Definitive Ruling on K-30 Shutter Sound?

**paulh** · 11-05-2012, 10:16 PM

Amusing thread

I've always liked the shutter sound of my old *istD - kind of a light "snick"...but the K100D - - "kuh-LACK"

audiobomber · 11-06-2012, 05:31 AM

I measured my K100DS and K-x with an SPL meter. The K-x is 2dB louder, 78dB vs 76. That confirms my perception that the K-x is louder.

I heard that the reason the K-30 is louder than the K-5 is because the K-30 uses the shutter mechanism from the K-r.

thehiko · 11-06-2012, 10:45 AM

Interesting. This is why I had to bring this topic back up lol. I can listen to vids all day long but with variables like mic sensitivity and bg noise it's hard to judge. I know one person compared it to 2 other Pentax cameras, but as I stated before I have no access to Pentax.

So one person said it's not any louder than a t4i or d5100. Would most agree? However, I guess all those are loud enough to be disruptive in a quiet environment? Wish I had a sound meter to measure other cams!

lister6520 · 11-06-2012, 11:38 AM

My K-30 has a slightly muted sound compared to the K-r, with the same lens. I mention that because without the lens they sound just about the same but once the lens is on the K30 is a bit quieter and the sound is less 'harsh', for want of a better word.

I think the body of the K30 muffles the sound somewhat better than the K-r, perhaps because of the weather seals. With the lens off it is wide open so then I suppose the body makes no difference.

Putting the 18-135 WR lens also seems to quieten it further whereas on the K-r it seems to make no difference what lens is on it, as long as there is a lens.

This is of course all very subjective. If I manage to find my SPL meter, and some time, I'll see if I can get a more reliable indication for what it's worth.

simbon4o · 11-06-2012, 01:16 PM

K5 is you new camera. K30 have the same sound like the K-r. K5 is weirdly quiet!

thehiko · 11-06-2012, 01:20 PM

Thanks to everyone for helping me out. I went to check out the sounds of the t4i and d5100 again to refresh my memory, and I thought they sounded fine volume wise. The d5100 seems a bit more muted which I liked. If the k30 is anything similar, I would be happy. K5 does sound perfect but I would like focus peaking as well as what seems to be a better AF system.

hks_kansei · 11-06-2012, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

I measured my K100DS and K-x with an SPL meter. The K-x is 2dB louder, 78dB vs 76. That confirms my perception that the K-x is louder.

I heard that the reason the K-30 is louder than the K-5 is because the K-30 uses the shutter mechanism from the K-r.

Also remember though that most db meters have a tolerance, and most consumer ones tend to have a higher tolerance than a pro version.

I know my cheap one has a tolerance of +-3db

JinDesu · 11-06-2012, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by thehiko

Thanks to everyone for helping me out. I went to check out the sounds of the t4i and d5100 again to refresh my memory, and I thought they sounded fine volume wise. The d5100 seems a bit more muted which I liked. If the k30 is anything similar, I would be happy. K5 does sound perfect but I would like focus peaking as well as what seems to be a better AF system.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

It should be - and part of the reason is also pitch. The D5100 has a higher pitch shutter sound, while the T4i is lower. In my video, the k-x has a lower pitch than the k-30, so while the k-30 isn't so different in volume, the pitch makes it sound quieter.

audiobomber · 11-06-2012, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by hks_kansei

Also remember though that most db meters have a tolerance, and most consumer ones tend to have a higher tolerance than a pro version.

I know my cheap one has a tolerance of +-3db

That would be a factor for absolute accuracy, but not for a comparison of two similar sounds. IOW, maybe the actual volumes were 75dB and 77db instead of 76 and 78dB, but I expect the difference of 2dB would be pretty accurate.

john5100 · 11-06-2012, 02:01 PM

Would you find it too loud for wedding photography?

JinDesu · 11-06-2012, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by john5100

Would you find it too loud for wedding photography?

I would find it noticeable at the wedding ceremony only. For everything else, is ok.

Then again, I don't know how other shooters deal with sound at weddings (flashes are pretty loud too). k-5 I understand, but not that many cameras are as quiet as the k-5.

audiobomber · 11-06-2012, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by john5100

Would you find it too loud for wedding photography?

My wife interrupted a wedding ceremony with the clack of a K-x. She was about twenty feet from the couple.

