Shutter sound of Voigtlander Bessa

[azzurri]

Hi guys, got a friend who is looking into getting into rangefinders and she is looking at the Bessa line of cameras. One of the main reasons why she is looking at rangefinders is that she is looking for a film camera is that is quieter than an SLR but still accepts interchangeable lenses.

She was asking me how loud is the Bessa as compared to an SLR say like her Nikon F3. I have never used the Bessa before so am wondering for those of you who have used it before, how loud is it as compared to a mechanical SLR like the F3?

Would it be as loud as the F3 with its mirror up? Thanks!

 

[tribal.snake]

the bessas are much quieter compared to the F3.
if u can spend and want really quiet, go with the zeiss or better yet a leica.

 

[DoveVadar]

wow.. actually the fm3 has a very sweet sounding shutter..

bessa is about the same level of sound I guess. maybe just slightly softer..

once you put a carry pouch on, the sound will be damped even further.

 

[azzurri]

Thanks!

the bessas are much quieter compared to the F3.
if u can spend and want really quiet, go with the zeiss or better yet a leica.

I did suggest to her Leicas :devil: but that is really off her budget.

wow.. actually the fm3 has a very sweet sounding shutter..

bessa is about the same level of sound I guess. maybe just slightly softer..

once you put a carry pouch on, the sound will be damped even further.

Yea, thought about the casing too. Shall let my friend know. Thanks!

 

[Yoricko]

I don't like the sound of the Bessa shutters. Although it is marginally quiter than most SLRs, it still produces an audible high pitched click (unlike SLRs which go cluur-kleep).
But you shouldn't really bother about sound too much.

Leaf and cloth shutters are the way to go.

 

[DoveVadar]

I don't like the sound of the Bessa shutters. Although it is marginally quiter than most SLRs, it still produces an audible high pitched click (unlike SLRs which go cluur-kleep).
But you shouldn't really bother about sound too much.

Leaf and cloth shutters are the way to go.

Just like Leica M8! Voice haven't break :bsmilie:

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I don't like the sound of the Bessa shutters. Although it is marginally quiter than most SLRs, it still produces an audible high pitched click (unlike SLRs which go cluur-kleep).
But you shouldn't really bother about sound too much.

Leaf and cloth shutters are the way to go.

Budget la bro, thats why I use bessa

The bessa shutter is still softer than the SLR but would be among the louder ones compared to the RF market, definetly losses to cloth & leaf shutters due to the metal shutter.

Well, it is still discrete & the shutter noise cant really be heard if you are in public shooting.

 

[azzurri]

I don't like the sound of the Bessa shutters. Although it is marginally quiter than most SLRs, it still produces an audible high pitched click (unlike SLRs which go cluur-kleep).
But you shouldn't really bother about sound too much.

Leaf and cloth shutters are the way to go.

Yea, but for my friend, she tends to go pretty close to her subjects to take pictures. While her subjects know she is there with a camera, the shutter sound still cause people to stare at her and give her the weird looks. Hence she is looking for a quieter camera.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Yea, but for my friend, she tends to go pretty close to her subjects to take pictures. While her subjects know she is there with a camera, the shutter sound still cause people to stare at her and give her the weird looks. Hence she is looking for a quieter camera.

I get pretty close to my subjects as well, stares & wierd looks are pretty much unavoidable honestly.

Or, get a Bessa, mount a 75mm or 90mm lens than you dont have to be so close.

 

[azzurri]

I get pretty close to my subjects as well, stares & wierd looks are pretty much unavoidable honestly.

Or, get a Bessa, mount a 75mm or 90mm lens than you dont have to be so close.

That is so true. Will let her know. Thanks!

 

[Terrence]

what about Konica Hexar RF? anyone recommends that over the Bessa? I heard Bessa's before not that much quieter than SLR but i have not heard the Hexar RF's. On the SLR side, among the most silent SLR i have experienced are Olympus OM2n and Pentax MX, a fren told me that the Minolta X700 is also very quiet.

what i told my group of frens before, F3's shutter is like shouting > the whole neighbourhood knows u are shooting, XA's shutter is like whisper > only you would notice, Leica M's shutter is like aroused groans > sweet and sexy!

 

[jimbo12345]

Personally, I find the Bessa's shutter loud (like when you reload the weapon in counterstrike). Everytime I press the release, I 'feel' people 3m radius around me can hear it. Or maybe I'm just paranoid. Haha, but that's because I've been using mostly leaf shutter. Hm, maybe a cheap M4-2 can be a good way into leica. I think especially for leica, sometimes not favorable in sg, price is too high just because it has that red dot.

 

[jimbo12345]

Anyone for the Contax G2? Super advanced body with AF.

And the best part? The great optics. =)

 

[leej0038]

i bought a leica because i felt the bessa shutter was loud. i still use my bessa alot these days because of its AE, its still much cheaper than its closest leica AE equivalent. the bessa is really value for money but the leica craftsmanship makes leica cameras feel great to hold and a real joy to shoot.

but coming back to the shutter, i kinda agree with RWC now - the bessa shutter isnt too loud after all, not really audible on the streets.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Anyone for the Contax G2? Super advanced body with AF.

And the best part? The great optics. =)

Contax G2 is a good camera with great optics but no so great focusing.

Sometimes, you just have no idea what the lens is focusing on

 

[merelyok]

I reckon that the shutter noise does not really matter much considering that people will notice you raising your camera to your eye to frame and focus, unless you shoot from the hip of course.

 

[leej0038]

haha speaking of that, wonder if anyone else gets this - i go shooting with my dslr toting friend and there are times when no one pays scant attention to him when he shoots. but the moment i raise a film rangefinder to my eye, they start staring. so much for being compact and silent.

 

[welspain]

I reckon that the shutter noise does not really matter much considering that people will notice you raising your camera to your eye to frame and focus, unless you shoot from the hip of course.

this is true..when i was still using TLR for my street shoot, i can even take snaps so close to people without even noticing that i have already taken photo of them as you can focus and snap using the WLF. now that i have my RF, its very difficult coz by the time you raise the camera, it wil definitely attract the attention...

 

[azzurri]

haha speaking of that, wonder if anyone else gets this - i go shooting with my dslr toting friend and there are times when no one pays scant attention to him when he shoots. but the moment i raise a film rangefinder to my eye, they start staring. so much for being compact and silent.

Actually I think the thing with rangefinders, sometimes people look at it with interest and amusement rather than with the suspicion that DSLRs have at times. Something like the difference people react to DSLR vs manual SLR too.

 

[techstg]

my pick will definately fixed lens rf like Ql-17 quiter sounds, cos of the leaf shutter.
anyway, bessa still ok wit me, dun mind wit the sounds..since the streets much more noisier n louder than the shutter.