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03-29-2012, 12:07 PM   #1
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Quietest camera shutter?

I am looking to buy a small, quiet pocket sized camera for street shooting. I wanted to know what has the quietest shutter. I have read so many camera reviews over the past several months, I can't remember which ones are the best at this, but I seemed to remember one lately getting rave reviews for being one of the quietest. Any help would be appreciated.

03-29-2012, 12:17 PM   #2
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I believe that may be one of the Leica's :-)
03-29-2012, 12:19 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by SpecialK Quote
I believe that may be one of the Leica's :-)
Oops, maybe I should have added "under US$1000"!! I won't be getting an M9 anytime soon!
03-29-2012, 01:04 PM   #4
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I have a Nikon 1 V-1 for that purpose. The electronic shutter is dead quiet while the mechanical shutter makes a very discreet click. In good light, the AF is instant, and it can AFC at 10 FPS, or up to 60 FPS without CAF. You can also simultaneously shoot 1080p video and snap full resolution pictures without interruption.

03-29-2012, 01:06 PM   #5
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The Pentax Q would be a great option !
03-29-2012, 01:19 PM   #6
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Ricoh GR Digital IV would be a good buy, I think.
03-29-2012, 05:55 PM   #7
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Sony TX-5. shutter is extremely quiet. It also looks like a mobile phone under most condfitions and you can operate the shutter button by squeezing the cam in hand. Great for discrete street or shop shots. Failing taht wait for the Nokia 808, which IS a mobile phone and stunning image quality.

03-29-2012, 07:21 PM   #8
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Film or digital? Most of the digital P&S are very quiet if you turn off the fake shutter sound. For film cameras, I would suggest any of the non-interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras. They had leaf shutters that make even a Leica sound like an unmuffled Harley.


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03-31-2012, 10:17 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
Film or digital? Most of the digital P&S are very quiet if you turn off the fake shutter sound. For film cameras, I would suggest any of the non-interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras. They had leaf shutters that make even a Leica sound like an unmuffled Harley.
Film cameras like the Hexar AF when the hidden "stealth" mode is used it possessed the quietest AF and shutter system I have ever used, and the Hexar AF also had the quietest motorised film advance of any camera I have ever used. Which I have to admit was a feature that unnerved me a little; I actually had to look at the frame counter to make sure it had wound on, most cameras of that era that had automatic film winders you get a small vibration as feedback that the film had wound on...you didn't get that with the hexar - it was just dead silent. I have to say overall it was even quieter than my Leica M3* - on my M3 the shutter cocking/film advance made noise as did the shutter itself however the higher pitched stealthy "snick" sound unlike modern DSLR's which have to move the mirror out of the way before the shutter does anything.

*though to be fair, my M3 is a bit of a family heirloom which has only been serviced by Leica twice in 50 years.

Last edited by Digitalis; 04-02-2012 at 10:05 PM.
03-31-2012, 10:53 PM   #10
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Digital compacts: any quality digital compact like the Fuji X10/X100 or a Powershot S95/S100 can be very quiet. Just remember to turn off all the fake shutter sounds and these are totally silent.
Film: Olympus XA. No AF though.
04-02-2012, 08:08 PM   #11
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+1 on the Nokia 808 or Hexar AF.
04-02-2012, 09:37 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by rawr Quote
Film: Olympus XA. No AF though.
+1 Barely audible click
04-03-2012, 02:30 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by rawr Quote
Digital compacts: any quality digital compact like the Fuji X10/X100 or a Powershot S95/S100 can be very quiet. Just remember to turn off all the fake shutter sounds and these are totally silent.
Film: Olympus XA. No AF though.
QuoteOriginally posted by monochrome Quote
+1 Barely audible click
Dang! I meant to explicitly call out the XA, but forgot! My Yashica Lynxes are quiet, but the XA is incredibly so.


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04-06-2012, 06:36 PM   #14
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I too recommend the Hexar AF 35mm film camera.
Costs about $400 used, and worth every penny...

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04-08-2012, 02:47 PM   #15
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Nokia 808? Won't any P&S do though? I heard the K-5 is relatively quiet too.

Whats the need for it being very quiet?
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