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Quietest M42 SLR?
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:36 pm    Post subject: Quietest M42 SLR? Reply with quote
I have a couple of Fujca cameras for my M42 lenses, an st605n (my first camera ages ago) and an st801. I love the Fujica's large viewfinders and the small size of the st605, however their shutters are a bit noisy and I'd like to have a more silent body too.


I will check my Konica TC bodies, I seem to remember they were quieter than the Fujica and AR/M42 adaptors are not expensive, but you have other suggestions I'd love to hear them.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've tried Spotmatics, Chinons, Prakticas and Zenits. The quietest shutters and most solid feel, without question, are the Spotmatic SPF & ESII.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If need a quiet camera , there is plenty of real quiet RF, I see no point too look for which one is quiet or not.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
If need a quiet camera , there is plenty of real quiet RF, I see no point too look for which one is quiet or not.


Except if you have a few M42 lenses you'd like to use. Smile


PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
I've tried Spotmatics, Chinons, Prakticas and Zenits. The quietest shutters and most solid feel, without question, are the Spotmatic SPF & ESII.


I'll check them out, thanks!


PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ludoo wrote:
peterqd wrote:
I've tried Spotmatics, Chinons, Prakticas and Zenits. The quietest shutters and most solid feel, without question, are the Spotmatic SPF & ESII.


I'll check them out, thanks!


+1 cameras

Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority? Both cameras can be used for either mode, but SPF is best for Shutter and ESII is best for Aperture, better for both modes, due to auto shutter speed.

With SPF, a shutter speed is selected, then is aperture adjusted each photo to center the exposure needle. Of course the aperture can be set, then shutter speed adjusted each photo, different knobs to turn. The lens cap must be on when camera is not being used, to conserve the battery.

With ESII, aperture is selected, then camera auto-selects shutter speed. Of course each photo aperture can be adjusted, shutter speed will be automatic selected! There are manual shutter speed settings too.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I don't think it's really the shutter that is the noisy portion of your fujica but rather the mirror slap. Replace the mirror dampener with something with a bit more cushion and I think that's about as quiet as you can get. This is from owning countless (well not really, but easily over 10 each of) chinon, praktica, spotmatic, zenit, and fujica bodies of various models.

One of the loudest shutter/mirror slap you'll experience is the zenit 122. But oddly enough it's the one body that I can't feel the slightest vibration in my hands as I take the picture...

Last edited by themoleman342 on Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:10 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
themoleman342 wrote:
I don't think it's really the shutter that is the noisy portion of your fujica but rather the mirror slap. Replace the mirror dampener with something with a bit more cushion and I think that's about as quiet as you can get. This is from owning countless (well not really, but easily over 10 each of) chinon, praktica, spotmatic, zenit, and fujica bodies of various models.


I thought about that, but the mirror bumper in my st605n is new, I replaced it a couple of years ago with one from jon goodman's kit. It's not that it's really loud, but it's a kind of high pitched springy sound I don't like much. I still love that camera, but given the cost of film bodies I probably can try a couple different models.

Last edited by ludoo on Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:11 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
themoleman342 wrote:
I don't think it's really the shutter that is the noisy portion of your fujica but rather the mirror slap. Replace the mirror dampener with something with a bit more cushion and I think that's about as quiet as you can get. This is from owning countless (well not really, but easily over 10 each of) chinon, praktica, spotmatic, zenit, and fujica bodies of various models.


+1 and Fujica S801 is a great camera really.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quietest M42 camera would be a ME Super with a M42 adapter.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I just compared Yashica TL Electro-X to a Pentax ES-ii, and shutter wise, the ES II has a more compact sounding shutter... but the Electro-X sounds quieter, with a sort of 2 phase sound that doesn't have a spike to it. In fact, I think it's in similar territory to the program plus and xe-5, obtrusiveness wise.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tom in Delaware wrote:
Quietest M42 camera would be a ME Super with a M42 adapter.
I think that´s the best option.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ludoo wrote:
Attila wrote:
If need a quiet camera , there is plenty of real quiet RF, I see no point too look for which one is quiet or not.


Except if you have a few M42 lenses you'd like to use. Smile

Use a fixed lens RF for times when you need a quiet shutter.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ludoo wrote:


I thought about that, but the mirror bumper in my st605n is new, I replaced it a couple of years ago with one from jon goodman's kit. It's not that it's really loud, but it's a kind of high pitched springy sound I don't like much. I still love that camera, but given the cost of film bodies I probably can try a couple different models.


I agree, a part of the total impression a camera makes is its sound, which can be irritating with some cameras, and I know what you mean about the 605 sound. As I say above, the TL Electro-X is a more soothing sound, and probably one of the reasons why that camera plays above its class in my esteem.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nesster wrote:
I agree, a part of the total impression a camera makes is its sound, which can be irritating with some cameras, and I know what you mean about the 605 sound. As I say above, the TL Electro-X is a more soothing sound, and probably one of the reasons why that camera plays above its class in my esteem.


Jussi thanks, an intersting camera. Somehow I never paid attention to Yashica's M42 bodies. I'll try to get one and check it out.

The ME Super is also an option, as it's small and has an Av mode. I still have a Kindai PK/M42 adapter from my Pentax DSLRs and ME Supers are very cheap, so I'll probably try it too.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ludoo, usually the loudest part of the mirror sound is not when it hits the bumper but when it comes back down again to the stops. The best cameras have a rubber collar around an adjustable screw but this is often hardened after so many years. It's possible to turn the collar round on the screw, or even replace it, but to do this it's often necessary to remove the top, bottom and front of the camera and take out the mirror box, so quite a complicated job.

I didn't remember about using an M42 adapter on a more modern camera - that's a great idea. I keep an M42 adapter on my Pentax P50 and Minolta X500 all the time. Now that's a lovely quiet camera! Smile


PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the info. Indded it seems that the fastidious part of the noise in my st605n is when the mirror returns and slaps back down. I'll check the status of the stopper and see if it makes any difference.
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