bill a. Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 What is the quietest Nikon SLR body to use with a MF AIS lens (so shutter noise, mirror slap, and MD if it has one)? Is it the FE2? Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_gifford Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 The new F6 is supposed to be comparatively quiet. I have not tested the various models, sorry. Be well, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dm2 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 None are quiet. F3 w/o MD is maybe the quietest, or at least the character of the sound is less objectionable to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Prior to F6, the quietest is F2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_benveniste Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I would guess the Nikon FA without motor drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_miao1 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I own several bodies but F2 series and F6. If my memory serves right, the FA does sound better in noise wise. The other one might be the FE. All should be without MD on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I have on hand an F6, F5 and F2. The F6 is the quietest of the three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Tardio Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I haven't heard the F6, but I was always surprised at how quiet the N80 (F80) was...much quieter than my FM3a or N90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constance_cook Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 My F70 is the quietest (by a goodly bit), followed by the F6 and then the F80s. Conni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berg_na Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I'm surprised that some here feel that the F2 is quiet. It is extremely loud compared to modern cameras. The F4 works with AIS lenses and is very quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_kleimen Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 There have been many who have asked this question over the years. For motor driven bodies the answer has always been the N/F70. (It is also a very nice camera.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 My N80 is fairly quiet. I've held the F6 and it is very quiet. mmmmm F6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_276104 Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 I'll cast another vote for the N70. My step-up camera from that was an F100 and I was surprised how noisy it was. I love that sound, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacksonphoto Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 I'll throw in with the N70 crowd. Not my favorite of Nikon's offerings, but it was relatively quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oswegophoto Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 I agree with Jeff about the character of the F3's shutter sound, and (assuming no MD) it is darned quiet winding, focusing and even rewinding (sometimes the roll ends). And if you're shooting pre-composed, you can even lock up the mirror. Disregard the recommendations for the N80 - they didn't notice you're using an AIS lens. Do stay away from the N90 or N90s if you want quiet; great camera with MF lenses, but folks will definitely turn and look in a quiet room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnps Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 My F4s is very quiet. Hasn't made a sound for a year now. The D70 soon shut it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borgis_karl_johan Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 F4 i silent mode (Cs)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulderjoe Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The FA is silent? Mine sounds like someone dropped a lawn chair when I click the shutter. But it's a welcome sound, I was tired of people saying "Did you take the picture?" when I use my Leica. -Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill a. Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 Thanks for the input so far... I have been looking for a stealthy mate for a 50 f1.2 that won't wake the dead. I like the idea of the FE2; my F3 and F4 just seem too loud. How does a FE2 with MD sound compared to a N8008s? (I know, my original post excluded MD noise). Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goemon Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 I don't have an FE2, but I have an FM3a and an MD-12, and it is plenty loud, louder than my F100. Worse, it's a high pitched whining noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill a. Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 I guess I could always go this route... http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=4467 :-) Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted January 12, 2005 Share Posted January 12, 2005 The F3 is somewhat quieter than the FM2N. The former "clunks" while the latter has a more metallic "clank". And the FM2N's MD-12 motor drive has a distinctive whine while the F3's MD-4 is relatively quieter. I can nearly silence the F3HP with MD-4 in a crude, homemade blimp box while the FM2N with MD-12 in the same box can still be heard. However I'd bet than any AF Nikon that can function with AIS lenses would be quieter overall. Most of the AF Nikons made during the past 10 years are well damped against noise from the flip-up mirror, shutter and gear train. What noise they do make is quite unobtrusive compared with any manual focus Nikon I've tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill a. Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 Yeah, the shutter and mirror are pretty quiet, but I thought the motor on the 8008S i have was pretty loud. That's why I was considering forgoing the MD (or a camera with a built in MD), and go the old manual route --- just shutter and mirror sounds. Same reason I spec'd AIS and not AF. I really love shooting with my F3HP -- I think I 've taken some of my best images with it (not sure if it's the 100% viewfinder, the high eyepoint (I wear glasses), or the simple interface)... but to my ears, the mirror "clank" is very loud for stealthy photography. And before anyone suggests it, yes, I have a Leica. Great glass but I'm not a big fan of the viewfinder, no AE mode (an M4-P), and limitations on close focus and no macro. ANd I could get a whole bag of sharp, fast, Nikon primes for the cost of a Noct. :-) Oh well. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_mcmillin Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 I had an F80 for a while and thought it was extremely quiet. On the other end of the scale was the 8008. Listening to a press conference before a swarm of 1980s Nikons was like listening to a hive of angry bees... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now