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11-05-2012, 10:16 PM	#61
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	Amusing thread I've always liked the shutter sound of my old *istD - kind of a light "snick"...but the K100D - - "kuh-LACK"

11-06-2012, 05:31 AM	#62
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	I measured my K100DS and K-x with an SPL meter. The K-x is 2dB louder, 78dB vs 76. That confirms my perception that the K-x is louder. I heard that the reason the K-30 is louder than the K-5 is because the K-30 uses the shutter mechanism from the K-r.

11-06-2012, 10:45 AM	#63
thehiko Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 38	Interesting. This is why I had to bring this topic back up lol. I can listen to vids all day long but with variables like mic sensitivity and bg noise it's hard to judge. I know one person compared it to 2 other Pentax cameras, but as I stated before I have no access to Pentax. So one person said it's not any louder than a t4i or d5100. Would most agree? However, I guess all those are loud enough to be disruptive in a quiet environment? Wish I had a sound meter to measure other cams!

11-06-2012, 11:38 AM	#64
lister6520 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 733	My K-30 has a slightly muted sound compared to the K-r, with the same lens. I mention that because without the lens they sound just about the same but once the lens is on the K30 is a bit quieter and the sound is less 'harsh', for want of a better word. I think the body of the K30 muffles the sound somewhat better than the K-r, perhaps because of the weather seals. With the lens off it is wide open so then I suppose the body makes no difference. Putting the 18-135 WR lens also seems to quieten it further whereas on the K-r it seems to make no difference what lens is on it, as long as there is a lens. This is of course all very subjective. If I manage to find my SPL meter, and some time, I'll see if I can get a more reliable indication for what it's worth.

11-06-2012, 01:16 PM	#65
simbon4o Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 258	K5 is you new camera. K30 have the same sound like the K-r. K5 is weirdly quiet!

11-06-2012, 01:20 PM	#66
thehiko Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 38	Thanks to everyone for helping me out. I went to check out the sounds of the t4i and d5100 again to refresh my memory, and I thought they sounded fine volume wise. The d5100 seems a bit more muted which I liked. If the k30 is anything similar, I would be happy. K5 does sound perfect but I would like focus peaking as well as what seems to be a better AF system.

11-06-2012, 01:27 PM	#67
hks_kansei Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 834	Originally posted by audiobomber I measured my K100DS and K-x with an SPL meter. The K-x is 2dB louder, 78dB vs 76. That confirms my perception that the K-x is louder. I heard that the reason the K-30 is louder than the K-5 is because the K-30 uses the shutter mechanism from the K-r. Also remember though that most db meters have a tolerance, and most consumer ones tend to have a higher tolerance than a pro version. I know my cheap one has a tolerance of +-3db

11-06-2012, 01:35 PM	#68
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by thehiko Thanks to everyone for helping me out. I went to check out the sounds of the t4i and d5100 again to refresh my memory, and I thought they sounded fine volume wise. The d5100 seems a bit more muted which I liked. If the k30 is anything similar, I would be happy. K5 does sound perfect but I would like focus peaking as well as what seems to be a better AF system. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2 It should be - and part of the reason is also pitch. The D5100 has a higher pitch shutter sound, while the T4i is lower. In my video, the k-x has a lower pitch than the k-30, so while the k-30 isn't so different in volume, the pitch makes it sound quieter.

11-06-2012, 01:50 PM	#69
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by hks_kansei Also remember though that most db meters have a tolerance, and most consumer ones tend to have a higher tolerance than a pro version. I know my cheap one has a tolerance of +-3db That would be a factor for absolute accuracy, but not for a comparison of two similar sounds. IOW, maybe the actual volumes were 75dB and 77db instead of 76 and 78dB, but I expect the difference of 2dB would be pretty accurate.

11-06-2012, 02:01 PM	#70
john5100 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,725	Would you find it too loud for wedding photography?

11-06-2012, 02:03 PM	#71
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by john5100 Would you find it too loud for wedding photography? I would find it noticeable at the wedding ceremony only. For everything else, is ok. Then again, I don't know how other shooters deal with sound at weddings (flashes are pretty loud too). k-5 I understand, but not that many cameras are as quiet as the k-5.

11-06-2012, 02:11 PM	#72
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by john5100 Would you find it too loud for wedding photography? My wife interrupted a wedding ceremony with the clack of a K-x. She was about twenty feet from the couple.