Shutter Sound - Going from 40D to 7D

[Roxie2401]

Hi - I just received my new 7D and want to be sure everything is working correctly.  One thing that I find is that the shutter/mirror noise is much more significant compared to my older 40D.  I just listened to the audio traces in Bob's review of both products and the 7D really sounds loud compared to the more muffled sound of the 40D.

Is this the body construction or did Canon redesign the mechanism because of the faster fps?  Are they using motors for the mirror return or springs?

Or, am I just imagining things and this shutter is working correctly - but drastically different from the 40D?

I think Bob has/had a 40D - if you still do, what was your impression of the 7D shutter/mirror noise?

Thanks

[marcfs]

Good luck with 7D.  It is a game changing camera. 

I think of it as an affordable 1-series body. 
I especially like the dramatically improved focus sytem and fast shooting speed capability.

I still use my 40D as a back-up.  It produces solid images.

Regards,

Marc

[Bob Atkins]

I have both a 40D and a 7D and the shutter sounds are indeed different. The whole shutter and mirror mechanism has to move faster in the 7D in order to achieve the higher frame rate. If you move things faster it takes more energy and more energy is dissipated when you have to stiop them! I presume this is the source of the difference in shutter sounds between the two cameras.

[Roxie2401]

Bob,

Can you tell me if you definitely hear a much louder sound in Single Shot mode, too?  My 40D was so much quieter, even in a concert hall, when doing something say at 1/30s.  I realize there is more noise in the 8fps area but just want to be sure I've got a good new body and not send it back unnecessarily.

So, for single shot - what do you hear since you still have both cameras?

Sorry I wasn't more specific in that it wasn't the rapid fire but single shot that concerned me.


Thanks very much.

[KeithB]

The point is that in order to go faster, engineering compromises must be made that increase the noise at all shutter modes. I suspect that the 7D shutter is rated for more actuations which might also make it more robust, and therefore, louder.

[marcfs]

Potential Solution:

Silent Mode on 7D can be accomplished in Live View:
•  4th shooting menu
•  Mode 1 – significant shutter noise reduction
•  Mode 2 – delays shutter noise as long as shutter button is pressed

Marc

[Roxie2401]

I understand that is for Live View -

What I really want to know is - is this shutter in Single Shot mode much louder than the 40D and its just "me" that has to get used to it.  I fully understand the increase in the 8fps and what Bob's audio trace shows by listening to it.  Don't care about that either - its the Single Shot - even scares my dog and the 40D didn't do that.

Just looking for confirmation that there is nothing wrong with the new body and others have noticed this one is different from the previous 40D, 50D, 60D bodies.

[Bob Atkins]

I just compared the single frame noise of my 7D and 40D side by side and I have to say that they are not very different in tems of loudness. They do have a different sound though. The 7D shutter has a higher pitch to it, presumably because the various bits in the shutter and mirror mechanisms are moving faster. Neither one is particualrly more noticable then the other and neither is loud enough to scare old people, small children or animals (unless you have a very nervous dog). You could indentify the camera by the different shutter sounds, but it's more of a tonal difference than a volume difference.

It's hard to say if your shutter is louder then mine, if mine is quieter than average or if yours is louder than average. Even if there is a difference in sound I'm not sure that necessarily indicates a problem. It might but it might not.

If you have a camera store somewhere close, you could go in there and take a look at another 7D and see if you notice any difference in shutter noise.

Your other alternative is to give Canon a call. They'll say "send it in and we'll take a look at it". That's what they always say. If it would put your mind to rest, that might be the thing to do. They'll either tell you that it's normal and there isn't a problem or they'll tell you that there was a problem and they've fixed it under warranty.

I suppose the store you bought it from might be prerared to swap it for you, it depends who you bought it from. If the second one sounds the same, then things are probably fine.

So again, my 7D is not dramatically louder than my 40D, but that's a sample of two. In reviewing these two cameras I probably wouldn't have commented on the shutter noise since they're unremarkable and pretty similar.

I'd say my 5D is slightly louder than the 7D or 40D and lower in tone. Probably due to the increased mass of the larger mirror in the 5D and the fact that it also probably moves a little slower. Again though, not a hiuge difference in loudness or noticeability. Nothing to startle animals!

[Roxie2401]

Thanks very much for checking.  Everything seems to be working and the image quality is outstanding.  These are a little hard to come by right now and I just wanted to be sure before I over-reacted.  Hated to part with the 40D, too, but its gone and I know I have a new learning curve with the 7D.

Thanks again.

[whizkid]

When I bought my 7D the first thing I noticed was the high pitched sound of the shutter. i compared that sound to a 40D I had at the time and to my 5DMk2. The 7D seemed about the same in loudness to the 5DMk2 but the 5DMk2 has a lower pitch making it seem less attention getting. My 7D did seem a little louder than my former 40D even though it also had a lower pitch. It may be the 7D's higher pitch rather than it's loudness that your dog tunes into.

[Christine Mitchell]

I just got a 7D last week and I noticed the same thing with shutter noise. I have a Rebel XTi and the 7D is noticeably louder than my Rebel.  The quality of sound and the way the shutter feels are both different. The Rebel is a smooth swish shutter sound and the 7D is a clicking thunk, even when squeezing carefully. Mine is also quieter in Live View.

I had the same thought as you and actually arrived at this forum today looking for feedback about the noise of the 7D shutter to make sure I didn't get a lemon. It makes me feel better actually that you have a louder shutter also. I suppose it's normal. And like yours, mine takes wonderful photographs and overall I'm happy with it. I think I may continue to use the Rebel when I really do need a quiet camera though, like in church or school program settings.

[KeithB]

I The Rebel is a smooth swish shutter sound and the 7D is a clicking thunk, even when squeezing carefully. Mine is also quieter in Live View.

Since the shutter button just actuates an electric switch on any modern DSLR, it really doesn't matter how you squeeze it, or if you use a remote trigger.