analogic cameras with no (or with little) vibrations of the mirror:a list!

peters8 · Aug 30, 2012

hi guy...this is the first time I write here,but i read always this fantastic forum.I apologize for my bad english...but I never studied english!
anyway I hope you understand me!

I've always been curious about the reflex cameras with less mirror vibrations and which instead were the worst (i mean reflex cameras with very loud and noisy movement mirror mechanism).I know that the best choice,if you are searching no vibrations or at least less vibrations of the mirror mechanism, are the ragefinder cameras.

But my intention is to catalog the reflexes in three categories:

1)camaras with no vibrations

2)cameras with some vibrations

3)cameras that vibrate too, so reflexes with a very noisy movement mechanism of the mirror.

Do you want to start?

Thanks.

wblynch · Aug 30, 2012

Olympus OM-1 was built with special air shock absorbers to reduce mirror vibrations and noise. It also has a lock up feature for very sensitive needs.

vedmak · Aug 30, 2012

rangefinders do not have mirrors, and consequently no shake

lxdude · Aug 30, 2012

The Pentax 645 medium format series is renown for low mirror vibration.

Don't forget that shutters cause vibration, too. Leaf shutters generate less vibration than focal plane shutters. On the other hand, some focal plane shutters generate most of their vibration when closing, after the picture is taken. It's also true that in some cameras most of the vibration caused by the mirror occurs when the mirror drops, after the picture is taken.

lxdude · Aug 30, 2012

vedmak said:
rangefinders do not have mirrors, and consequently no shake

Yes they do have mirrors-just not the kind that create shake!

kbrede · Aug 30, 2012

Welcome to APUG. Your English is fine.

upnorthcyclist · Aug 31, 2012

The Minolta XD-11 has an air damper on the mirror and a very smooth vertical shutter.

flatulent1 · Aug 31, 2012

Canon EOS RT and 1N-RS have stationary pellicle mirrors. No vibration, no viewfinder blackout during exposure.
The EOS 3 is very loud, some of that is no doubt the winder. I've never tested its vibration.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 31, 2012

The Canon EOS 1-N RS has a stationary pellicle mirror, so no mirror slap. Also the Canon Pellix and a few others.

(posted simultaneously with anove)

Aja B · Aug 31, 2012

Nikon offered a couple high-end and extremely rare bodies/MD sets with fixed, pellicle mirrors; the F2 High Speed (F2H, 10 fps) and the F3 High Speed (F3H, 13 fps). For those doing the F3H math, that's one roll of 36 torched in two and three-quarter seconds!

BMbikerider · Aug 31, 2012

Yes Cameras when used cause vibration, but is it the type of vibration that causes problems with camera shake. I am not referring to Rangefinder cameras here but SLR's.

I have found that SLR's ALL have some level of vibration when the shutter is released but if you set the shutter to 'B' and release the shutter there is virtually none what so ever, or indeed hardly any noise. Let go of the shutter so that the mirror descends and there is an audible 'clunk' accompanied by a degree of vibration which in some cases if scaled up would register on the Richter scale! However this 'clunk-thump' occurs AFTER the shutter has opened and will have no affect on the image.

Cameras have got better over the years and the worst one I ever used was a KOWA SLR in the 1960's which did a sort of 'Thumpclickthump' as the mirror went up and the then down again. Russian SLR's you may think would be bad in this respect, but with the early ones there was no instant return mirror so the effects were quite minimal.

Medium format cameras are very much the same, only scaled up, but I think on the whole, due to the greater bulk the vibrations are largely dampened out and are of no consequence. Even the Bronica S models although giving off a noise, seemingly louder than a .44 magnum were not a problem for me

peters8 · Aug 31, 2012

thank you very much!
what do you think about cameras like Pentax k1000,Yashica FX3 (wich is the best model of fx series in this respect?)?
wich is the best model you prefier?
Regards

BMbikerider · Aug 31, 2012

I have never owned yashica camera except a Twin lens reflex so cannot comment on the FX SLR.

The K1000 was a development of the old Screw thread bodies fitted with the K Bayonet. They and are probably just as good. Later ones had plastic top plates (Made in China) but as far as I know they were the same internally. Very reliable with little to go wrong

kanzlr · Aug 31, 2012

Contax RTS III.
I was amazed at how well it is dampened.

peters8 · Aug 31, 2012

Yes but the contax rts are very expensive cameras!...
I was thinking on a yashica body or a pentax k1000
Ciao

Steve Smith · Aug 31, 2012

BMbikerider said:
However this 'clunk-thump' occurs AFTER the shutter has opened and will have no affect on the image.

More importantly, it happens after the shutter has closed - which I think is what you meant to write.

Steve.

kanzlr · Aug 31, 2012

peters8 said:
Yes but the contax rts are very expensive cameras!...
I was thinking on a yashica body or a pentax k1000
Ciao

not really. Got mine in almost like new condition for 299,-- from a dealer with warranty.

jochen · Aug 31, 2012

Hello,
the PRAKTICA MTL 5 and similar models have an intensive mirror bump.

BMbikerider · Aug 31, 2012

jochen said:
Hello,
the PRAKTICA MTL 5 and similar models have an intensive mirror bump.

Is that when the mirror goes up or comes down? There will be a difference, Try it as I suggested on 'B' setting.

BMbikerider · Aug 31, 2012

Steve Smith said:
More importantly, it happens after the shutter has closed - which I think is what you meant to write.

Steve.

Spot on. Thanks.

BMbikerider · Aug 31, 2012

peters8 said:
Yes but the contax rts are very expensive cameras!...
I was thinking on a yashica body or a pentax k1000
Ciao

I would go for the Pentax any time. So much more popular and there are plenty around, what's more they are mechanical and will be repairable. The FX series are electronic and the possibility of getting them repaired is slim.

bdial · Aug 31, 2012

Vibration is there, but for most purposes not a real problem;

[video=youtube_share;CkKcbyh2CrA]http://youtu.be/CkKcbyh2CrA[/video]

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 31, 2012

Contax RX

summicron1 · Aug 31, 2012

the leicaflex sl and sl2 had mechanically damped mirrors in an attempt to make an slr with as little vibration as a leica M rangefinder -- they came darn close, if my example is any indication. Never tried that penny trick.

peters8 · Aug 31, 2012

Which is the best yashica body in your opinion ?...or at least the body less noisy!!!thanks

analogic cameras with no (or with little) vibrations of the mirror:a list!

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