cable do you recommend?

Length:
Covering: Cloth? PVC? etc?
Lockable type? Yes/no Why would I need that since the lens comes with B and T shutter settings?

Tks
Alan

A good length is one that doesn't get in the way. If the socket the cable threads in to is near the top of the shutter I like a cable long enough so that it freely hangs outside the field of view.

Covering is a personal choice. My Minette has an attractive red fabric "chick magnet" cover, The Gepes are either black PVC or metal braid. IMHO the fabric covered usually can be coiled up in a smaller package for transport/storage, but thinner cheap fabric on the bargain cable releases will wear more quickly, if this matters to you.

My preference is for the disc lock. Once I got used to it it becomes second nature. IMHO a screw lock is a PITA but most every quality cable release is going to come with a lock, so you might as well get the style you like.

I hope this helps!

[Andy Eads]

Alan, PVC has a tendency to get brittle and stiff with age and in cold. The woven sheaths do not. - Andy

[BrianShaw]

That will work, Alan... although I prefer shorter. I find the long ones both bind a “get in the way” to quote John K.

A locking release gives you a redundant option for long exposure when using a shutter with b or t. So it really doesn’t matter in your case. For long exposures with a shutter that does not have b or t it’s quite useful.

[Greg]

Woven metal threaded cables work fine except in the winter at below freezing temperatures when you drop one onto wet snow and the cable freezes up. Over the years have dropped a non-metal woven one into a stream, again at below freezing temperatures, with no problems.