Camera Noise - how can I muffle it?

Hey All,

I plan to shoot a classical pianist friend during an upcoming solo performance in a fancy gallery space. Unfortunately, the size of the space and composition (the place is practically all marble) will not allow me to shoot without seriously disrupting the performance for the small audience (this is a serious NYC crowd). From the other threads, there were suggestions to only shoot during the 'loud' parts of the program and stand far away from the audience. I've also looked at various tools like sound covers and the blimp and wasn't impressed.

What do you guys suggest for a classical music performance in a tight space?

i seem to remember something about mirror lock-up and live view. it's not silent, but it's a lot quieter than the norm? there are threads on POTN about this, if you can find them.

This is actually a question for the master-owner of this website, PEKKA.

I'm willing to be wrong, but the few times I have attended any chamber performance, there were some pro video cameras running at a distance, and zero, no, still photographers at all. Dead quiet.

When I say pro, min was this type of gear, which perhaps you could rent and use your tripod/mounts to hold:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ras/ci/16763/N/​4256818817

Shoot the dress rehearsal?

Laudrup wrote in post #13427498
Shoot the dress rehearsal?

now THATS a good idea!

jay125 wrote in post #13427526
now THATS a good idea!

I vaguely considered renting a Leica M9 (rangefinder) with a fast lens but even that isn't silent. I think shooting the dress rehearsal is the best solution. It's funny that I have to consider sound over lighting in this case.

Also, our cameras (7Ds and 5Dmk2s) are great for video if you're willing to work with the inefficient controls.

Was on the aquatech site the other day & noticed this

http://www.aquatech.ne​t/sound-blimps.php

Seems to be for just that purpose.

Just interested, why don't things like that suit ?

Art Vandelay wrote in post #13428057
Was on the aquatech site the other day & noticed this

http://www.aquatech.ne​t/sound-blimps.php

It's $1K+ for a polyurethane foam housed with a plastic shell (you need to buy the lens casing too). Has anyone used this product?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1041_Sound_Blim​p_for.html

Genmai wrote in post #13426650
What do you guys suggest for a classical music performance in a tight space?

Jacobson blimps have a good reputation, but they're expensive.

A lot of concert halls and such place restrictions on photographers -- some performances allow for a brief session at the very beginning, but that's not going to happen with this type of performance. If you check in advance the venue or producers may let you know what will work the best. The dress rehearsal is a pretty common scenario from what I gather.

There are cheaper blimps out there that work pretty well. I can't think of the brand my friend uses but you can find a list of them at BH or Adorama.

Back when I was using a Canon G1 it was completly silent. A comparable modern-day high-end P&S would be appropriate in a classical music setting.
You will be seriously booted out on your butt using a loud SLR...

Shoot during the applause between selections?

Anyone doing this commercially will almost always shoot the dress rehearsal or have a private session where they can move around at will and get the shots that you would never be able to get during a normal performance. As shown by some of the links provided there are products that can help minimize your camera sounds but nothing that I know of that will totally remove it. Given the kind of crowd that you say you have, I wouldn't risk it during the live performance. Even if you are at the back you will still be close to some of the audience.

The photographer who placed a dSLR + UWA at the feet of Barack Obama for his inauguration built a blimp out of a Pelican case and Pick/Pluck foam.