One more reason to want a Leica

[Asim]

So I was at a flamenco opera called "Carmen" here in Madrid. I used my Pentax MZ-S film SLR and Pentax Limited 77mm lens to take photos. The camera was much too noisy with winding after each shot. I stopped taking photos unless there was a lot of noise coming from the stage.

Then my wife handed me her Pentax DSLR to take some photos. It was embarrassing. Just turning on the camera lit up a blue 'power on' light and the LCD screen in the back illuminated with a bunch of readings. Everytime I took a photo, the picture would show up in the LCD and light up the area around me. It was like holding a flickering candle in the audience.

After a couple of shots I stopped taking photos and felt the desire for a Leica with 75 summicron build up inside of me. I think this combo would have been easier to handhold than the SLRs as well.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Or just turn off the "image review" on the DSLR....

 

[rxmd]

Do they let you take pictures in the opera? Around here they shine laser pointers in your face.

You can configure the DSLR not to show pictures, or put a cover on top of the screen and any annoying LEDs.

The problem with the film SLR seems to have been mainly the winder. Just use it without a winder and it will be a lot more quiet.

 

[mrware]

D700 in full burst is what ya need 🙂

Shutter sounds like garbage can lids being smacked around. As Frank said, turn the LCD off. Pentax shutters, at least in the K7 and K5 are quiet for an slr setup.

 

[séamuis]

D700 in full burst is what ya need 🙂

Shutter sounds like garbage can lids being smacked around. As Frank said, turn the LCD off. Pentax shutters, at least in the K7 and K5 are quiet for an slr setup.

il attest to this. they are amongst the quietest SLR shutters you will find on the current market. your problems could have all been solved without the use of a leica. to make it really annoying and embarrassing you should have just used a pentax 6x7. that would have solved all of your problems. 😛

 

[fotomeow]

Do they let you take pictures in the opera? Around here they shine laser pointers in your face.

You can configure the DSLR not to show pictures, or put a cover on top of the screen and any annoying LEDs.

The problem with the film SLR seems to have been mainly the winder. Just use it without a winder and it will be a lot more quiet.

Excellent point. I might add that my Epson RD1s, which is digital, but still requires winding the "film", did not work out as well as my M8 at the baroque symphony.

 

[nuckabean]

or one more reason not to take a ton of pictures at the opera.
(unless you were the official photog of the event in which case disregard the above)

 

[Vics]

You're right to want a Leica and I would recommend an M3 with a 90. You shouldn't take pictures at the Opera, however. Opera fans can be as rough as soccer fans! Did you enjoy Georges Bizet's opera? The production I saw seemed LOOOONG!

 

[zauhar]

"Funny" story - I had my M3 at my kid's school play last year, and was taking pictures (no flash of course). One of the teachers involved firmly asked me to stop. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and assumed there was a licensing restriction to not photograph, as I was as unobtrusive as could be.

When the daughter of the mother seated next to me came on stage, she whipped out her digital and started snapping photos w/flash that lit up the whole stage. No one said a word.

Randy

 

[Moriturii]

What you needed was a Hexar AF.

 

[jsrockit]

A digital Leica would still be loud... for digital, the X100's leaf shutter and OVF come in handy for quiet times.

 

[ChipMcD]

A digital Leica would still be loud... for digital, the X100's leaf shutter and OVF come in handy for quiet times.

I agree about the practically silent shutter on the Leica X1, but with a 35mm equivalent focal length, you'd better have some sweet seats.,

 

[filmfan]

What you needed was a Hexar AF.

+1

(more characters needed)

 

[jsrockit]

I agree about the practically silent shutter on the Leica X1, but with a 35mm equivalent focal length, you'd better have some sweet seats.,

True about the seats. The X1, unless you have the VF, would be worse than the X100 due to LCD use.

 

[Keith]

Alternately ... just relax, forget about photography for an hour or so and just enjoy a very fine opera with your eyes and ears!

😀

 

[zauhar]

Alternately ... just relax, forget about photography for an hour or so and just enjoy a very fine opera with your eyes and ears!

😀

Good point Keith - I think that these events (speaking especially of kid's recitals/sports/plays) have really been ruined by the emphasis on recording it for posterity. With the exception of sending images to relatives, no one will ever see them again.

Randy

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

As owner of both Leicas and a Pentax DSLR, I think the OP's wife chose the right camera for the job. The K-5, anyway, excels in low light and is quieter than my M9 or M4P (yes, you read that right), and its display can be turned off. It also has image stabilization. I favor the old K 135/2.5 (not the Takumar bayonet version) for indoor events; you get an effective focal length of around 200mm, a wide aperture, and plenty of sharpness.

I love my Leicas better than any cameras I've ever used, but the OP shouldn't criticize the tool in this case--it can be highly effective.

 

[pb908]

agree on Pentax K5/K7 (i'm pentax user as well)
and you already have 77Ltd instead, so why bother to spend more money not needed.

even a leica will make the "clap" sound you can hear it in quiet environtment (church example). a leaf shutter RF is what you need if you want RF.

hexar AF is silent enough, but 35mm, I'd say no as well for x100 with it's 35mm f2
digital RF ? big noo, most of them are as loud as DSLR.

Pentax K7/K5 is the best I believe in term of noise + performance. + 85mmFA or an old 135mm f2.5 for more reach and you are ready to go
just my opinion

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i used a contax g2 with 90mm sonnar. boy it was loud. the rewind was even louder...

thank goodness, Rocky Horror Picture show was quite loud too...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Then my wife handed me her Pentax DSLR to take some photos. It was embarrassing. Just turning on the camera lit up a blue 'power on' light and the LCD screen in the back illuminated with a bunch of readings.

As others have stated, turning the LCD off (or "Preview: Off/None") would have solved it. Or, you could have quickly half-pressed the shutter button to make it go away.

Some on the Online Intelligentsia would have already peppered "shame on Pentax!" around, if Pentax were expensive. 🙄