20 D Shutter Noise

[Jeff Mandell]

I've read in more than one review that the shutter sound on the 20D is objectionably louder than on previous models and audible from some distance. I shoot candids and like to be as unnoticed as possible. I'd like to hear from users whether this is the case and whether anyone knows if there are any Canon plans to do anything about it. Thanks.

[Morden]

I perceive the shutter sound of my 20D as more "different" than louder, when compared to the 10D.

[Doom1701e]

I as well notice it to be "different", maybe louder, but it doesnt bother me at all, although I do wish there were some "quiet" C.Fn for some situations like weddings, etc. Maybe on the 30D? :wink:

[Adam Hicks]

It's a little loud, and noticable when you first get it. But after you start letting it fly you want the whole world to hear that glorious noise :)


We'll see how the wedding party feels about it though.... luckily I do mostly motorsports events, and believe me, standing 4 ft. from an 8500 hp car means that my shutter is very much inaudible.

Adam

[gramps]

I't not too bad, sorta reminds me of the noise my A1 makes.

[Scottes]

I think it's louder - and definitely different - than the 10D. It's not as loud as the 1DMkII though.

[jhankins]

You might want to consider a camera that is known for being quiet like a range finder for example when you absolutely need to be quite. I've seen that recommended for court reporting etc. (Lest you be admonished in the middle of a wedding) (As a backup quiet camera) I've not had to resort to that yet thankfully but have kept in the back of my mind to investigate at some point for those moments where this would be a problem. Anybody else do this?


Regards,

Jim

[drisley]

I LOVE the sound of the 20D shutter.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think it's louder - and definitely different - than the 10D. It's not as loud as the 1DMkII though.

Oh I beg to differ.. :lol:

The 20D IS louder than the MkII.. definately!

The loudest of them all though is the 1D "original"

[CyberDyneSystems]

I LOVE the sound of the 20D shutter.

The 20D sounds like there is a bowl of rice crispies up in the works there getting crunched up!

Reminds me of the holster in "Evil Dead Part 2"

[Jeff Mandell]

<<It's a little loud, and noticable when you first get it. But after you start letting it fly you want the whole world to hear that glorious noise :)>>

Well, it may be glorious at a motor cross, but that's not exactly the point I'm trying to address. Another post below suggests a non-SLR, but I'm trying to find a digital camera to get out of scanning hell.

[CyberDyneSystems]

... I do not find the shutter to be at all objectionably loud.

It is still quieter than most 35mm film cameras (ie: full frame)

[phili1]

I have owned Nikons & Canon film cameras and the sound that the 20 D makes is no louder then My other Cameras. I can't comment onthe past digital but I do not find it objectionable. The only one who will hear it is you.

[drisley]

It's a little loud, and noticable when you first get it. But after you start letting it fly you want the whole world to hear that glorious noise :)
Adam
:lol:
I was at a soccer game the second day I got the 20D.
When let a burst of 5fps go, I started to giggle because it sounded so damn cool.

[Adam Hicks]

I'm just a casual photographer that happens to know some folks in the motorsports business, who get me into any motorsports event I want :) but the 20D with a flash, omnibounce, 100-400L with lens hood and a Manfrotto monopod sticking from the bottom is like electronic crack to a gadget nerd.

[Ferdinand]

Own both a 10D and a 20D, 20D is definitely different and a tad louder than the 10D.

[billsh]

Adam,
Will you be at the Texas motor speedway this weekend? If so hope you can share some of the shots with us.

[Deckyon]

I was at a soccer game the second day I got the 20D.
When let a burst of 5fps go, I started to giggle because it sounded so darn cool.

You should hear the 1D Mark II at it's full frame rate. In a phrase (used by on of the soccer moms) - "That thing sounds like a machine gun!"

Awesome.

As to the 20D noise, it is louder (and different) than the 1D Mark II. I do not find the noise bothersome. If you want quiet, turn on mirror lock-up. It helps. I would not do this shooting in the sun, but indoors is fine.

[Belmondo]

I have both the 20D and the 1D Mk II, and the Mk II is clearly louder and more substantial sounding. Even so, I love the sound of the 20D....it has a businesslike noise, and I think this is a ridiculous discussion. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Really Tom?.. I wonder if one MkII is louder than another... or if the 20Ds vary to some extent?

