What sounds does a DSLR make when taking a photo?

Question

When a DSLR captures an image, several different parts can make noise—not just the familiar mirror slap. What are the main sound sources in a DSLR and lens system during normal shooting, and which ones are usually the loudest?

user13555 · Accepted Answer

Very briefly, in a typical SLR camera with lens, the noisemaking parts are:

AF motor
diaphragm (aperture) control,
movable mirror (quiet mode may delay and/or slow the return of the mirror)
mechanical shutter--both release and cock (quiet mode sometimes separates these and may slow the latter)
optical stabilization (gyroscopes and actuators)
flash (if present)
speaker (if present)

Other than using your camera's quiet mode (if it has one), or muffling the sound by wrapping the camera in something, your only option may be to switch to a quieter system. Systems with fewer of the above tend to be quieter, eg. rangefinder cameras and mirrorless cameras.

Edit: Some users are reporting that some Sony lenses have surprisingly loud aperture actuation; to isolate and listen to your lens' aperture (any brand), you can set the lens to a setting other than wide open and press your camera's depth of field preview button. The sound you hear will be that of the aperture stopping down but nothing else.

What sounds does a DSLR make when taking a photo?

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