Shutter Noise on Bessa R/R2/R2A/R3A...

[PetarDima]

... compared to Kiev 4 rangefinder. Anyone can tell me something about this subject?
Thank's! 🙂

 

[rover]

i had a kiev 4 which was very quite.

I am not a big shutter noise worrier, but with a higher tone pitch I would have to say the R is "louder" than the kiev.

 

[Solinar]

The Kiev is a much softer note. With the Bessa, you are taking advantage of the built-in meter, viewfinder with switchable framelines and a lighter camera body.

 

[netzspannung]

Much louder.. Kiev 4 is one of the quitest out there.. But I kinda like the bessa sound - you won't mistake it for a cellphone cam, to say the least 🙂 People on the street actually hear me shooting... My Digital Rebel is much quieter too... but the Bessa is a very nice cam nonetheless

PS. The r2a\r3a have quieter electronic shutters, the new r2m/r3m are quieter too... It doesn't matter in real life... Always so many other ways to screw up the shot :bang:

 

[RML]

The Bessas have a rather high pitched, metallic "clack" sound where the Kiev has a muffled "kaplfff" sound. The Kiev has a nice cloth shutter, whereas the Bessas have a metal shutter.

If you're asking which I prefer... the Kiev's but... I have hardly ever used my Kiev while I've shot hundreds of rolls with, and dragged halfway across the world, my Bessas.

 

[dcsang]

I would agree with Remy.. I've never heard a Kiev but his suggestion of the Bessa sound is definitely accurate.

Cheers
Dave

 

[jan normandale]

I would agree with Remy.. I've never heard a Kiev but his suggestion of the Bessa sound is definitely accurate.

Cheers
Dave

Dave, any time you want you can listen to mine.. no charge either!

 

[Solinar]

The Kiev has a nice cloth shutter,

Kievs have two sets of brass blinds that roll down vertically.

 

[Fred]

The Bessa has a definite metalic 'chak' to it. I think some people may be put off by it without trying it in real life. In the everyday sounds of life no one takes any notice. I don't mind it although I'd not use it at a live acoustic folk event.

 

[PetarDima]

O.K. people! A lots of fine informations for me... just one more question:
which modern rangefinder camera can compare to Kiev?( I would like to know about cheaper cameras too... Zeiss Ikon is fine, but I must work 1/2 of year to buy it( it looks like Kiev/Contax am I wrong ?)

 

[Fred]

To be honest if you have a good working Kiev I'd hang on to it (maybe get another?) I guess the Bessas are a really good option as they have built in metering and it's a pretty good meter too. The ZI is a different animal completely, it auto selects the framelines like the Liecas so you will have to buy a good adapter for each lens in the 28/90, 50, 75 35, 135 range (note the ZI has no framelines for the 135) Like the M there is no manual selection other than the preview lever. I'd go gor the Bessa R (if you can get one) if your lens group is 35 to 90. The ZI is wonderful and arguabely better VF than the M7 although having tried both I prefer the M by a tiny amount.

 

[wyk_penguin]

For effective baselength: none
For ease of use: most
For shutter sound: leaf shutters and Ms (don't even dare to try the vertical copal shutters)

If you are comparing the meterless cameras, an M2 would do.
If baselength is your concern then M3 or ZM.
If you want to use the unique mounting system of the Kiev, then you only have the Bessa R2C to choose.

The ZM kind of look likes the Kiev.
My suggestion: If you Kiev 4 is working great, stick to it.

 

[kmack]

I have both the Bessa R and the Kiev 4 and I have no disagreements with anything that has been posted so far. If you are looking to get a modern rangefinder, for the money, the Bessa is hard to beat.