Recommend me a quieter camera

[BMbikerider]

Try one of the later Canon rangefinder cameras with an interchangeable lens - almost as quiet as a Leica but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[mrosenlof]

A leica iiif is quiet and relatively cheap. And about 65 years old. But many are still running well. It's a whole nuther world using the barnak leica, but a Canon P from about 1961 +/- is considerably more modern.

 

[John Bragg]

Nikon F5 always struck me as quiet. Mirror is well damped. Not exactly the lightest thing in the universe though. Not a. Nikon but an Olympus OM1 is also very quiet.

Nikon F5 is as you say very quiet. Everything is well damped and the wind on is barely audible. Noise can be further reduced by pre-focussing or using a manual lens. The Nikkor 28mm f2.8 Ais is razor sharp and great for street use. I love it on either F5 or F100 essentialy pre focussed and used as point and shoot.

 

[fstop]

Newer DSLRs have quiet mode.

"I'm amused by people suggesting Leicas and such to someone who's requirements are "relatively quiet and relatively cheap."

R-5 are down right cheap these days and quiet.

 

[Helios 1984]

The EOS Elan 7e/ EOS 30 is a quiet camera IMHO

 

[1kgcoffee]

I think rangefinder is the way to go, love my zorki

 

[Harry Stevens]

I agree about the Retinas it's hard to tell if the shutter as fired, the rangefinder is the answer but which model.

You can get decent cheap quality Canon point and shoot and the shutter fires but if you keep your finger pressed on the shutter the camera silently takes the picture and does not make any other sound until you release it.

The Olympus XA range are quite as well, a right sneaky little bugger in fact.

 

[destroya]

nikon and quiet with af? the N80 and you can get them for $30

 

[Ai Print]

I think there are so many choices in this vein that it really boils down to exact personal preference and budget. Guess I will just cut to the chase…I can’t do cheap, I have to do best…

So my choices are; on the left a Leica M6TTL with a 28mm F2 (35/1.4 pictured) or the Nikon F3HP and 28mm F2 AIS on the right.
When street, candid documentary, quiet operation and peerless optical quality are paramount considerations, not even a $3,500 used price tag of the M6/28/2 combo will get in the way, it is just that much better.

But the absurd bargain of the F3/28/2 combo at $400-$600 is even all the more absurd when I consider just how much the F3/28 is the better tool for several types of shots.

The F3 has one of, if not the best viewfinder I have ever used in the Nikon line up. It’s optical quality is exceptional and the eye relief is amazing. This is further highlighted by the fact the image is 100% & that means you can get highly intuitive in using this tool quickly. I can’t even begin to think of layering & composing precisely aligned shots with a rangefinder like I can with an SLR. So along those lines, this camera is a rush / zen to use.

The 28mm 2.0 AIS is one of my all time favorite Nikon lenses. It’s certainly sharp enough down to it’s invasively close 0.8’/0.25m focus and the bokeh & DOF anywhere within 3' feet of that range is to die for. It’s a fair bit bigger than the 2.8 version but much more fun for me to use with it’s character and faster speed. Simply put, it does great PJ!

The shutter noise on the F3 is average for a non-motorized film SLR. It will annoy you sometimes in the truly quiet settings but being so quick & not having the F801 motor screech, will be a night and day outcome overall. I also have an FM3A and F100 and find they are also great to use, but the F3 just has that certain something that makes it stand out for me.

Lots of great tools out there, while these two are my faves for the genre you mention, I think the F3HP & 28/2 combo packs a true all-star punch....and it is just $500!

 

[narsuitus]

It is very difficult to recommend a camera that meets all three requirements:
a. relatively quiet
b. relatively cheap and
c. 28mm lens

The closest I can get is this Mazda 35mm camera with 27mm lens.



Mazda 35mm by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi everyone

Was shooting on the streets today with my F801s. If any of you know it, you will know it has a loud electronic-sounding shutter that can be heard across the street. I thought maybe a more mechanical shutter sound would be less intrusive. So I am looking for a Nikon body that is relatively quiet and relatively cheap. Thanks! I would also consider a compact camera with a fixed 28mm lens. I now love 28mm.

check your manual;some electronic cameras have a 'quiet' mode.MyD800 does.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

My FM2n is fairly quiet.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I'd have thought most of the noise comes from the AF motor and winder.

