Shutter noise is not crucial for candids

[arseniii]

Just something that is in my head right now: When I am on the street taking photographs of strange people I do not really care how loud my camera is. People notice me anyway because my camera is usually about 1-2 meters away from their face. If I would want to be unseen I'd put 200mm lens and shoot from the other side of the street but I still prefer my way because it's more intimate, and in some way more honest. Another problem arises when you are in a quiet place such as a church or a theater where SLR mirror slap kinda makes faces turn towards you. Rangefinder - ruleS!!! 😎

 

[payasam]

Churches and recording studios are special cases. In ordinary photography, shutter noise is seldom a problem. You make a good point about honesty.

 

[antiquark]

FWIW, the new Nikon D5000 and D300s have a "silent mode" to reduce shutter sound. Never heard it though, so I can't tell you if it's as quiet as a rangefinder.

 

[Al Kaplan]

It's been at least thirty years since the Miami-Dade County (Florida) courts decided to allow cameras in court during a trial. The ruling banned the use of flash, and stated that the camera must not make more noise than an M Leica. Yup, they mentioned the name. All the SLR shooters from the Miami Herald and wire services had to buy a Leica or two and some lenses.

 

[btgc]

The ruling banned the use of flash, and stated that the camera must not make more noise than an M Leica. Yup, they mentioned the name. All the SLR shooters from the Miami Herald and wire services had to buy a Leica or two and some lenses.

Interesting story. Guess this would not work this days, because of anti-monopoly laws or kind of that. They would have to specify decibels, probably.

Regarding silent mode on newest DSLRs - I'll speculate that paedophile watchers will object this feature in court and ask to remove it or at least activate it by personal codes issued to certified photographers. Society needs to hear sound of camera operated 🙂

 

[italy74]

Well... I'd put in another way..
A more silent shutter is not crucial ? Maybe
Better than a louder one? For sure, definitely, whatever is the case.

 

[ferider]

Noise = vibration.

 

[camera.bear]

Regarding silent mode on newest DSLRs - I'll speculate that paedophile watchers will object this feature in court and ask to remove it or at least activate it by personal codes issued to certified photographers. Society needs to hear sound of camera operated 🙂

Watch out for legislation.

What if cameras became like firearms and those seeking a "silent" camera had to have a background check to prove their honest intentions before they are allowed to make the purchase.

And watch out for technology.

"Amateur" cameras will be required to loudly announce the photographer's intention to make a picture when the shutter release is pressed half way. All persons within the field of view would then have to "agree" to having the picture taken by aiming a state-supplied remote control at the camera, otherwise the shutter would not be released. And forget about taking pictures of any restricted structures or vistas. The camera's built-in image recognition software will alert the authorities should anything of the sort be attempted.

 

[wgerrard]

I agree that it really doesn't make sense for someone to fail to see a camera pointed at them from a few feet away yet take offense when they here a shutter go off. On most busy urban streets, traffic noise alone should cover most shutter sounds.

On silent digitals: My GX200 has a batch of options allowing me to pick and choose the noises it makes, including no noise at all. That option is so good that it is unnerving; I can't be sure the shutter has done its stuff.

Perhaps the digital folks could start programming short phrases into their cameras so street photographers can use them to provoke some emotion on the faces of passers by.