EOS 20D Shutter Noise?

[mark589]

All of you 20D shooters out there..

I've read a lot about the loud shutter on the 20D.
When I handled one, I agree that it was a "CLACK" noise.. distinct, but not really louder than my film camera with autowinder.

Do any of you find the 20D's shutter "too loud" in that it interferes with getting the shot you want?

[kevinrstruck]

Never really thought about it until I started reading people complaining. I really do not think it is "louder" than others, or it just does not bother me.

[mark589]

I agree that it isn't that big a deal. I think, however, that Canon has established very high expectations in their own product line with the Elan, for example.

This link (from DPReview) is the page where they have some objective comparisons:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos20d/page6.asp

And Michael Reichman (http://www.luminous-landscape.com) commented on it as well in his piece on shooting with the 20D in Paris. (Granted, it was early morning on the street and a quiet background.)

So I was just asking if others had found it distracting.

My gut feeling is "no" - at least not for the kind of shooting I usually do.

[DaveM]

Dear All,

with the little experience I've had of handling a 20D (while drooling at various trade shows) I did not think that the shutter noise was at all intrusive - agreed if you are used to the near silence of a compact digital that barely make a soft 'tick' then it will be noticeable.

My T90 can be heard for at least 4 miles around (OK maybe not quite that much) when I'm using it especially when blitzing something on continuous mode so I'm used to something making a racket. However, there seems to be an 'artificial shutter noise' option on more and more compact digitals these days so maybe it's an aspect of 'older' cameras that people miss from digital?

DaveM

[Adam]

I'm hoping to pick mine up this afternoon! Just waiting for Jessops (UK) to confirm that the lens has arrived.

When I first picked one up, I was ready for a really loud shutter, but while it is not quiet, it was a lot quieter than I had expected from all the comments I had read.

All things going well, I'll give it a good try out later and report back!

Adam

[mark589]

there seems to be an 'artificial shutter noise' option on more and more compact digitals these days so maybe it's an aspect of 'older' cameras that people miss from digital?

DaveM

People were missing the feedback that the camera actually took a picture. Since an electronic shutter doesn't make any noise *at all* they didn't think their cameras were working.

My guess is that we will see (hear) some kind of audible feedback provided on all but the very cheapest.

[Adam]

Picked up the 20D yesterday from Jessops (£984 price match!). I think the shutter sounds great!!!!

[Martin]

I'm really happy to see that people are starting to talk about the noisy shutter on the 20D. I am a little surprised that you don't really seem to mind it and some even like it.

I must admit I am getting used to it now, but it is markedly louder than my 10D, so at first I was a little worried. I'd kind of accepted it, as a tradeoff for the faster frames per second and 1/8000 shutter speed though.

I'm still interested to hear from anyone that takes wildlife photos, where the subject may be jumpy with the 20D's loud shutter. Also, wedding photographers... Do you not find the loud shutter intrusive?

[Catgor]

The 20D's shutter sound does alert my photo target (cats) quite often. It also stopped me from using that camera for sneak photo onto my friends ... :P The click sound also draws more ppl's attention to me then before.

[Jack M]

I never noticed the sound as being louder than it should be, but when I get home from work, I will check it out. I can see a loud shutter being a problem with wildlife shots, but at weddings? With so many people with cameras, I doubt anyone would really care.

[mark589]

I never noticed the sound as being louder than it should be, but when I get home from work, I will check it out. I can see a loud shutter being a problem with wildlife shots, but at weddings? With so many people with cameras, I doubt anyone would really care.

Depends on the wedding, when in the wedding, the photographer's style, and what you're comparing the sound to. During the actual ceremony when things are quiet, it's hard to miss even sound of a medium format film camera. But people expect the photographer to be doing his job as well.. as long as it isn't a distraction.

On the other hand, I wouldn't shoot a wedding with the 20D anyway.

[kevinrstruck]

Depends on the wedding, when in the wedding, the photographer's style, and what you're comparing the sound to. During the actual ceremony when things are quiet, it's hard to miss even sound of a medium format film camera. But people expect the photographer to be doing his job as well.. as long as it isn't a distraction.

