Shutter noise

[willing to learn]

Today I finally mangaged to draw a Tree creeper into range perhaps around
8 to 10 feet. The problem is every time the shutter fired I ended up with not a blurred frame but a empty one. I did manage a few just before I went, if there any good I will load them latter. I guess he or she just got use to shutter noise. The point is I would have been gutted to wait all day for one chance of a shot to it be ruined by shutter noise. Anyone else had a problem and did you get round it. I suppose the camera could be cloaked to try and muffle the sound.
Regards
Colin

[matt_xyz]

what camera are you using Colin? I've always found my 30D to be very noisy and much preferred my 400D and now 40D for close-up bird images because these 2 are much quieter than the 30D. I've heard various tips for trying to reduce the noise which all seem to require wrapping the camera in something, which I suppose could help. Other than that you've just got to hope that the birds become used to the noise

Matt

[tristanba]

my 20D is like a machine gun a real paparrazi shutter...

[AlphaZeroOne]

I have found that it is helps to get them accustomed to the noise. It struck me at the start of the winter that birds such as Long Tail Tits and Wrens didn't bat an eyelid when an intercity express came along at high speed - my office is situated along side the main London route.

Like you, I had problems getting a camera really close to birds on our feeder. So I mounted my camera (D400) on a tripod and set it up for wireless remote control. I noticed that some of the more sensitive birds became quickly used to the sound of the camera shutter noise and so I have progressively been able to move the camera closer and closer so that I can currently set it up about three feet from a popular perch branch on route to the feeder.

There is nothing amazing about this approach but I was surprised by how quickly shy birds overcame their nervousness by simply being exposed to noise over a period of time.

[Vectisbirder]

Originally Posted by tristanba

my 20D is like a machine gun a real paparrazi shutter...

Yes, my second camera body is a 20D and I very much agree with that assessment. I don't use it when in hides as the noise just embarrasses the hell out of me if other people are present!

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

what camera are you using Colin? I've always found my 30D to be very noisy and much preferred my 400D and now 40D for close-up bird images because these 2 are much quieter than the 30D. I've heard various tips for trying to reduce the noise which all seem to require wrapping the camera in something, which I suppose could help. Other than that you've just got to hope that the birds become used to the noise

Matt

Hello Matt
I was using my 40D, some birds don't batter an eyelid, but the tree creeper and long tails whoosh gone. Though the tree creeper seemed to cope just before I went. Thanks everyone for the input.
Regards
Colin

[BillyPilgrim]

I've always found that Treecreepers and Long-Tailed Tits very frustrating to photograph. They are constantly on the move and rarely keep still for more than a second, regardless of whether I'm pressing the shutter or not. Could it be that they are just about to vanish anyway, just as you press the shutter?

[willing to learn]

A pic of the treecreeper after he/she finally acepted the shutter noise. Its funny but perhaps got 20 or so shots in several bursts just before I left.
Regards
Colin

[glsammy]

I don't think it's got anything to do with your shutter noise. Treecreepers are one of many that rarely stop, unless they think they're discovered some tasty insect, and Long tailed Tits have a built in motion activator that's timed to match the autofocus speed of modern DSLR's!