7D Mark II "Silent Mode" is terrific...

[Erik Bailey]

I have shot the 7D for almost 5 years, and got a 7D Mark II a couple months ago. While everything about it is great and an improvement on the 7D (my only quibble is the use of the wheel for zooming - I don't like it), something I haven't seen much written about is the "Silent Mode" of shooting.

Of course, it isn't really "silent" (they should have called it "Quiet Mode"), but it really does make a difference. Shutter lag is minimal, and burst shooting is still perfectly adequate. Would never use for sports or wildlife, but when you are in a quiet space, it is great!

I photograph flute events for middle and high school students frequently (not for pay), and here are two samples from concerts earlier this year (the same high school freshman in each shot). Lens is a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 at 2.8. Distance was about 30-40 feet (I was at the back of the auditorium).

From asking others in the audience, who were able to compare the 7D Mark II with my earlier 7D, they said they were barely aware I was shooting. That was definitely not the case with the 7D!

Looking at these at 100% or even 200% or 300% - you can just about read the writing printed on the flute. No sharpness complaints from me!

So if you have a 7D Mark II and haven't tried this mode yet - give it a whirl! Well done, Canon! --Erik







--

erikbailey

Erik Bailey Photography, Needham MA - Portrait, Event, and Nature Photography by Erik Bailey

erikbaileyphotography.com

 

[Bobby49]

I agree. The Silent Mode makes more of a swishing noise rather than a clicking noise. Plus, it slows down only slightly from the full continuous loud rate.

 

[davel33]

I agree the silent mode is very nice. If I am in 1 shot then I use silent mode.

Dave

 

[Flying Fish]

Lovely photos of a lovely flutist. Is she playing the same flute in both photos, or does the one in the second image just look longer because of the angle?

FF

 

[skanter]

Is 7D2 silent mode different from 70D's? I find the 70D silent mode is not too quiet, similar to 60D. Only useable in LV.

 

[eliotmal]

Totally agree. I used it to photograph show on a cruise ship. I could badly hear it and the 4ish FPS was quite sufficient for a show.

 

[skanter]

Does silent mode work in all modes on 7D2, or just in LV?

 

[jckk]

Does silent mode work in all modes on 7D2, or just in LV?

 

[skanter]

Does silent mode work in all modes on 7D2, or just in LV?

 

[Alastair Norcross]

Does silent mode work in all modes on 7D2, or just in LV?

 

[Erik Bailey]

Lovely photos of a lovely flutist. Is she playing the same flute in both photos, or does the one in the second image just look longer because of the angle?

FF

Thanks... Same flute in both photos - just a different angle...

Glad to see the responses of other folks using this - I hadn't seen much written about it, and it really is a win!

 

[skanter]

Does silent mode work in all modes on 7D2, or just in LV?

 

[davel33]

The 7D2 is a lot quieter then the 70D. I use the 7D2 in silent mode most of the time and when I switch back to the 70D it seems very loud.

Dave

 

[msowsun]

I recently heard a 7d Mk II Silent Mode and it sounds just like my 5D Mk III.

 

[Flying Fish]

Thanks for the reply, Erik Bailey. I haven't had a reason to use silent mode yet, but I figured most of the responses would be about that and didn't want your lovely images themselves to go unremarked on.

FF

 

[AndyC400D]

I pretty much use either single shot silent or 10fps full speed.

It's extremely quiet in silent mode, and the softer sound is less intrusive.

 

[skanter]

The 7D2 is a lot quieter then the 70D. I use the 7D2 in silent mode most of the time and when I switch back to the 70D it seems very loud.

Dave

70D is very quiet in LV, not so much in VF mode.

 

[fishy wishy]

Do you lot think you can use it in AI-servo?

 

[Bobby49]

Do you lot think you can use it in AI-servo?

I don't know who your lot is, but I used Continuous Silent in AI Servo just last weekend.

I don't understand why some people have such doubts about this.

 

[eliotmal]

Do you lot think you can use it in AI-servo?

i believe that it is quite because it uses the motor to drive the mirror up and down in a controlled way. It has noting to do with the focus, so yes you can use it with AI-servo or any focus option. However it limits the frames per second to about 4 fps instead of the 10 with the normal mode. My guess is that the camera can move the mirror up and down much faster in normal mode than in silent mode.