Long exposure lever on V models

[vania_plemiannikov]

Hello,

I'm considering replacing my 503cx from the

early 80's with a newer 501cm because of a

fair deal I found. The body feels much nicer

and I've been wanting that gliding mirror a

lot! But something I really liked about the cx

was the lever on the release button that

keeps the shutter open without the need of a

cable release. Immensely useful in my

opinion and I used it a lot! Is that option

gone with the newer models? Both the

501cm and 503cw. Do you now have to

carry around a cable for very long

exposures? Or is there some sort of T

mode?

Thanks for your help.

Vania

[BrianS1664879711]

<p>Yes... locking cable release, or a series of exposures.</p>

[vania_plemiannikov]

Same for the 503cw or should I look for

that one instead?

[q.g._de_bakker]

Same.<br>The locking cable release is the better option, for the reason a cable release is used in the first place: less chance to move the camera when releasing the shutter.

[vania_plemiannikov]

A shame really!

Thanks for the info.

[donbright]

<p>Not really a shame, just a adjustment to a working mode, or method. Photography is riddled with idiosyncrasies, we just weigh them out, prioritize. I use a locking cable release, it works.</p>

[sfcole]

<p>That time lever has got to be the dumbest feature ever. I'd never trust myself to trip it closed without moving the camera. Imagine accidentally moving the camera after a very long exposure and wasting all that time...</p>

[brett_rogers]

<p>Not at all Scott. When using a C lens fitted with self timer, the T lock for the shutter release is extremely helpful in order to keep the rear shutters open until the timer fires the lens shutter. It's fitted for a very good reason.</p>

[vania_plemiannikov]

It´s kidda fun that because you think

you're too clumsy to take advantage of

a brilliant little feature it would make it

dumb... You should trust yourself a

little more and try to use it, which I

personally did countless times over the

last years without the slightest issue.

On the other hand when I travel around

I always forget/loose my release cable,

which made me love that lever a lot! To

each his own I guess.

Thanks all!

[ondebanks]

<blockquote>

<p>I'd never trust myself to trip it closed without moving the camera.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Just cover the lens first; then you can move the camera as much as you want. Old astrophotographers' trick - often called the "hat trick" because a dark hat could be used to cover the lens.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Imagine accidentally moving the camera after a very long exposure and wasting all that time...</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Say you've taken a 30 minute exposure; implying that the subject matter is very dim. So will anything in the scene be bright enough to register a detectable blur in the 2 seconds that you've bumped the camera? In many cases, no. </p>

<p>I don't have a Hasselblad, but I find the equivalent functionality (a mechanical long exposure T mode, which can be initiated by the self timer) to be extremely valuable features on my Mamiyas (645 1000s and 645AFD). </p>