tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Then what does the first press do?
Ljós
Well-known
Of the unmotorized SLRs I have used so far (Nikon F2, F3, FM2, FE2, FG-20), Pentax MX and Spotmatic, Olympus OM-1, the OM-1 is definitely the most discrete.
Greetings, Ljós
Greetings, Ljós
dtcls100
Well-known
Nikon F6
Nikon F6
Nikon F6.
Having used many different brands/models of SLRs, I used to think that the Olympus OM cameras were the quietest, particularly the OM-2n. Certainly much quieter than the Canon A series, Pentax M series, and comparable manual focus Nikons (I presently have a FE2 and FM3a which are great cameras but have shutters with a definite metallic clang to them).
However, upon getting one, I must definitely say the Nikon F6 is quieter. Despite the built in motor drive, the shutter sound is very quiet for an SLR and the sound is of a very low frequency, so as to be very unobtrusive. I have since read that Nikon spent considerable effort in dampening the sound of the F6 during the development process.
I know there are not too many F6 cameras out there, but if one has a chance to try it, one definitely should. It is a very refined beast, with very little shock or noise.
Nikon F6
Nikon F6.
Having used many different brands/models of SLRs, I used to think that the Olympus OM cameras were the quietest, particularly the OM-2n. Certainly much quieter than the Canon A series, Pentax M series, and comparable manual focus Nikons (I presently have a FE2 and FM3a which are great cameras but have shutters with a definite metallic clang to them).
However, upon getting one, I must definitely say the Nikon F6 is quieter. Despite the built in motor drive, the shutter sound is very quiet for an SLR and the sound is of a very low frequency, so as to be very unobtrusive. I have since read that Nikon spent considerable effort in dampening the sound of the F6 during the development process.
I know there are not too many F6 cameras out there, but if one has a chance to try it, one definitely should. It is a very refined beast, with very little shock or noise.
David_Manning
Well-known
Nikon F6. It was quieter than my M6.
As a side note, it was probably the most capable, refined film camera ever. My own opinion, of course.
As a side note, it was probably the most capable, refined film camera ever. My own opinion, of course.
View Range
Well-known
I compared my Canon 7, RM, Pellix and FT. The sounds are slightly different, but they all seemed equally noisy to me. I expected the 7 to be noticably quieter, followed by the Pellix. Not the case for my examples of the cameras.
nobbylon
Veteran
Nikon F6 is the most quiet out of all the SLR's I've had. All Nikon F series F-F6, FM series and Nikkormats. OM's, Pentax K series and Spotmatics, Leica R4's and R8. It also has the least vibration and I can hand hold it down to 1/4 sec and still get razor sharp results. A truly superb piece of engineering.
Corran
Well-known
I might have to try the F6. I always thought it would be superfluous next to my F5, F4, and F2. Quieter than an M6? Interesting. My D700 is not quieter, and I thought the F6 was just a D700 with film?
The F4 is definitely quiet. Interesting that several mentioned the F, because that thing is loud! Loudest Nikon SLR I have, I think. My Nikon SP is quieter though than the F4...
The F4 is definitely quiet. Interesting that several mentioned the F, because that thing is loud! Loudest Nikon SLR I have, I think. My Nikon SP is quieter though than the F4...
nobbylon
Veteran
I was thinking exactly the same but after using mine for a while I can honestly say it's the best film Nikon ever made. The F5 does focus a little faster but it's not an issue. The F5 focus motor feels like it's shredding focus heliciols all the time with it's powerful motor.
I really don't see how an F can sound quiet either. It's a real clack when they go off!
Corran
Well-known
Well thanks a lot, now I want an F6 to try!! 
On the other hand I prefer older AI or pre-AI lenses so really the F2 is my workhorse. But the F5 with 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S is sure fun too, if weight isn't a problem!
On the other hand I prefer older AI or pre-AI lenses so really the F2 is my workhorse. But the F5 with 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S is sure fun too, if weight isn't a problem!
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
It should not, but they often do, if the mirror damper foam has rotted away. With mirror up or with a new damper strip a well-maintained F is quiet, at least by mechanical pro SLR standards. Positively less noisy than any of the 1/2000s fast motor wind capable successors and competitors released from the seventies on (regardless whether F2, F1, XK or LX).
