Hi guys! Excited about the forum! I am considering purchasing one of the later models of Canons EOS film cameras. However, I notice every one of them have motorized and automatic advancement of the film, which can be a bit noisy. Which of the cameras would be regarded as the more silent ones?
Hi sthun. Welcome to the forum. The first "quiet" EOS film body was the mid-range Elan (aka EOS 100 outside of North America) in 1991. It sat between the Rebel and the EOS 10 in the lineup. In 1992, Canon brought out the EOS A2/A2E (EOS 5), as a prosumer body which offered more features and a more rugged build than the Elan. The Elan II/IIE (EOS 50/50E) replaced the original Elan in 1995. In 2000, the Elan 7/7E (EOS 33/30) succeeded the II/IIE. It was given a slight update in 2004 and renamed the 7N/7NE (EOS 33V/30V). Any model with an "E" featured Canon's Eye-control Focus, whereby the user could select their preferred AF point by looking at it in the viewfinder. There was a simple calibration procedure to tailor it to the eye. The EOS 30 was the Eye-controlled model in the last series. For some people it was a gimmick, others found it useful. It can be turned off if you don't like it. AF points increased from 1 in the original Elan to 3 in the Elan II and 7 in the Elan 7. The A2 had 5 AF points. Avoid the original Elan due to its shutter bumpers that degrade and foul the shutter blades. From the A2 and onward this problem was eliminated. Which one is best for you will depend on your priorities. The Elan 7s have the highest spec AF system, with the late 7N sharing the EOS 10D's AF module. The A2 weighs 80 - 100 grams more than the Elans due to its more solid construction. It hit a real sweet spot in Canon's lineup, staying in production for 8 years, and was often used as a backup to the EOS 1 by pros. It offered 1/8000 top shutter speed and 1/200 flash sync. over the 1/4000 and 1/125 of the Elans. If you are focusing in low light, it and the Elan II have near-infrared AF aid lights that are much less annoying to subjects than the bright white light of the Elan 7. The Elan 7 uses 2 - CR123 batteries while the other models all use the 2CR5. You can check all of the specs at the Canon Camera Museum in the Camera Hall. I've posted a link below. They can all be had for $50 - $100 USD online and you may find one for much less at a thrift store. My personal pick is an EOS 5 (it has a better manual exposure scale in the viewfinder than the otherwise identical A2E). It offers the best balance of features, performance, and build quality for me, but YMMV. Next would come the Elan II/IIE. For me, these are the quietest film EOS bodies for the money. I can't comment on the EOS 3 as I have never tried one, but it is definitely a step up in AF and weight and cost. Sorry for the long answer, but hopefully it's comprehensive . http://global.canon/en/c-museum/series_search.html?t=camera&s=film&y1=1990&y2=2006
Look here for some opinions about a quiet EOS film body. Link is https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/is-there-a-quiet-eos-film-body.382889/.
Thanks for your replies, especially the lengthy one from Canoco. I guess I'll be looking into the EOS 5 and the 7E (being a bit nearsighted on my dominant eye, I find the eye-controlled focusing somewhat intriguing).
I have the EOS 5 and it's remarkably quiet for an SLR. Also, I find the eye-control focus that Canoco mentioned to be very effective indeed - although only of use in landscape orientation, unfortunately. That aside, it's a lovely camera - very intuitive to use, too.
My Elan IIe isn't very loud, certainly not as loud as a Seventies SLR with a big motor drive hanging off the bottom, but it isn't as quiet as my Canonet. If you want real stealth, go with a rangefinder. Scott
I will back this up. I had an Elan IIe in addition to my r2k, and neither are very loud, but neither are as quiet as my rangefinder cameras.
I have an EOS 7 (Japanese version of Elan 7E) and it's the quietest AF auto-wind film SLR I've ever used, especially with a USM or STM lens. I think the EOS 3 and 1n/v are quieter from what I've read, but the EOS 7 is usually sold for at least half the price or more of a 3.
Have recently acquired both 50e and 30 from the "bay" and was most impressed by their quiet operation . The 30 (7e) is particularly refined and has the advantage of 7 af points and dioptre adjustment for the viewfinder. The battery is expensive but with the addition of the grip bp300 you can use AA cells and improve the handling.
The eos 1v maybe quiet but the 1 and 1n aren't- the eos 3 is stupid loud - sounds like mp5 submachine gun fire
I vote for EOS 5 as well. The large mass helps to dampen the internal sounds. And the sounds are not as high-pitched as with newer bodies.
I have the EOS3, Elan II, Elan IIe and Elan 7N. The 7N is the quietest - surprisingly quiet in fact. The Elan II/IIe is not bad noise wise. The EOS3 is loud. As to the eye-control focus I find it works best on the EOS3, but that camera does not have a built-in diopter adjustment so you might need to find an attachment, which could be tricky. The Elan II/IIe does not have a built in diopter either, but the 7N does so I would assume the 7Ne does as well (the "e" indicates eye control in the Elans, at least in the North American market). I wear glasses and find that the eye control is not great with the Elans and I don't even try to use it with them. On the EOS3 it works better, but the camera is very heavy and loud so I don't use it much. Also, if you are considering using vintage glass adapted to EOS mount (I shoot a lot of old lenses) then the EOS3 requires a chipped adapter to work at all while the Elans do not. Of all these cameras the one I use the most and enjoy using the most is the 7N. One note of caution about the Elans, they have a fragile door latch which can easily break. Replacing the latch can be done at home fairly easily, but finding the part is now becoming very difficult as Canon no longer stocks them. If you get an Elan I recommend that when closing the door you slide the latch to open then swing the door closed and hold it tight and then slide the latch closed. I had one break when clicking the door closed (as it is designed to be used) - the plastic hook broke off.
This is my biggest complain regarding EOS SLR cameras. Is not only the noise, but most important, the longevity. One of the reasons why I started making my own.
I've been using a canon T3i for years. I'm a fan of the Canon Rebel series. Good bang for the buck, and easy to use
Check the comparisons here http://thedigitalcamera.net/canon-t7i-vs-77d-vs-t6i-vs-t6s-whats-the-difference/
if noise is your issue have you considered a rangefinder type, much quiter than any SLR and some very solid ones were made in the late 70s. For pure racket try an AE1 with an auto winder. People two streets away are woken up by the sound of one of these firing a burst.
I think I have that beat, my Pentax MG with auto winder. Plus I have wasted a heap of film with the auto winder, you barely touch the shutter button and it just takes off. I don't even use it lately unless it's for fast moving objects, still I love it for street photography without the auto winder, being small and light.
May I suggest the Canon EOS mount F1000, you are not going to get away from the mirror slap noise but this model was within reason or go old school and get a range finder. not only are there quiet but look pretty cool.
My vote is with the EOS 1N or 1V. Both have excellent mirror dampening and electronically controlled drive clutches that together minimise noise. The use of mirror lock-up prior to exposure will further quieten these and other EOS cameras. Some of the old FD-era cameras were very noisy e.g. the T90 as a case in point.
