Best shutter feel

Swordman · Jan 30, 2018

Hey folks,

Just wondering, what would you say is the camera with the best shutter sound and feel?

I haven't owned a lot, but for me, it's the Pentax K1000. The Olympus Pen F was very close, though, and when I'm in the mood, the Bronica SQ-A is also immensely satisfying.

I prefer the Pentax shutter over the one in the Nikon FM2n, although the latter is a vastly better camera.

The worst I feel, is the Canonet QL17. It's so quiet and non-communicative, that when someone takes a picture with it, they look at the front of the camera with a puzzled look as if it's broken. It isn't, it takes beautiful pictures, but it doesn't inspire.

So what about you guys? Any personal favourites?

Ai Print · Jan 30, 2018

For me, hands down the Leica M3. It has no meter so no meter detent. Mine was CLA’d ten years ago and is really holding up great. Super smooth, super quiet.

baachitraka · Jan 30, 2018

Agfa Optima 200 Sensor ;-) (only the feel including the film advance)

Sirius Glass · Jan 30, 2018

The M series Leicas have a wonderful feel, but I really like the solid th-WAK of a Hasselblad, Speed Graphic or Graflex.

jspillane · Jan 30, 2018

I'm prone to the smooth whisper of a Rollei TLR.

Arbitrarium · Jan 30, 2018

I tend to think cloth shutters feel/sound better. Spotmatics have a satisfying shutter feel. And their winders... oh my. Regret selling my SP1000 and am very tempted to get myself an S1a.

TheRook · Jan 30, 2018

Swordman said:
The worst I feel, is the Canonet QL17. It's so quiet and non-communicative, that when someone takes a picture with it, they look at the front of the camera with a puzzled look as if it's broken. It isn't, it takes beautiful pictures, but it doesn't inspire.

There are situations when quiet and discreet operation is a very desirable character to have in a camera. The Canonet QL17 isn't all that quiet when compared to other cameras. The quietest camera I've come across is the Braun Paxette. If it weren't for a slight jitter in the viewfinder, I wouldn't know if the shutter release actually took place or not.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 30, 2018

Do you mean feel of the shutter release, or something else?

removed account4 · Jan 30, 2018

graflex slr

Swordman · Jan 30, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Do you mean feel of the shutter release, or something else?

Yes. Exactly this.

jim10219 · Jan 30, 2018

The focal plane shutter on an Anniversary Speed Graphic. When you press that button, you can feel that thing flopping around, and then feel all of that mass come to a sudden stop. It feels like the sail on a sailboat catching wind. It's not graceful. It's not subtle. But it is powerful and satisfying.

On the opposite end, is the Copal leaf shutter. Smooth, quiet, and delicate. It's a finely tuned piece of clockwork worthy of a high end watch. It's the peak of refinement.

Siompa · Jan 30, 2018

Gotta say i like the mirror slap on my Hasselblad 503cx. Not really the shutter but what the heck.

anfenglin · Jan 30, 2018

I like the silent SLK! of a Rolleiflex Compur leaf shutter, the LOOK AT ME!!! KAPFLONK!!!! of my Pentax 6x7 and the silent, butler-like hrmhrm snap of my Olympus OM-2n.
It depends on mood. I have other cameras, too, but those are the one that sound best. I also sold the Rolleiflex.

R.Gould · Jan 30, 2018

I love the Compur shutter in my Retinas, so quite that I have trouble hearing them, and the silky smoothness of the Compur shutter in my Rolleiflex, they must be among the quitest shutters ever

baachitraka · Jan 30, 2018

Baby Tengor that come with Novar lens. Absolutely smooth...

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 30, 2018

Sticking to 35mm SLR, I'd say a Contax RTS III or RX have the best FEEL. Best sound? Not sure. They all sound kinda scissors-y and high-pitched next to any medium-format camera.

Ian Grant · Jan 30, 2018

Ai Print said:
For me, hands down the Leica M3. It has no meter so no meter detent. Mine was CLA’d ten years ago and is really holding up great. Super smooth, super quiet.

Fully agree,, my M3 it's just such a nice smooth camera to use. Only problem is I rarely shoot 35mm these days.

Ian

mard0 · Jan 30, 2018

anfenglin said:
the LOOK AT ME!!! KAPFLONK!!!! of my Pentax 6x7

That's my favourite to. Definitely in the "shutter feel" department as well.

MattKing · Jan 30, 2018

The Mamiya C330, when the release at the lower right front of the camera is used.
Particularly with the camera held in the palm of my left hand.
Much better than the feel when the side shutter release is used.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 30, 2018

Feel of the release? Well, none are as nice as a good target trigger, but some have a pretty nice "two stage " release. Nikon F and F2, Nikkormat, old Pentaxes, are nice and smooth, Rolleis are nice, smooth, very quiet, but my favorite for silky smooth release and an interesting sound is a prewar Contax. At the four highest speeds, the shutter goes "thuk" and it's quiet, the lower speeds have various length buzzes in one or two keys, all ending in a muted "thuk" when the top blind seats. I can take pictures in a crowd, and no-one realises it, it's that quiet.

JensH · Jan 30, 2018

michael_r said:
Leica R4

+1

I love it, too. Not quiet but a good sound, like a Mercedes W126 (1980s S-class).

Jens

Laurent · Jan 30, 2018

If I have to stick to 35mm, then my M4 is my favourite by far.

Otherwise, I'd be hard pressed to choose between the M4, the Rolleflex (very quiet) and my -now gone- Hassy, for its' klak" sound

Theo Sulphate · Jan 30, 2018

A lot of cameras have really smooth releases - I agree about the Pentax and Leica M3.

What gets my attention more is the sound. Even with the same model, such as Nikon F2, it seems to me the sound changes depending on the lens that's mounted. For example, my plain-prism F with 85/1.8 pre-AI sounds great: a soft but solid thwap.

Lately I've admired the sound from my 1934 Leica III - it's just so satisfying. That is one *solid* camera!

I've been tempted to buy cameras I've never had an interest in just because of the sound of their shutter.

A few years ago, I saw a Kiev 88 with its gold colored focal plane shutter and the sound of that made me come this >< close to buying it.

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 30, 2018

Laurent said:
If I have to stick to 35mm, then my M4 is my favourite by far.

Otherwise, I'd be hard pressed to choose between the M4, the Rolleflex (very quiet) and my -now gone- Hassy, for its' klak" sound

I always thought the mirror sound on the Hassy was somewhat akin to popping large bubble bubble-wrap.

colin wells · Jan 30, 2018

Its got to be early Canon F1 the sound of quality

Best shutter feel

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