# Loud Cameras (clicking) at Press Conference **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875 "2012-04-25T02:22:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/21 "2012-04-25T16:20:45Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > Sure. > > [Canon](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194453-USA/Canon_2043A005_EOS_1V_Camera_Body.html). > > [Nikon](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/165828-GREY/Nikon_1796_F100_35mm_SLR_Camera.html). Well, yes, you can buy these, and they are new, but the F100 was discontinued in 2006 when Nikon announced they were bailing out of the film-camera business. I’m not sure about the EOS-1V but I’m thinking it has a similar history. I am guessing that the reason that the camera noises sound so loud is that the audio equipment uses compressors/expanders to regulate the sound levels. The sensitivity increases when ambient sound is low so it picks up faint sounds, like camera clicks, and makes them louder. Louder sounds are brought down. This way pretty much everything (above some threshold, like A/C fans) is normalized to the same volume. The clicks, Hillary’s voice, gunshots, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/22 "2012-04-25T16:43:45Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Well, yes, you can buy these, and they are new, but the F100 was discontinued in 2006 when Nikon announced they were bailing out of the film-camera business. The Nikon F6 (and FM10), on the other hand, are still being produced. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/23 "2012-04-25T22:28:35Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > They do? Says who? Noisy cameras don’t mean film cameras. I was taking the OP at his word: > [@Trinopus](#): > > if the Washington Press Corps still wants to use b&w film cameras for political coverage, well, okay. They’ll move into the 21st century eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/24 "2012-04-26T01:07:02Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > To answer your first question (how loud in dB are those cameras): you really can’t answer that. . . . when people say that a jet or a motorcycle or a piece of construction equipment is 130 dB or whatever - where was the measurement taken? I thought there were standards for that. I remember an OSHA inspection for noise at my old workplace, where they had a device that they held near computer printers and other equipment. > [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > I was taking the OP at his word: My fault…but I’m trying to learn! I knew there were such things as DSLRs… I just didn’t know they made the same horrid clacking noise as film-using SLRs from, say, the Watergate era. The sound hasn’t changed… Anyway, that’s my real question: why hasn’t the sound changed, given that technology has made such leaps in the last forty years. Jet aircraft engines are much quieter than they were then; why not cameras? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/25 "2012-04-26T01:33:04Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Anyway, that’s my real question: why hasn’t the sound changed, given that technology has made such leaps in the last forty years. Jet aircraft engines are much quieter than they were then; why not cameras? In part, because engine manufacturers have been forced to make them quieter due to noise regulations. Quiet also tends to go with efficiency. This isn’t true with SLRs; the quiet modes available on some cameras tend to decrease performance, and they happen to be quiet enough to not be a big deal. Still, the new mirror-less big-sensor cameras may make the problem go away on its own. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/26 "2012-04-26T01:42:51Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > In part, because engine manufacturers have been forced to make them quieter due to noise regulations. Quiet also tends to go with efficiency. > > This isn’t true with SLRs; the quiet modes available on some cameras tend to decrease performance, and they happen to be quiet enough to not be a big deal. Still, the new mirror-less big-sensor cameras may make the problem go away on its own. That’s what I came in to mention. The “quiet” mode on my dSLR helps with the noise by slowing the mirror down, but it comes at the cost of increased lag between quick shots. The only time I’ve ever found it useful was when I was taking pictures of a kitten and the quiet mode made it less likely to distract the fuzzball. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/27 "2012-04-26T02:04:17Z")
Of course the traditional [press camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_camera), has no mirror, and is typically a rangefinder design. However we are talking a few generations of technology ago. Further, they tended to use leaf shutters rather than the much more noisy focal plane shutters, and so could be almost silent. Modern very high end rangefinder/leaf shutter cameras exist. If quietness was a real issue pros could use a [Leica M9](http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/m9/) albeit with the limitation of 135mm for the longest lens, no autofocus, and a price than makes ones eyes water. For the residual film users of course there is the [M7](http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/m7/). The quality is superb, and despite the price are very popular. One suspects that the badge of the profession - the large camera, lots of lenses and gear would be hard for the pros to give up. In reality SLR format cameras have got a lot quieter over the years. The shutter mechanisms have evolved remarkably, and the mechanical systems slamming the mirror around have been refined greatly. But given the speed of operation required there is only so much that can be done. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/28 "2012-04-26T02:30:13Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Of course the traditional [press camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_camera), has no mirror, and is typically a rangefinder design. However we are talking a few generations of technology ago. Further, they tended to use leaf shutters rather than the much more noisy focal plane shutters, and so could be almost silent. I thought the [Speed Graphic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic) was _the_ standard press camera. It had a focal-plane shutter. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/29 "2012-04-26T02:53:13Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought the [Speed Graphic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic) was _the_ standard press camera. It had a focal-plane shutter. Egads. I had not seen that before. My thinking was more directed towards things like the Mamiya Press. A focal plane shutter that big would be a real monster. (I have a Mamiya 645, also with focal plane shutter - that is a monster too.) ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/30 "2012-04-26T03:06:29Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought the [Speed Graphic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic) was _the_ standard press camera. It had a focal-plane shutter. It had _both_. There was the focal plane shutter that in later models would go up to 1/1000sec, as well as the lens shutter of your choice. I had a Speed Graphic Pacemaker that had the rear curtain focal plane shutter and a Grafex No. 1 in the lens. The Grafex would only go to 1/400 sec, but had the advantage of not introducing [motion tilt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1991-1209-503,_Autorennen_im_Grunewald,_Berlin.jpg). The lens shutter was also quieter, faster to cock, and and a little more robust, in my opinion. There is (was?) also a Crown Graphic that was simply a Speed Graphic without the focal plane shutter. That’s what I have now, and you’d really have to look closely to see the difference. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/31 "2012-04-26T13:51:03Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The Nikon F6 (and FM10), on the other hand, are still being produced. Interesting. I see from Nikon’s website that that’s true. I did a search at B&H for ‘Nikon film cameras’ and the F100 was all that came up. (The F100, however, _wasn’t_ on the Nikon site.) The same search for Canon turned up just the 1V at B&H, and no film cameras on the Canon site. I’m going to assume, however, that all of these are New Old Stock; I doubt either manufacturer still sets up an assembly line for them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/32 "2012-04-26T14:08:53Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > Interesting. I see from Nikon’s website that that’s true. I did a search at B&H for ‘Nikon film cameras’ and the F100 was all that came up. (The F100, however, _wasn’t_ on the Nikon site.) > > The same search for Canon turned up just the 1V at B&H, and no film cameras on the Canon site. > > I’m going to assume, however, that all of these are New Old Stock; I doubt either manufacturer still sets up an assembly line for them. According to [this article from February of this year](http://asia.cnet.com/what-goes-on-inside-nikons-sendai-factory-62213402.htm), the F6 is still being produced. > [@](#): > > If you thought film was dead, think again. The Japanese camera maker is still producing its flagship professional-series film SLR, the Nikon F6. However, it does so in smaller quantities and only produces 50 units monthly. ETA: Oh, and the F6 is on B&H’s website, too. I screwed up the coding upthread, it seems. I meant the Nikon F6 link to go [here](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352116-USA/Nikon_1799_F6_35mm_SLR_Autofocus.html). ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/33 "2012-04-26T18:57:21Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > My fault…but I’m trying to learn! I knew there were such things as DSLRs… I just didn’t know they made the same horrid clacking noise as film-using SLRs from, say, the Watergate era. The sound hasn’t changed… Ah, okay. I’ll never take your word again. 🙂 I don’t find the sound offensively loud. In a quiet room you’ll notice it, sure, but again, if what you heard on TV was excessively noisy, I think the sound was amplified by a microphone, probably on the video camera itself, at the back of the room where the photographers and reporters were. News cameras have mics mounted on them for ambient sound and if that audio channel isn’t muted in editing, you’ll get all the background noise it recorded, including all the DSLRs near it. To make it worse, those mics are usually left on automatic gain (rather than setting the level manually) which tends to record sound louder. ETA: You get the same effect from microphones on home video cameras. The person you’re taping twenty feet away can barely be heard, but the guy standing next to you talking about the game last night comes through loud and clear. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/34 "2012-04-26T20:25:53Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Ah, okay. I’ll never take your word again. 🙂 This is wisdom! :smack: > [@](#): > > I don’t find the sound offensively loud. In a quiet room you’ll notice it, sure, but again, if what you heard on TV was excessively noisy, I think the sound was amplified by a microphone, probably on the video camera itself, at the back of the room where the photographers and reporters were. Well, it was radio (grin!) but, yeah, that makes sense. If all the technological press is in a ghetto at the back of the room, then there might be that kind of fratricide. It really did stand out, though, and if I had been a politician giving a press conference, I think I might have asked for a time-out. “Take all the photos you want… Happy? Okay: can it, guys, and here’s what I have to say about Syria…” (But, of course, this wouldn’t work, since we, news consumers, want to see the pol’s face at the time he or she makes the big reveal…or the big gaffe…) ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/35 "2012-04-27T00:45:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Well, it was radio (grin!) My turn for a smacking-forehead smiley.:smack: In that case, I don’t know why the cameras were so loud. In my experience (I was a news cameraman in another life) they weren’t a problem. But then I never shot a Secretary of State’s press conference. ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875/36 "2012-04-28T20:32:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The late 90s is when the transition really started happening. There were some Kodak digital bodies in the mid-90s that were used occasionally to get stuff on the wire ASAP while your film was developing, but it wasn’t until the 2.7MP Nikon D1 in 1998 that the mass movement to digital in news shooting started happening.) On a tangent, [here’s a short video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AOl5WmGP4k) of my finger pressing the shutter button on one of those old Kodaks. It’s a DCS 760, based on a Nikon F5 film body - the Kodaks were essentially cannibalised film cameras with digital components. Compare it with this video of an Olympus OM-10. You can barely hear the shutter over the sound of the motor drive. Older film SLRs tended to have noisy motor drives - [here’s a chap](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt1QCzgojp0) rewinding film with the motor drive in his Nikon F3. Later film SLRs were much, much quieter and of course digital SLRs don’t have motor drives at all. I always assumed that by 2012 the press would exclusively use video cameras, grabbing still frames for the few remaining newspapers, but it seems that old-fashioned still SLR cameras are still around. It’s fascinating and a bit melancholic to go through the LIFE picture archive, looking at photojournalists from the past using [tiny rangefinders](http://images.google.com/hosted/life/ec62cdc849656595.html) professionally; fast-forward several decades and photojournalists look like [this](http://images.google.com/hosted/life/7b747cf6687fafb9.html). Perhaps the technology will miniaturise as it advances, and in a few years the journalists will look like the latter person carrying the former person’s camera. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-cameras-clicking-at-press-conference/619875.md?page=1)