Customizing an Alpha 900 for disability

[HamSammich]

This may be a somewhat esoteric request. Then again, it's a pretty esoteric crowd.

Longtime photographer who's got a Sony A900 and a benign but frustrating hand tremor.

Consequently, I do most of my work on a tripod. However, living in Manhattan makes street photography well-nigh irresistible so. . . The in-body IS is lovely. Propping the camera on my forearm and wedging it into my shoulder helps, too, though it lends the impression I'm aiming a dueling pistol--not exactly low-profile.

What would help even more is a softer shutter release. The 900's pretty good as it is, but I'd like to tweak it, somehow, to lighten it further still.

Factory service techs rarely even countenance such work. Anyone know of a good independent Sony/Minolta repair person who might have the chops to take it on? I'm looking for a modern-day reincarnation of Marty Forscher, if that's even possible, anymore.

That or a gunsmith who loves cameras.

Just for reference purposes--and I know this is totally unfeasible--my ideal camera for smooth shutter-release action was a Rollei TLR: Long, smooth, light. That or an Autocord or, perhaps, a Leica M3. I know, I know, apples and grapefruits. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Marshall

[feppe]

This may be a somewhat esoteric request. Then again, it's a pretty esoteric crowd.

Longtime photographer who's got a Sony A900 and a benign but frustrating hand tremor.

Consequently, I do most of my work on a tripod. However, living in Manhattan makes street photography well-nigh irresistible so. . . The in-body IS is lovely. Propping the camera on my forearm and wedging it into my shoulder helps, too, though it lends the impression I'm aiming a dueling pistol--not exactly low-profile.

What would help even more is a softer shutter release. The 900's pretty good as it is, but I'd like to tweak it, somehow, to lighten it further still.

Factory service techs rarely even countenance such work. Anyone know of a good independent Sony/Minolta repair person who might have the chops to take it on? I'm looking for a modern-day reincarnation of Marty Forscher, if that's even possible, anymore.

That or a gunsmith who loves cameras.

Just for reference purposes--and I know this is totally unfeasible--my ideal camera for smooth shutter-release action was a Rollei TLR: Long, smooth, light. That or an Autocord or, perhaps, a Leica M3. I know, I know, apples and grapefruits. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Marshall

May I suggest buying a remote wired/wireless shutter release? The one I use on my Canon has a long, smooth and light release, and hand tremors wouldn't have any impact whatsoever with a remote. That way you could hold the camera in whichever way avoids camera movement, and not having to touch or handle the camera to trip the shutter.

I've seen pictures of actual rifle shoulder stocks fitted on to a camera tripod socket. But this would be even more suspect on Manhattan than the solution you described  Would make for interesting stories, for sure.

[HamSammich]

May I suggest buying a remote wired/wireless shutter release?

Thanks. Already have one. It's unwieldy to hand-hold and shoot that way.

Perhaps I should have phrased the question differently. I'm really looking for a tech who can modify the camera, not an alternative to modifying the camera.

Thanks, though.

[Theresa]

Thanks. Already have one. It's unwieldy to hand-hold and shoot that way.

Perhaps I should have phrased the question differently. I'm really looking for a tech who can modify the camera, not an alternative to modifying the camera.

Thanks, though.

I have that problem too.  Talk to your doctor about propranolol (Inderal).  It helps me immensely.  I made it through nursing school because I took it.  Certain medications make the tremor much worse, I avoid those meds.  Super Steady Shot also helps a great deal, when using my X700 I found it nearly impossible to take a sharp picture.  Right now I am shopping for a good tripod, the cheap one I bought was no better than hand holding.  Its tough because I am disabled (not because of the tremor) and have a very limited income.  So far I have found a tripod (Manfrotto) for under $200 but its heavy as its inexpensive, aluminum and sturdy.  Reading posts from so many people that have seemingly unlimited income tends to depress me.  Keeping my left arm against my chest and propping the lens up with my left hand seems to be second nature to me probably because forty years ago when I used a Nikon FTN and a Speed Graphic handheld I developed the technique without using propranolol.  Keep shooting, I think practice makes one better at compensating.  I was advised by a pair of neurologists that I should go to a movement disorder clinic at the University but so far haven't gotten around to it.
You aren't alone.

[Jonathan Ratzlaff]

I have a friend that connected an air switch to his cable release.  Blowing into it sets off the shutter. He uses this with long telephoto lenses as he gets a smoother release that way.

There are a number of organizations that modify equipment for people with disabilities.  Do a google search and see if there is one in your vicinity