You could see how you get on with a Nikon EM. It's small-ish, cheap and relatively quiet. And not a total culture shock coming from an automated Nikon SLR.

If you ever get the chance to try a Ricoh GR1 do so. Possibly the most subtle street camera (before the camera phone). Other quiet, wideangle compacts with zero shutter lag are the Fujifilm Silvi 2.8 and the Vivitar UWS (and the clones).

The suggestion of an Olympus XA2 or (ideally) XA4 is very good too.

A Contax G1 or G2 would be good. Be aware some G1s can't operate with the 28mm lens.

Hmm! I must have a freak Contax G1 since it works wonderful with its 28mm lens.

Now, for the most silent camera? It has to be the Konica Hexar 35mm rangefinder with the non-interchangeable 35mm f2 lens. I owned one for about a year and you could put it in silent mode and it was damn silent that's for sure.

 

[Craig75]

Its the 35mm that some G1s cant use. Quiet and very pretty camera but focus dial is easily jogged (at least on mine) which makes it a bit of a pain for street photography if you like to zone focus.

 

[flavio81]

Nikon F with MLU is whisper quiet.

Quietest camera i've used was the Minox 35GT.

 

[cooltouch]

I would say, get an N80. It's quiet, full-featured, and cheap. Really a nice little unit. Although if you want to use regular old Nikkors, it's probably not your best choice. It doesn't seem to like anything but AF lenses.

 

[chip j]

Nikon N80.

 

[zanxion72]

If you are not hot about electronics, super-duper light meters, and things like that, try a Kodak Retina (I or II). They are ultra small, with very quiet shutters and a very sexy look. You will be amazed of what their lenses have to offer. Of course, it will not be on a summicron league, but still perfect.

 

[cooltouch]

Retina -- not a bad idea. I have a IIc and I love it. Coupled rangefinder. Small selection of interchangeable lenses. The standard lens in mine -- a Schneider -- is tack sharp. Craftsmanship is top notch.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Nikon F with MLU is whisper quiet.

Quietest camera i've used was the Minox 35GT.

I have several Minox 35's that I use and really like. They are very quiet, but the Konica Hexar is silent.

 

[removed account4]

every camera you purchase will require a CLA which will be around $100
so figure that into your total cost ...
too bad the OP hasn't revealed what " cheap " means

 

[mynewcolour]

Its the 35mm that some G1s cant use. Quiet and very pretty camera but focus dial is easily jogged (at least on mine) which makes it a bit of a pain for street photography if you like to zone focus.

Yeah this. Early G1s can't operate the 35 and 21mm. They should all be ok with the 28mm.

 

[nathantw]

My Nikon FE was pretty loud in a quiet place. My D700 was even louder. The D810 is relatively quiet.

If I want complete silence with film though I always use my Konica Hexar AF. It can't be beat. Even a Leica M make a loud click noise compared to it. So if you can find $400-$500 for it, I'd get that if you could live with a 35mm lens.

 

[GRHazelton]

If you can live with a fixed 50mm, the Voigtlander Vitessa L folding rangefinder would be a fine choice. An excellent f2 lens, the Ultron. Virtually silent leaf shutter. Good handling, the right hand handles focus and shutter release, the left advances film with a plunger. Good viewfinder, parallax corrected!

Or consider the Konica IIIa. Non interchangeable f1.8 50mm Hexanon, quiet leaf shutter. Wonderful rangefinder viewfinder, 1 to 1 image, parallax corrected, and corrected for the shrinkage of coverage when focused closer! Even Leica doesn't do this! But this goodness isn't easy to find, and I ain't selling mine! Nor am I selling my Vitessa L.

 

[narsuitus]

The Contax G1 is reasonably priced and can use a 28mm lens. However, I could not recommend it because mine generates more operational noise than my Leica M6.