LEICA Barnack Berek Blog: NEW ACCESSORY FOR LEICA – KOMARU TITANIUM SOFT RELEASE BUTTON

We are happy to introduce a new sponsor of the LEICA Barnack Berek Blog, KOMARU.

KOMARU ('little circle' in Japanese) is a titanium soft release button with an innovative dual contour. Each Komaru is individually machined, partly by hand, in an aeronautical-grade engineering workshop in Toulouse (France).

Dual contour innovation:

Don’t forget that the aim of a soft release is to enhance precision and stability at release, sometimes gaining more than one aperture stop. Up until now, soft release buttons were either concave or convex, depending on the manufacturer. For the first time, Komaru is offering a dual contour button, convex on the outside and concave in the centre. This more ergonomic solution is inspired by the keys on a flute, both domed and hollowed out to provide a better fit with the musician's fingertip. In this way Komaru instinctively and immediately centers the finger, and therefore the release pressure.

The sensual feel of titanium:

Titanium and the skin go together hand and hand. Hypoallergenic, it is used in medical applications but also jewelry for its sensual contact and because its surface, insensitive to perspiration, always remains flawless.

Security of the universal conical screw:

Komaru offers better thread locking, due to the unique hardness of titanium TA6V. The thread cannot be misthreaded and can be screwed in tightly. This reduces the risk of unscrewing through vibration (leading to loss of the soft release). What's more, Komaru's short conical thread is compatible with all bodies, old or new, such as the latest Leica M models.

Design and special finishes:

By perfecting Komaru's innovative design, Patrick-Borie-Duclaud, photographer and main importer of soft releases, has also chosen to use his personal passion to evoke the purity of Japanese graphic culture. The button's discreet knurling and its ideal 15 mm diameter blend harmoniously with the lines of different makes of cameras. To this end, Komaru is available in two original finishes:

Raw titanium: for a gloss effect similar to silver, with subtle milling marks.

Matte titanium: the surface is micro-beaded for a matt anthracite finish.

Photo: Tim Braeseale, Leica Store Miami

Patrick-Borie-Duclaud worked with a design company for the original conception and in about six weeks an anodized version in Black and Red will be released.

The packaging is made in Switzerland from a high quality micro fiber cloth which can be used to clean the camera. This is an excellent approach to use packaging that will not be thrown away.

In the US KOMARU soft releases are available at the Leica Store Miami

Contact: Patrick Borie-Duclaud

patrick@taos-photographic.com

www.taos-photographic.com

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For more information on KOMARU and for orders go to: www.taos-photographic.com

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