How loud is a ZI?

[myoptic3]

This will be an expensive switch when you factor in lenses, hoods, filters, etc. Have you thought of simply using an N80 (since you are going to be using a film camera anyway)? That way you could use your Nikon glass, and w/o the digital crop factor end up w/ wider lenses. It would be hard to find a quieter SLR, and they can be picked up for $75 to $100. Coupled w/ a 50 1.8 and the excellent 85 1.8 you would have a nice kit on the cheap. They are very small and light, as well as quiet.

The RF cameras are smaller and thinner though, so there is that aspect. If you are going to be shooting w/ a fast 90 lens it is a moot point though, as this setup is not that much smaller than the N80 and could be even heavier, depending on what camera/lens combo you go to.

The other aspect is what sort of image signature do you prefer. The older RF glass has a different look than modern lenses can produce. Not necessarily better or worse, but different.

One of my favorite street shooters was a Contax G1, but these are an acquired taste for some people due to their quirks. They are dirt cheap and have very nice lenses.

If you are comfortable w/ a wide lens, get a Konica Hexar AF. There is no quieter street shooter.

 

[JohnL]

Louder than a (noiselss) digicam, higher pitched and more noticeable than a film-based Leica M, slightly less noisy than a Voigtlander or Leica M8, much quieter than most SLRs, although the 10D, 5D and 40D are pretty quiet too. IMHO, of course.

 

[Frankie]

"I've never heard a Leica or any other major RF in use, so the comparisons with those don't help me too much."

Think of the Leica shutter sound as a soft "clop" and the ZM as a slightly sharper "clud". The ZM is quiet enough that you would not notice it against ambient noise in just about any environment.

 

[hiorgos]

I had the d80, now own a ZM, and the sound is a lot more quiet. it's quite discreet for street, as usually the street sounds are more louder. But the best thing is that nobody around seems to care about it, as they see you with an "old style" camera.

 

[ruben]

The Kiev noise, and I assume the same for other cameras as well, is very much depending on shutter distensioning, CLA and an original half case, that like the Contax half cases of the time were built thick.

Another factor helping a bit to silence shutter noise in some cameras is the use of a soft release, BUT specially if you yourself add a piece of rubber or leather between the softie and the shutter release button. It seems as if there was a kind of noise wave from the finger to the shutter AND going back from the shutter to the finger. Hence the need for a rubber cushion.

All the above factors provided, I have shot people at buses with several cameras at 1 meter, at the time of bus stop, without the noise making the subjects aware of my presence.

Cheers,
Ruben