[elbirth]

The only camera shutters I've been able to hear in person (i.e., with the camera physically there with me and not a recording online such as on DPreview) are an old Minolta 35mm (not sure the model) the Digital Rebel, and my 20D. The 20D is definitely the most obvious sounding one.

The other night a friend and I were walking down the street taking some shots. We stopped at one spot and were taking a few shots and a group of 3 people came walking by. I had my camera pointed in their direction already and was shooting something beyond/slightly above them, but I guess it looked like I had the camera pointed at them. They were a good 10-12 feet away and heard the shutter. The looked at me funny and were like "why are you taking our picture?"

[Vita Rara]

OK, I tried a 20D at Best Buy last night. :drool: I'm in love. The shutter didn't seem really loud compared to my 300D. It sounded a lot nicer though. :) There's an intangible quiality to it. It just sounds more solid.

Mark

PS: And to think I'd mentally crossed the 20D off my wish list in favor of a 1DMkII. Uggh... shouldn't have touched it.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have both the 20D and the 1D Mk II, and the Mk II is clearly louder and more substantial sounding. Even so, I love the sound of the 20D....it has a businesslike noise, and I think this is a ridiculous discussion. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm not sure we have reached the "Ridiculous Overflow Threshold" yet though? :P

Let's see if I can push this thing to it's limit!

Now I am going to have to break the near feild microphones, DB meter and spectrum analyzer!

I bet the difference in perception lies in the very different fequencies that these shutters are creating!

[greyunit]

It's a little loud, and noticable when you first get it. But after you start letting it fly you want the whole world to hear that glorious noise :)
Adam
:lol:
I was at a soccer game the second day I got the 20D.
When let a burst of 5fps go, I started to giggle because it sounded so darn cool.

i can totally relate:) just last saturday at a football game...i did the same and i was also giggling to myself before i noticed all other photogs beside me turned heads and couldn't help but comment on the solid cooool sound...

i just love it...

but then it is much louder than the 10D and it can post a problem in candid moments...a change of style in shooting those type of shoots made it all good for me though:)

spy activity def not possible though (for this, get a prosumer cam or a small cam like the optio S4i:)

[elbirth]

It's a little loud, and noticable when you first get it. But after you start letting it fly you want the whole world to hear that glorious noise :)
Adam
:lol:
I was at a soccer game the second day I got the 20D.
When let a burst of 5fps go, I started to giggle because it sounded so darn cool.

i can totally relate:) just last saturday at a football game...i did the same and i was also giggling to myself before i noticed all other photogs beside me turned heads and couldn't help but comment on the solid cooool sound...

i just love it...

but then it is much louder than the 10D and it can post a problem in candid moments...a change of style in shooting those type of shoots made it all good for me though:)

spy activity def not possible though (for this, get a prosumer cam or a small cam like the optio S4i:)

I don't shoot sports or anything at the moment, but I was out photographing with a friend of mine when I first got my 20D, and he pointed out something he wanted me to try to get a shot of. So I put it in burst mode (I guess that's what it's called? Maybe rapid fire :lol:) and let off several shots. When I pulled the camera away from my face and looked at him, he just had these wide eyes and his mouth had stopped halfway open from where he was talking. I just looked down at my camera and was like "oh.. yeah, it's pretty cool" and couldn't help but smile :D :D

[Belmondo]

Now we have to deal with 'shutter noise and mirror slap envy.'

We're all sunk if a 1Ds MkII owner ever gets involved in this discussion. That big mirror over the 24 X 36 sensor has to sound like a bank vault closing once it gets moving.

[CyberDyneSystems]

lol...

I stilll think the 1D "classic" was the loudest.. it is the only shutter that could slam open and shut in 1/16,000th of a second!

[drisley]

I was at the local store today, and I got to hear the 1DS MKII. Yup it's loud....
1DS MKII Shutter Mp3 (http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/1ds.mp3)

[elbirth]

I was at the local store today, and I got to hear the 1DS MKII. Yup it's loud....
1DS MKII Shutter Mp3 (http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/1ds.mp3)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's about right!

[Harrie Frericks]

The 20D has an APS-sized shutter.
The 10D has a full frame 35 mm shutter.

Harrie