Hi, I have a D800 and I am considering buying a D4. I have been reading that the D4 silent mode is very quiet. Is it more quiet than D800?

Thanks

Andrew

North East Wedding Photographer

I just tried them both out and the answer would be no. They sound the same to me.

I tried them out both on the floor (hardwood with a thin persian carpet) and holding them up to shoot.

If there is a difference then I can't hear it.

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Thanks Chuck. I have D800 and quiet mode does not seem very quiet at all. Some way behind Canon! Shame.

Thanks again

Andrew

North East Wedding Photographer

Both cameras have a Quiet mode that is selectable on the release mode dial on the top of the camera. I assume that is what you are talking about.

The D4 also has a Silent mode that is only available in LiveView. See page 60 of the English manual for details and limitations. This mode is not available in the D800.

Quiet mode reduces noise in viewfinder mode by delaying the mirror return until you lift your finger from the shutter release button. It is not silent though.

Quiet mode in LiveView is quieter than Quiet mode in Viewfinder mode, but still not silent. In LiveView mode I cannot detect and difference between Single release and Quite release mode, probably because the mirror is not part of the operation.

The D4 LiveView Silent mode is silent. Apparently it does electronic shuttering instead of mechanical shuttering.

Gary in SE Michigan, USA. Co-organizer of the Southern Michigan Chapter
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>The D4 LiveView Silent mode is silent. Apparently it does
>electronic shuttering instead of mechanical shuttering.
>
Exactly - I use Silent Mode on my D4 during live performances where camera noise would be a distraction. It is absolutely silent - I have to chimp to reassure myself that I am actually capturing images. Silent Mode produces a 1920x1280 jpeg (no RAW in Silent Mode) image - same size image as my old D1H produced - so it is not for times when you need a lot of pixels.

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I use D800E and D4 Quiet Mode in shooting during live performances in Theatre and find it to be quite helpful. It's certainly quieter than non-quiet mode, and I feel is much more discrete. Certainly quieter than my old rattletrap D700

I would think during wedding shooting you achieve some of this benefit also, at least as compared to non-quiet mode. I just tried both side by side and the D4 sounds just a hair louder but that is very informal/anecdotal.

I also tend to time my shooting somewhat by volume coming from my subject. Sometimes I won't shoot at all, but I listen for noise from either the crowd or stage and then can shoot merrily away. You may at least partially benefit from that approach during a ceremony, but I realize is not always something you can do at a wedding!

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
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Thanks guys! It's a shame D4 silent mode is not full size images and jpeg only is no good for me. I am seriously considering purchasing a D4 and this would of been a BIG plus point.

I still find quiet mode quite intrusive on my D800. Maybe on the next round of Nikons there will be some advancements in this area.

Thanks again

Andrew

North East Wedding Photographer

From what I have been hearing from a 'Timon' on Nikon rumours, and I believe is correct, Canon cameras have electronic first current shutters and Nikons do not. So does NEX have this feature. Of course the Nikon 1 series support a fully electronic shutter which renders it completely silent, and I have coincidentally used it to excellent effect while attending a niece's wedding! I love the completely silent capability of the 1 series, of course that does not solve your problem as a pro shooter.

So just like the physical aperture linkage on non-E Nikon lenses (and every Nikon DSLR), there is a physical design limitation in Nikon cameras to do with having a mechanical first curtain shutter that constrains what Nikon can do in Quiet mode as compared to what Canon can do.

And no, in case anyone was wondering, there will be no firmware update for the D600 to enable Aperture setting without leaving and re-entering LiveView. This is another physical limitation that pro Nikon cameras work around by having extra physical hardware to support just this purpose that the lesser cameras do not and which instead rely on mirror-flipping to kick over the aperture lever.

It is very interesting, this meld of physical engineering and electronics and firmware that is the Nikon camera

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
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Steve,

>From what I have been hearing from a 'Timon' on Nikon rumours, and I believe is correct, Canon cameras have electronic first current shutters and Nikons do not.<

That is correct. The sharpness of a photo is significantly increased using an EFCS. It is a great pity that Nikon does not adopt an EFCS, especially in bodies optimised for high resolution.

Rob
www.robbuckle.co.uk

Some folks I see (volunteers for charity) shooting during lager auditorium events (Shrine Auditorium etc. )that has a single speaker, end up using padded camera coverings to mute the sound and they usually shoot Canons.

I suspect the video crew made complaints and that is why they do this.

Even with the superior DR on the D3S and now the D800, I do not volunteer for the simple reason that Nikons are loud enough to distract audience members.

RM

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Quiet mode on the D800 is only slightly quieter than normal shooting.

It is not quiet enough to prevent disturbing game animals and some birds when photographing at close range.

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Want quite mode? Try one of these http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/756101-REG/Aqua_Tech_1042_1042_Sound_Blimp_for.html/BI/4775/KBID/5289/

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