K-7 probably has the most quit shutter mechanism of all DSLR's

nosnoop · 05-29-2009, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by GoldenWreckedAngle

...after a JCPentax post earlier today confirming that they didn't touch the shutter I'm convinced that Pentax simply didn't feel like 1/250 was important enough to mess with.

Please check my earlier post in reply to yours here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/616310-post152.html

According to Pentax Japan, K-7's shutter was a newly designed one. There must be some other technical/packaging/economic limitations that they decided not to implement higher sync.

mithrandir · 05-29-2009, 11:16 PM

I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade.

**Digitalis** · 05-29-2009, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

Canon 50D has shutter noise adjustments... right down to silent mode. Plus 1/250 flash sync.

no, the 50D has a silent mode that's it you can't configure how quiet or loud the shutter is. The canon 50D is basically a 20D on steroids, same construction quality, same similar shutter mechanism, and a dim viewfinder.

soccerjoe5 · 05-30-2009, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by mithrandir

I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade.

When I shot my aunt's opera performance, where you could literally hear a pin drop, I covered my camera with my jacket

Very silent!

Peter Fang · 05-31-2009, 02:37 AM

I handled an Olympus E-1 many years ago, I was using the *ist D at the time. I remembered the E-1 to be extremely quiet. When I tried the K-7 engineering sample I was very pleasantly surprised by the quiet shutter / mirros slap sound. I'd like to compare it with the E-1 side by side if there's a chance.

fejker · 05-31-2009, 03:30 AM

@Peter

I'll be able to compare that as soon as I get my K-7.

A friend from the photo club has the E-1. The size of the mirror comes in play here ... the E-1 has a smaller mirror that's why it's very quiet.

Peter Fang · 06-01-2009, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by fejker

@Peter

I'll be able to compare that as soon as I get my K-7.

A friend from the photo club has the E-1. The size of the mirror comes in play here ... the E-1 has a smaller mirror that's why it's very quiet.

I guess you're right about the mirror size but good dampening also counts here. I think Pentax did a good job sealing the sound on the K-7 on top of a new quieter, well damped shutter / mirror mechanism. When I played with the K-7 engineering sample, I tried listening to the shutter sound with no lens attached and the sound was a bit louder, more on the "crisp" side. But when a lens is mounted, the overall sound was quieter and pleasing to the ears.

Peter

pentaxmz · 06-02-2009, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by Peter Fang

I guess you're right about the mirror size but good dampening also counts here. I think Pentax did a good job sealing the sound on the K-7 on top of a new quieter, well damped shutter / mirror mechanism. When I played with the K-7 engineering sample, I tried listening to the shutter sound with no lens attached and the sound was a bit louder, more on the "crisp" side. But when a lens is mounted, the overall sound was quieter and pleasing to the ears.

Peter

Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses.

fejker · 06-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses.

I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away.

**ManuH** · 06-03-2009, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by fejker

I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away.

They said that about film vs digital

On an EVIL camera what you see is what you get from the sensor, so it's even better than a mirror, at least in theory. In practice there are many technical issues to overcome. But it's only that: a technical issue and as technology improves EVIL could actually be better than mirrors. And to get close to the current topic an EVIL camera doesn't have any mirror noise and that's an advantage. The K-7 is able to do the same in Liveview mode: no mirror action required.

fejker · 06-03-2009, 02:17 PM

I still find that in some situations film is better than digital. When it comes to dynamic range even full frame cameras can't beat film. So digital hasn't replaced film, it just gave a choice to those that find digital more convenient.

GoldenWreckedAngle · 06-03-2009, 02:25 PM

I'm sure the additional seals, especially those on the lens, probably help to contain some of the shutter noise too.

séamuis · 06-03-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by fejker

I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away.

The SLR was supposed to kill the rangefinder (that's debatable) compacts were supposed to kill the SLR in the 90's. digital was supposed to kill film. nope mirrors aren't going anywhere. at least not anytime in the foreseeable future. the EVIL camera will just be another option.

Yohan Pamudji · 06-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

Why does it have to one thing or another?

Canon 50D has shutter noise adjustments... right down to silent mode. Plus 1/250 flash sync.

I guess Pentax wasn't planning to out-do the 50D, at least, not in this respect.

You're talking about live view, so no mirror slap noise, which is a completely different thing. I can guarantee you the K-7 is quieter than the 50D in normal shooting.

**Douglas_of_Sweden** · 06-03-2009, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses.

Why would you want that? You could not use K mount lenses anyway with normal performance since the registration distance is very much smaller on the mirrorless samsung. For portrait and macro lenses it would be devastating and all lenses would get increased close focusing distances. Long teles is the only benefit I could think of, but for small birds the increased minima focusing distance could still be a problem.

Originally posted by mithrandir

I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade.

How clever of you! I will try that one!

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05-29-2009, 03:51 PM	#16
nosnoop Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,299	Originally posted by GoldenWreckedAngle ...after a JCPentax post earlier today confirming that they didn't touch the shutter I'm convinced that Pentax simply didn't feel like 1/250 was important enough to mess with. Please check my earlier post in reply to yours here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/616310-post152.html According to Pentax Japan, K-7's shutter was a newly designed one. There must be some other technical/packaging/economic limitations that they decided not to implement higher sync.

05-29-2009, 11:16 PM	#17
mithrandir Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,895	I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade.

