Being the Designer of My Own: Launch of Air Clicker Soft Release Button

Dream, we all do

We all have a dream, I do too.

Back in 2019, I had a vision to create a camera accessory of my own, something that would make my already beautiful M2 unique, providing complement efforts with the brassing so that it ages in style.

I was trying to find a small problem to solve. One thing that has always irritated me was the fact that soft release buttons tend to sit quite high, needing an O-ring to hold it in place. With the idea of starting small, my goal was to make a button that would sit perfectly on top of my Leica camera. 

Concept

One day in 2023, I was sitting at a cafe with my coffee and had a rush of itch to sketch. After many iterations, what you see in the soft release pack became the final design.

A soft release button isn’t just for decoration. When I first got my film camera, I learned how a soft release button can help stabilize the camera, giving you almost an extra stop of protection against camera shake. The trick is to use the second part of your index finger, and since then, I’ve loved using it.

The concept for Air Clicker was simple: sits perfectly and looks timeless. When it comes to camera accessories, I am passionate about finding the perfect blend between beauty and practicality.

I went through quite a few prototypes during the design and production phases. Credit to my camera crew in Hong Kong for lending me all the available models for testing! 

Materials

Titanium and stainless steel were the first materials I chose to try. Stainless steel with a polished, glossy finish and titanium gray with a matte finish provide a subtle look that matches perfectly with both black chrome and silver chrome cameras.

Finally, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the first-ever product designed by me under the Tahusa brand: the Air Clicker soft release button! They are available in two materials, and each material comes in either a short or long screw thread length to fit a wide range of cameras. If you’re unsure which length to get, always go for the long one. 

Each Air Clicker is manufactured with high precision and care, to me, this last touch was perfect – a unique serial number to mark the birth of every piece.