Film SLR with the smoothest shutter/mirror return

p.giannakis

p.giannakis

Pan Giannakis
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I used a friend's Canon AE-1 and I was impressed with how smooth the shutter/mirror felt.
Which one will you nominate as the smoothest SLR of them all?
 
Can't say I've tried that many, but the Leica R8 I found very smooth and not at all "clackety". Can't recommend it otherwise though. The worst was probably the Bessaflex, the mirror sounded like it was about fall out.
 
It might be easier to determine which are not quiet and back out your answer from that! My experiences with a Nikon F5 and Canon EOS 1N both remind me of some sort of angry machine devouring film.
 
It is not the Nikon FMn. It sort of startles me when I trip the shutter. The F100 on the other hand is much softer.
 
My CLA'ed OM1 beats the Nikon F, F3, Leicaflex, and Minolta Maxxums I've handled. Leicaflex was CLA'ed too.

A soft release helps.
 
My stable houses...
Canons: EF, A-1, T-50, EOS-1, EOS-1n, Elan IIE, EOS 1D Mk III
Pentax 6x7
Hasselblad 501/cm
My hearing and nerves are intact. Exposures at 1/30 sec. are fine.
Fretting over SLR mirror/shutter racket is again to "much ado about nothing."
If you don't like the co-motion of an SLR buy a view camera.

Wayne
 
The Nikon F3 ranks extremely high when the mirror's lift and arrest at the end of the life are considered. Its complex lift pattern results in purely front to back motion at the end of the lift. Its return, though, is not accoustically dampened.
 
The contest for smoothest film SLR shutter for me is between the Olympus OM-1n, Contax RTS II, and Leica R8-R9.

The Nikons, nearly all of them, have a rather rough post-exposure noise (due to a lot of movement on mirror return) until you get to the F4-F5-F6 generation models, including the F100. They don't vibrate much but they surely clatter a bit, particularly the FM-FE series.

(In the DSLR world, nothing I've tried is as slick as the Olympus E-1. That's nearly as quiet and smooth as a Leica M4-2 film camera. )

G
 
The OM-1/OM-2. I also have a Canon Elan 7 and that is phenomenally smooth and quiet. But if you're including leaf shutter SLRs, then the Contaflex is really good too.
 
Dwig said:
The Nikon F3 ranks extremely high when the mirror's lift and arrest at the end of the life are considered. Its complex lift pattern results in purely front to back motion at the end of the lift. Its return, though, is not accoustically dampened.
Click to expand...

That's a key point, Dwig.

While my OM-1 overall is quieter, I think I can get sharper photos with my Nikons, because the mirror lift is better dampened. This is true even on a tripod.

Roland.
 
Nikon F80, Canon EOS 30/33, Olympus OM-1, Pentax ME are the cameras most often cited for quietness and smoothness. I've handled the first three (never owned them) and they are really OK (OK-ish if your background are rangefinders or shutter leaf compacts). I've also heard some Minolta Maxums are pretty good in the sound/smoothness department. Of the cameras I've owned, I had a Pentax Spotmatic that was very smooth & quiet. Ditto for Leicaflex SL/SL2. And about the same is Nikon F3. But a Canon EOS 5 a friend has loaned me is quieter. There's the buzz of the focus motor of course.... Worst offender I've come across must be a Pentax KX. I never got used of the tin-toy sound of Nikon FMx/FEx. And my Leica R6.2 is not exactly what you call stealthy soundwise. No siree.

EDIT: Forgot about the Contaxes, the RX and the Aria in particular are reported to be very smooth.

.
 
My test for this is a good strong tripod with a shot glass of water on the body or flash shoe. Release by cable or in the case of electronic cameras time delay. So far my N80 is the lightest of my cameras which include FTbn, A1, Minolta 7000i, K1000, Nikkormat. Not necessarily a range of cameras with lightweight mirrors and the horizontal moving shutters are not the best bet. I would like to try the Olympus noted someday and perhaps a SL2 or another Leica SLR body.
 
I'd say the OM1 or possibly the Leicaflex SL athough I've found the Nikkormat FT2 to be lovely, the 1/15 shutter sound is just....
 
Dwig said:
The Nikon F3 ranks extremely high when the mirror's lift and arrest at the end of the life are considered. Its complex lift pattern results in purely front to back motion at the end of the lift. Its return, though, is not accoustically dampened.
Click to expand...

I have a F3P that was factory overhauled before I bought it. It was a a real press camera that actually participated in Operation Desert Storm. Because of extensive use and the overhaul it is the smoothest SLR and rather quiet without the MD-4 motordrive.

Cal
 
Of what I have experienced, Leicaflex SL followed very closely by an OM-1. Sound levels mirror how slow I can hold them handheld as well.
(experienced (shot) slr's Leicaflex SL, Olympus OM-1(n), OM-2(n), Canon F1 first model, Ftb, AL-1, A-1, Nikon F3, EM just for reference.)
 
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