05-29-2009, 11:56 PM	#18
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by pentaxmz Canon 50D has shutter noise adjustments... right down to silent mode. Plus 1/250 flash sync. no, the 50D has a silent mode that's it you can't configure how quiet or loud the shutter is. The canon 50D is basically a 20D on steroids, same construction quality, same similar shutter mechanism, and a dim viewfinder.

05-30-2009, 09:51 PM	#19
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Originally posted by mithrandir I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade. When I shot my aunt's opera performance, where you could literally hear a pin drop, I covered my camera with my jacket Very silent!

05-31-2009, 02:37 AM	#20
Peter Fang Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Beijing, China Posts: 58	I handled an Olympus E-1 many years ago, I was using the *ist D at the time. I remembered the E-1 to be extremely quiet. When I tried the K-7 engineering sample I was very pleasantly surprised by the quiet shutter / mirros slap sound. I'd like to compare it with the E-1 side by side if there's a chance.

05-31-2009, 03:30 AM	#21
fejker Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 258	@Peter I'll be able to compare that as soon as I get my K-7. A friend from the photo club has the E-1. The size of the mirror comes in play here ... the E-1 has a smaller mirror that's why it's very quiet.

06-01-2009, 03:51 AM	#22
Peter Fang Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Beijing, China Posts: 58	Originally posted by fejker @Peter I'll be able to compare that as soon as I get my K-7. A friend from the photo club has the E-1. The size of the mirror comes in play here ... the E-1 has a smaller mirror that's why it's very quiet. I guess you're right about the mirror size but good dampening also counts here. I think Pentax did a good job sealing the sound on the K-7 on top of a new quieter, well damped shutter / mirror mechanism. When I played with the K-7 engineering sample, I tried listening to the shutter sound with no lens attached and the sound was a bit louder, more on the "crisp" side. But when a lens is mounted, the overall sound was quieter and pleasing to the ears. Peter

06-02-2009, 03:46 PM	#23
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by Peter Fang I guess you're right about the mirror size but good dampening also counts here. I think Pentax did a good job sealing the sound on the K-7 on top of a new quieter, well damped shutter / mirror mechanism. When I played with the K-7 engineering sample, I tried listening to the shutter sound with no lens attached and the sound was a bit louder, more on the "crisp" side. But when a lens is mounted, the overall sound was quieter and pleasing to the ears. Peter Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses.

06-02-2009, 09:50 PM	#24
fejker Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 258	Originally posted by pentaxmz Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses. I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away.

06-03-2009, 11:02 AM	#25
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249	Originally posted by fejker I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away. They said that about film vs digital On an EVIL camera what you see is what you get from the sensor, so it's even better than a mirror, at least in theory. In practice there are many technical issues to overcome. But it's only that: a technical issue and as technology improves EVIL could actually be better than mirrors. And to get close to the current topic an EVIL camera doesn't have any mirror noise and that's an advantage. The K-7 is able to do the same in Liveview mode: no mirror action required.

06-03-2009, 02:17 PM	#26
fejker Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 258	I still find that in some situations film is better than digital. When it comes to dynamic range even full frame cameras can't beat film. So digital hasn't replaced film, it just gave a choice to those that find digital more convenient.

06-03-2009, 02:25 PM	#27
GoldenWreckedAngle Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 339	I'm sure the additional seals, especially those on the lens, probably help to contain some of the shutter noise too.

06-03-2009, 02:28 PM	#28
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by fejker I think you're wrong. No EVIL can replace the actual light being reflected from a mirror. The hybrid cameras without a mirror are just a niche for those who want the optical quality of a DSLR and don't want a bulky camera. Mirrors are not going away. The SLR was supposed to kill the rangefinder (that's debatable) compacts were supposed to kill the SLR in the 90's. digital was supposed to kill film. nope mirrors aren't going anywhere. at least not anytime in the foreseeable future. the EVIL camera will just be another option.

06-03-2009, 03:36 PM	#29
Yohan Pamudji Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 184	Originally posted by pentaxmz Why does it have to one thing or another? Canon 50D has shutter noise adjustments... right down to silent mode. Plus 1/250 flash sync. I guess Pentax wasn't planning to out-do the 50D, at least, not in this respect. You're talking about live view, so no mirror slap noise, which is a completely different thing. I can guarantee you the K-7 is quieter than the 50D in normal shooting.

06-03-2009, 04:01 PM	#30
Douglas_of_Sweden Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,374	Originally posted by pentaxmz Mirrors are soon going to be a thing of the past. Already, Samsung as announced a mirrorless "DSLR". I suppose it can't be called a DSLR. Its too bad that they are not adopting the PK mount for their interchangeable lenses. Why would you want that? You could not use K mount lenses anyway with normal performance since the registration distance is very much smaller on the mirrorless samsung. For portrait and macro lenses it would be devastating and all lenses would get increased close focusing distances. Long teles is the only benefit I could think of, but for small birds the increased minima focusing distance could still be a problem. Originally posted by mithrandir I was shooting my grandson in a play in a dimly lit school auditorium tonight. The old K10D was giving me lots of feedback (shutter noise) as I shot over 100 hundred low light captures. My wife leaned over and asked me to turn the shutter noise off. I had to chuckle as I explained quickly that I could do that with my old Panasonic camera because it had no shutter, but the Pentax has a real moving shutter. I was quick to add that the K7 is much quieter. She thinks I should upgrade. How clever of you! I will try that one!