Dave Jenkins
Loose Canon
Of all the cameras I've owned, and there have been very, very many of them, beginning with a Nikon F in 1969, the quietest was the Canon EOS A2 (EOS A2e, EOS 5), followed by the Olympus OM 1 and 2.
nobbylon
Veteran
I've had 2 F's, both serviced by Sover Wong and they both sounded the same. Loud thwack pretty much exactly the same as all my F2's were. All foams and seals had been replaced. I've never heard anyone describe an F as being quiet!
regards john
Wulfthari
Well-known
The Pentax LX with its peculiar dampers on the mirror is the quietest of the lot, no way a Nikon F can be quieter...unfortunately that's also its main problem because the soft rubbber damper through age develop the "sticky mirror syndrome".
dtcls100
Well-known
Nikon F6
Nikon F6
Yep, F6 shutter has amazingly low vibration and is even quieter than my Olympus 35SP rangefinders, although it is not quite as quiet as my Mamiya 6 medium format rangefinders. The Mamiya 6 has got to be the quietest camera out there (although it is not a SLR), as the leaf shutter makes the softest "snick" sound that is barely audible to user.
Nikon F6 also has an incredibly quiet, low frequency and vibration free motorized film advance. An incredibly refined, yet solid beast of a camera. While many say an F100 is almost as good, my experience with both causes me to strongly disagree. The F100 is a very capable camera, but doesn't have anything close to the the same refinement, solidity, feel, quietness, weather sealing, or viewfinder size and clarity that the F6 does. Also, an F6 can matrix meter with all Nikon Ai and later mount lenses and can take full advantage of all of the capabilities of Nikon's latest flashes for digital cameras. To say that a F100 is almost as good and can do almost everything a F6 can is like saying a Chevy is almost as good and can do almost everything a Ferrari can do. They simply are not in the same league, although a Chevy (or F100) is good enough for almost everyone as a practical matter (including me). If one can afford one (not cheap at $800-$900 bucks of ebay), one should get an F6 and have no regrets.
Nikon F6
Yep, F6 shutter has amazingly low vibration and is even quieter than my Olympus 35SP rangefinders, although it is not quite as quiet as my Mamiya 6 medium format rangefinders. The Mamiya 6 has got to be the quietest camera out there (although it is not a SLR), as the leaf shutter makes the softest "snick" sound that is barely audible to user.
Nikon F6 also has an incredibly quiet, low frequency and vibration free motorized film advance. An incredibly refined, yet solid beast of a camera. While many say an F100 is almost as good, my experience with both causes me to strongly disagree. The F100 is a very capable camera, but doesn't have anything close to the the same refinement, solidity, feel, quietness, weather sealing, or viewfinder size and clarity that the F6 does. Also, an F6 can matrix meter with all Nikon Ai and later mount lenses and can take full advantage of all of the capabilities of Nikon's latest flashes for digital cameras. To say that a F100 is almost as good and can do almost everything a F6 can is like saying a Chevy is almost as good and can do almost everything a Ferrari can do. They simply are not in the same league, although a Chevy (or F100) is good enough for almost everyone as a practical matter (including me). If one can afford one (not cheap at $800-$900 bucks of ebay), one should get an F6 and have no regrets.
DCB
Well-known
My F is not super quiet but not really noisy either. Nice thunk sound...very solid with no other movement.
Peace
Peace
Aristophanes
Well-known
I had a Pentax MZ-S where the shutter was whisper quiet. I often did not think the camera worked sometimes.
Gary Sandhu
Well-known
I agree with everything that's said about be about the Nikon F6- wonderful shutter sound - I think of butterflies flapping wings ...
Peter_wrote:
Well-known
from the slr, i have used, the Contaflex super because of its leaf shutter.
bjmshred666
Giuseppe Lo Mando
I picked up a canon eos rebel t2 last year (the last film SLR Canon released) to have something smaller than my elan ii to shoot with and it is definitely the quietest SLR I have ever used (haven't used Nikons so can't comment on those).
As others mentioned 6d in silent mode, which I also own, is pretty quiet but the rebel t2 definitely has it beat.
On the other end of the spectrum I saw a great deal on an EOS 3 so I grabbed one because I wanted an SLR with almost exact vf coverage unlike the elan ii/t2 which only have 90% and to my surprise holy crap the EOS 3 is super loud!
As others mentioned 6d in silent mode, which I also own, is pretty quiet but the rebel t2 definitely has it beat.
On the other end of the spectrum I saw a great deal on an EOS 3 so I grabbed one because I wanted an SLR with almost exact vf coverage unlike the elan ii/t2 which only have 90% and to my surprise holy crap the EOS 3 is super loud!
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HHPhoto
Well-known
Nikon F6.
It is extremely quiet. The most silent 35mm SLR ever built.
Mirror and shutter have an extremely good dampening. Nikon did an awesome job in this respect.
And you don't hear the film advance motor at all!!
When I used my F6 the first time I thought hey, where is the motor sound? Is the camera defect?
No, not at all.
But the Nikon engineers did a little technical miracle here.
This camera is a dream machine.
Cheers, Jan