Canon LTM How loud is the shutter noise on a Canonet?

[Tati]

I'm thinking of buying my first RF camera, a Canonet ql17 Glll...

Was wondering how load it is in operation...I want something really quiet...would like to maybe zone focus in certain situations, bars for example, and shoot without bothering people...

Also, any idea what I'd have to pay for one in good condition, new light seals, CLA'd?...I'm thinking to bid on one on ebay...

thanks for any insight, oh and user experience about loudness...I mean I have a D700 for work and it's great but holy cow it's loud...the shutter just Clacks!

thanks in advance...

T

 

[peter_n]

The one I had was quieter than my Leica M bodies - very quiet indeed. A great little camera, I bought mine for $20 on eBay then spent $75 at Essex Camera on a full CLA and it was just perfect, with an excellent quality lens.

Welcome to the forum, BTW! 🙂

 

[Pickett Wilson]

They are very quiet. Good fixed lens camera. A CLA on one of these is a good idea, though. Many have sat in a drawer unused for decades.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

what shutter noise?

 

[peter_n]

LOL. Well it's about as noisy as a leaf falling right? 😉

 

[SolaresLarrave]

The Canonet has a leaf shutter, not a curtain one, so it's EXTREMELY quiet. Even more than the Leica M bodies.

However, in truth and sincerely, has anybody photographed a subject with a RF camera with the subject reporting having heard the shutter?

More often than not, the few times I've photographed a person, the reaction is to say "Did you take the picture?"

These degrees of silence are, at any rate, pretty superfluous when it comes to these cameras. Try an SLR one day... That's some noise! 🙂

Take care!

 

[Bob Michaels]

However, in truth and sincerely, has anybody photographed a subject with a RF camera with the subject reporting having heard the shutter?

More often than not, the few times I've photographed a person, the reaction is to say "Did you take the picture?"

These degrees of silence are, at any rate, pretty superfluous when it comes to these cameras. Try an SLR one day... That's some noise! 🙂

I have never been one to worry about shutter noise. And every photo I make has a person in it. Not even the CLUNK of the mirror on my Bronica SQA is a problem.

Holding the camera up to your face, then taking it away and advancing the film is a pretty good clue that you have exposed a frame.

I find the instantaneous acoustic notice that you have shot to be beneficial overall. That often causes people to relax a bit. Imagine some subject who thinks you have tried 8 different angles to photograph them with none of them being good when in reality you have shot eight frames.

Yes, the shutter of my Canon QL17 is so quiet that I always feel the need to immediately advance the film so the subject knows I have made the exposure.

 

[Tati]

The one I had was quieter than my Leica M bodies - very quiet indeed. A great little camera, I bought mine for $20 on eBay then spent $75 at Essex Camera on a full CLA and it was just perfect, with an excellent quality lens.

Welcome to the forum, BTW! 🙂

thanks for the info Peter, and all the rest on the non existant shutter noise...I see one here on ebay now, says it's all cla'd and ready to go with return possible if i'm not happy, so far, 81 euros...a few hours to go...i'll put a bid on it soon...maybe go up to 90 or so, 95?...

Bob Michaels, I hear ya, kind of 🙂 but I'd still like this one to be small 'and' quiet...i find the loud shutter on my slr attracts too much attention in a cafe setting...and i can't imagine using it at a concert or play...out on the street it's not that big a deal...

thanks for your help guys...

 

[dmr]

The simulated shutter noise on the typical digicam is much louder than the shutter of the GIII.

 

[Frontman]

The Canonets seldom require much for a CLA, it's a fairly simple job. One thing to look for is that the mirror in the rangefinders in these cameras tends to fade out, and give you a cloudy looking image in the viewfinder.

The Canonet shutter is very quiet, but is a little noisier than some of the other compact fixed-lens rangefinders out there, like the Yashica GX.

There is a pretty nice black Canonet GIII listed on eBay now, very tempting.

 

[airds]

And remember it's aways nearer YOUR ear when in use 🙂

 

[chris00nj]

It's not as quiet as a Leica M, but it quiter than any SLR and quieter than a Bessa R. It is comparable to other leaf shutters, such as a TLR.


Not sure if you've gotten one yet, but I think $100 for one that has new light seals, a new battery, and is in good working condition.

Good working condition means that the rangefinder patch is bright and constrasty. These can fade over time, making it hard to focus. It also means that the camera has been recently tested with a battery. Too many of these are listed as "don't know anything about cameras. As-is". That could translate into "broken camera for sale."

Pre-cut light seals cost $15, and they are easy to replace. A battery is $5. So without the prior two items, $80 is a more accurate price.

I have a Canonet in the classifieds. It needs new light seals and the battery contact has corrosion, so it only works in manual mode. Otherwise it looks excellent, speeds are accurate, and the rangefinder patch is bright. Of course, it is priced to reflect deficiencies.

 

[Brian Legge]

Agreed. There is also a bit of variation between volumes. I've been trying to fix a few Canonet 17 GIIIs recently and have definitely dealt with some that were louder than others. The screw mount Leicas I've dealt with have definitely been louder.

My quietest fixed lens rangefinder is the Olympus 35DC. I've only dealt with one but it is definitely a bit quieter than the Canonets. I'm hoping this holds true for the 35RD.