Shutter noise of 20D

This isn't a question, but I figure it may help some people trying to

make a decision like I was.

 

I just upgraded from a Digital Rebel to a 20D, and have been dreading

the mirror slap, having read in many places about how loud and sloppy

it sounds. Well I've been taking photos all afternoon, and the only

impression I get from the sound of the shutter is how tight and

precise it sounds. I don't know about from a distance, but right next

to my face, it sounds like a well-calibrated machine.

 

So if you've heard about how loud it is, and it's been putting you

off, don't think twice about it. It is certainly louder than the 10D,

and a bit louder than the Digital Rebel, but it's a nice noise, and

not so loud that it would bother you.

 

Incidentally, the noise at 3200iso is amazing, and the mirror blackout

time seems dramatically shorter as well. I'm very happy with the upgrade.

 

Lucien

I currently use the 10D as my main camera. Recently sold an EOS 3. Would love the sound to be somewhere between the two. I honestly don't mind a little 'shutter' noise but thought the 3 was a bit extreme.

Besides the occasionally error- and lockup-prone firmware, the reportedly loud shutter on the 20D was my only concern when my wife presented one to me as a gift, to upgrade from my perfectly performing 10D.

 

Once I had the 20D in hand, I immediately noticed the louder shutter, but found it in no way objectionable. Like Lucien, it sounds very strong and positive to me.

 

Then again, I'm not a "stealth shooter" ...

You have to remember that the reviewers need to have something to say, and to make comparisons. So the 20d is louder than the 10d was louder than the Elan 7, (not difficult as the Elan 7 is about the quitest SLR you can buy). But it's just words, I never even think about the noise of my 20d, but then I'm not sneaking about in a church during a wedding. (in the UK they wouldn't let us)

I know nothing about other Canon noises than the 20D. The 20D shutter noise, to me, is a satisfying thunk. My other SLR is a Leica R7. The R7 is not much louder in my ear. The only thing is this - the EOS 20D deceleration is by a cheap plastic foam pad in front of the mirror box. The mirror of the R7 has a sophisticated deceleration device. But the R5-7 cameras use the same kind of cheap plastic foam for light seals. I have an R6 that will need professional replacement of the seals but the mirror box will last for ever.

My other SLR is a Bronica SQAi which is a helpful way to assuage myself if I think the 20D is too loud. In a silent room or a silent street it is quite loud and is the loudest Canon SLR I have used (not having had the pleasure of using a 3). I have used it without disturbing anyone in a jazz club.

 

I didn't hear comments about a sloppy sound and certainly the shutter noise and mirror slap are anything but.

In general I don't mind the noise of the 20D.<br>

But it did mildly spook some horses in a quiet stable once.

I took quite a few pics in that stable, and only once did the horses react so its not that bad ;-)

 

--sjg

The 20D is noticeably louder than the two previous DSLRs I had. To me it doesn't sound

"sloppy", nor have I read many people making that claim. While it is somewhat loud, at

least relative to other DSLRs, it doesn't bother me in the least. It isn't obnoxiously loud.

Having said that, there may be some instances where noise is important, such as

photographing skittish wildlife, where the noise might have some consideration. I think

the noise issue was widely reported because it was an oddity, leaving most reviewers to

scratch their collective heads in puzzlement. In nearly every respect, this camera is an

improvement on the 10D, except that it is louder. *shrug* If that is it's worst feature, I can

live with it.

Interesting comments. If you care to look at the squirrel pics I posted on this site, I cal tell you that they were visibly twitching after each shot. It made me wonder at the time if I was going to get a lot of subject blur on the photos. Having said that, it didn't actually scare them off, and later on this year I'm shooting a play a friend is directing. I'll report on whether the actors complain about the noise.

 

Personally I can't tell much difference between my 50E and the 20D. I suppose that the smaller mirror/shutter ought to function inherently more quietly given that less mass has to get moving and stop compared to the full frame bretheren, but unless Canon see it as an issue they are unlikely to put development money into reducing the mirror noise volumes. You could always write and ask for a fixed pellicle mirror version of the 20D ;~) - it would also remove the stress of worrying about sensor cleaning at the cost of one more stop or so (and a darker viewfinder).

 

All the best,

 

Damian

When I'm shooting animals that know I'm there, I sometimes use a technique to make the camera noise less traumatic for them. What I do is say "ok, here we go," in sort of a moderately lengthy drawl. I fire the shutter when I begin to say "we." Seems to work with most dogs, horses, and semi-tame wildlife, though it does occasionally make the photographer look a little weird to others. Of course, this technique is not useful at all for decisive moment shots.

Anthony, I was shooting in a medium sized theatre once with an EOS30 and a guy on the other side was using an EOS3. I could hear that thing clearly on the opposite side of the theatre and the 20D I now own is definately not that noisy.

I just received a digital rebel today. I am shocked as to how quiet it is compared to my 20d. I bought the rebel as a backup, but it may be used as my main cam when taking shots in places such as the theater, etc.