Beginner here ... requesting opinion.

[wlewisiii]

Camera sounds are a really subjective thing, first of all. I've never found that much difference in the real world between my AE-1 and the M-3/CL I've used. Yes, the AE-1 was much "louder" (mirror slapping "thunk" included), but neither has _ever_ disturbed a subject when I needed to be discreet. I've never disturbed a subject with my Canon RF's either.

If you want the absolute minimum sound from a shutter, you will need a leaf shutter. Everything else will be louder. How much louder really is more dependant on what you hear, I think, than what anyone else hears...

Your milage will, of course, vary.

William

 

[Stephanie Brim]

The Canons are quiet. I took a photo of my grandmother (it's on the roll in the camera) and she didn't hear a thing...and I was 7 feet away.

I dunno about the sound on the Bessa R2, but I know that it won't be anything near the sound of the Rebel.

 

[lubitel]

I think rebel is not that loud, at least compared to AE-1. That's loud!

Bessa R is definitely not the quitest RF but I dont really care, because the second I point a camera at somebody, they know I am about to take a picture anyway. The quitest camera I have is minox 35gt.

 

[RML]

If you want disturbingly noisy shutter noise try the Praktica MTL 5. Compaired to that my Bessas are whispery quiet. 🙂

 

[RML]

My Eos 300D is much quieter than my Bessas. Iwas a bit surprised about that.

I found my M2 to be a little too quiet. In a noisy street or with the wind blowing around my ears I often fail to hear the shutter click, leaving my wondering whether anything happened at all. I rather have a bit more shutter noise (like the Bessas). At least I won't be in doubt until I see the negs.

 

[daveozzz]

Yeah I find (suprisingly) my FM3a quieter than a Bessa R but I think it's a lot to do with the pitch of the sound. I would never call the Bessa loud but has an attention grabbing clack I found. Didn't bother me though.

I think you're thinking along the right lines with the Bessa T. I sadly had to let me Bessa R's go because I couldn't get comfortable with hit or miss close focussing - maybe my glasses didn't help... I only recently found out a Bessa T had 1.5x mag and kind of kicking myself I hadn't tried that before jumping ship.

 

[Nando]

I found the Bessa R that I borrowed to be much quieter than my Rebel. If the T or R2/R2a are similar then I think I'll be happy. I'm now going back and forth between a Bessa T and a Bessa R2. Decisions... decisions...

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Well, we all know what I'm pulling for here. 😉 Seriously. I'm telling you to buy it so that I don't have to...that tax return is going to come and I'm going to *have* to get something with it. The R2 was a dream camera for me years ago because it was a cheap way into the M system and, though I really do want to find an olive body, that thing is just too tempting. Regardless of the fact that I wouldn't be able to afford an m-mount lens for quite a while after I bought it, the appeal is great enough that I know I'd pass up even a bloody Ultron to get the thing. So buy the R2. Think of how happy I'll be with my Ultron. 😛

 

[taffer]

Hi Taffer. Yes my first name is Fernando. My parents have a house in Coimbra (the old Portuguese capital) though my family roots are in a little rural village about 20 minutes outside of the city. I spend most of my summers in Portugal and my winters in Canada (yes, I know its the opposite of what a normal person should do). I once went to Sant Boi to see the Roman baths while visiting Barcelona about 12 years ago. Quite a nice (and busy) town. I try to also visit Spain everytime I go to Portugal since I love the architecture. Your suggestion of a fast Canon 50 is intriguing.

Hi Nando ! The Roman baths are still there, but that zone has experienced quite some changes (even though (amazingly) not complete so far). There's now a nice museum built around the baths, who was going to tell me, when they were completely exposed and surrounded by that 'jungle' years ago 😀 I see them everyday on my way to the train station.

And if it was busy back then... man, sometimes the streets around Catalunya Square make me think on 5th Ave or something, you have to play dodge people all time...

Back on topic, just let us know what you decide in the end ! And whatever you choose, have fun with it !

Oscar

 

[dostacos]

If you want disturbingly noisy shutter noise try the Praktica MTL 5. Compaired to that my Bessas are whispery quiet. 🙂

you oughta hear my KIEV 88 😱

my Yashica is quiet

 

[danielnorton]

r3a

r3a

I second the vote for an R3A. I use one with the 40/1.4 and CV 75 (for portaits) as well as a Jupiter 8 and plan on picking up a 21 soon. I like the 1:1 for focusing and feel it's quiet enough for most situations.

When I really need quiet, I reach for my Konica Hexar AF.. now that is a quiet camera. :angel:

 

[Nando]

Well after much thought, I decided that a Bessa T is probably the best camera for me at the moment. I'm still going to hold out for a little while (maybe a month or so) to see if I can come across a nice black or grey Heliar set on E-bay for a descent price. I find them very good looking cameras and I wouldn't mind a nice 50mm lense like the 50/3.5 Heliar. I just hope that Stephen Gandy's stock of regular silver bodies doesn't run out in that time. Now that I've chosen my gear, I can use the extra time in phase 2 of my plan (convincing my better half that I need yet another gizmo).

I'm not sure whether I will like or dislike the external viewfinders. I enjoyed using the external CV viewfinders on the Leica IIIf that I borrowed. I must admit, I was never in the situation where I had to change lenses quickly. Perhaps I can find a small and suitable belt-bag for them that would allow me to have something close at hand to put them in when changing lenses quickly. I figured that if I end up not liking them then I could always sell the T and the viewfinders while keeping the lenses for use with another body. There seems like there is a pretty healthy market for rangefinder gear over here. 😀

Sorry Stephanie. I guess you just have to get that R2 for yourself now. 😛 Thank you for all your help. I very much appreciated it.

Taffer, Someday I'll go back. Lots of changes in the Iberian peninsula in the last 20 years or so. Construction is non-stop, I find. Either new things are being built or old things are being restored. I'm sure if I go to Sant Boi again, everything will look different. Sometimes I miss the simpler times even if they were oppressing times. Anyway, the mix of old and new may make for interesting photography, no?

I'd like to thank everyone here for their help. All your opinions were extremely valuable to me.

Fernando