D700 loud shutter click noise

[bradc]

Hi there,

Just curious if there are other Nikon D700 users on this site who have used silicone camera armour on their D700 bodies, and whether you have found that it helps to soften the loud 'clunk' shutter click noise?

I've been using my D700 for stage performances (low light, sometimes fast movement) and love the reduced noise (compared to the D300 I upgraded from). I've received a couple of complaints from audience members while taking photographs with the D700, and don't wish to use a blimp to reduce the shutter click noise if I can help it (or try to wrap a shirt or some such around the camera body).

Would be very appreciative of any feedback regarding if silicone camera armour may be somewhat effective in helping to reduce noise coming from the camera body? Even just 1/3 of a reduction in the noise is what I'm hoping to aim towards.

I also can't afford a D3S, which someone has recommended that I purchase, and rarely shoot above ISO 6400, and wasn't sure if a D7000 might be a possible alternative?

Many thanks.

[OsmosisStudios]

For one thing: The D300 should be QUIETER than the D700.

When you're shooting these shows, are you there paid by the performance hall, production company, etc? Or are you a guest in the seats? If the former, then tell them to stuff it. If the latter, then you probably shouldnt be shooting as you'd be violating copyright.

Those silicone skins are useless, tbh. They don't do jack.

[SuperDan]

I dont have the silicone cover, but honestly, the shutter sound is quite... especially coming from a D40... and I havent really even tried the "quiet mode"


and really, there are actual people that are complaining of your shutter during a concert? wow!
what are they doing; bootlegging it?

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by SuperDan

there are actual people that are complaining of your shutter during a concert? wow!
what are they doing; bootlegging it?

"stage performance" oft means theatrical productions and dance performances.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

"stage performance" oft means theatrical productions and dance performances.

... which leads back to my first point: copyright infringement or doing your job.

[bradc]

Thanks for the feedback so far. When I've been taking photos at stage performances, it's been by request, and concerts with modern (i.e, rock) music tend to be fine with the D700, it's the classical concerts and stage productions with quiet moments where the loud CLICK-CLICK-CLICK noise carries across the auditorium (and where the complaints have occurred). Would love to be able to tell the producers/directors who've invited me there to go stuff themselves when they ask me to stop shooting (has only happened once), but would probably mean never working with them again. I compromised with one producer because of audience complaints to only take 4-6 photos in total per dance performance of individual students, but that's an impractical option when shooting a dance performance...

The D300 was a great camera, but the noise at ISO 3200 (and even ISO 1600) was too harsh. The D700's low light performance is amazing by comparison with the D300, and I'd like to retain this camera, or possibly change over to a Canon-equivalent.

Have thought of making/using a blimp of some kind, but the lighting changes and the need to adjust the camera shutter speed/aperture in some shows can take place every 30 seconds, along with the need to change lenses from a zoom to wide angle lense during the show.

Any advice again would be much appreciated, thanks.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

The copyright infringement really depends on the show; all the shows I was in in high school and 80% of the shows in college don't have any copyright issues with any randoms coming in off the street and taking photos. It's all in how the deal is brokered between the publisher and the theatre.