On the other hand, I wouldn't shoot a wedding with the 20D anyway.


Interesting, why would you not shoot a wedding with the 20D. I did one in October with the 20D and was pleased with the results and the bride loved the shots. I never noticed anyone giving me the evil eye because my shutter was too lound, then again, I was not really paying attention to that.

[DaveM]

Hi All,

although I've still to get my hands on a 20D, I'm used to the shutter noise and winder on a T90 and so to a certain extent, seem to be whatever I'm photographing (people, wild birds etc). I've gotta say I've never flushed a bird due to the noise of my camera' sshutter / winder and nobody has ever given me the evils at a family or friends function as I was making too much noise!

DaveM

[mark589]

Interesting, why would you not shoot a wedding with the 20D. I did one in October with the 20D and was pleased with the results and the bride loved the shots. I never noticed anyone giving me the evil eye because my shutter was too lound, then again, I was not really paying attention to that.

At the risk of forking the thread off-topic...

I admit I made an absolute statement "I would not..." rather than acknowledging the decision on equipment is really a series of trade-offs of differing capabilities and limitations.

A *long* time ago, I shot a number of weddings, and did so successfully based on referrals alone, and did so with 35mm equipment.

My meeting with a potential client was primarily about educating her (or them) on the wedding photography business. The different styles of photography, the upsides and downsides of various equipment, what equipment *I* would be using (I would bring it with me), etc. My objective was to create an educated customer who was able to make an objective decision about what type of photographer would best suit her needs. I didn't always get the job, but when I did, I knew it was a good match between my style and her expectations.

What has this got to do with the 20D?

Although I was shooting 35mm, and the 20D is probably superior to 35mm in nearly all ways, the experience I have gained since tells me I would *like* to have more flexibility for cropping and enlargement than I think I would get from the 8.2mp image. I usually got the shot I wanted framed in the viewfinder, but there were times when I did could not.. especially when poor lighting forced me into fast primes and geography kept me from getting where I needed to go for the shot I wanted. (I had a self-imposed rule of not using flash during the ceremony ... "If you see flash during the ceremony, is isn't me"... and only had to break it once, and then with the explicit permission of the couple BEFORE they had made the photography decision, but after looking at the site a couple of weeks beforehand.)

Bottom line: If a 20D is all I had, I would use it, but it would not be my first choice for this kind of job.

[delconchey]

I don't have the 20D yet, but hopefully soon. I have shot several weddings with the 10D and have had no problems. My clients love the images I provide, especially since they no own the images. I still shoot with 35mm, but only when they request film. I like the speed of the 10D and I've had no problems with the images. You have to train yourself to leave room for cropping.

[Martin]

Although I was shooting 35mm, and the 20D is probably superior to 35mm in nearly all ways, the experience I have gained since tells me I would *like* to have more flexibility for cropping and enlargement than I think I would get from the 8.2mp image.


To me the 20D is superior to a 35mm film camera in EVERY way, including image quality. (This is of course totally dependant on the quality of one's lenses.) Many believe that the 10D at 6.3MP was almost up to film quality, and most, including myself believe that the 20D at 8.2MP surpasses 35mm film. I read a 20D review from Toshinobu Takeuchi, a revered Japanese photographer, in a Japanese magazine last month that states the 20D sensor gives definition closer to that of a medium format camera. I think this is going too far though, but illustrates my point. :)

[delconchey]

I have to disagree that the 10D "almost" equals 35mm. I've used both in my business and have had enlargements (up to 16x20) and find the images produced by my 10D to be better than film.

[Martin]

I have to disagree that the 10D "almost" equals 35mm. I've used both in my business and have had enlargements (up to 16x20) and find the images produced by my 10D to be better than film.
I was really quoting what you generally hear, but I certainly agree with you. I have had excellent results with my 10D too.

[webbrage]

:) I dont have the 20D yet but I cant wait to get one.........