Topic: Let's talk Canon digital SLRs...

[Jimna]

When you are dealing with children with cerebral palsy and autism they possess very fast tendon reflexes which actually make them more ' jumpy" then the average folk.  And it is the sound of the shutter that make them jump.  I also have a point and shoot canon S5IS which is much quieter and they tend to jump much less. yes these kids are that quick and then the anticipation on top of that.  Anxiety is held in the body and represents itself as upper motor neuron jerky movements due to sensitivity to sound.  The autofocus is relatively quiet. its when i engage the shutter all the way and the kids tend to jump

help me

Is it possible to mask the sound of the camera with background noise, perhaps a fan?

...or music?   

[Frank in JC]

When you are dealing with children with cerebral palsy and autism they possess very fast tendon reflexes which actually make them more ' jumpy" then the average folk.  And it is the sound of the shutter that make them jump.  I also have a point and shoot canon S5IS which is much quieter and they tend to jump much less. yes these kids are that quick and then the anticipation on top of that.  Anxiety is held in the body and represents itself as upper motor neuron jerky movements due to sensitivity to sound.  The autofocus is relatively quiet. its when i engage the shutter all the way and the kids tend to jump

help me

Is it possible to mask the sound of the camera with background noise, perhaps a fan?

...or music?   

I thought music might be as distracting as a camera shutter, but white noise...

Besides, who listens to music?   

[bluntforcetrauma]

When you are dealing with children with cerebral palsy and autism they possess very fast tendon reflexes which actually make them more ' jumpy" then the average folk.  And it is the sound of the shutter that make them jump.  I also have a point and shoot canon S5IS which is much quieter and they tend to jump much less. yes these kids are that quick and then the anticipation on top of that.  Anxiety is held in the body and represents itself as upper motor neuron jerky movements due to sensitivity to sound.  The autofocus is relatively quiet. its when i engage the shutter all the way and the kids tend to jump

help me

Is it possible to mask the sound of the camera with background noise, perhaps a fan?

...or music?   

I thought music might be as distracting as a camera shutter, but white noise...

Besides, who listens to music?   

that is what i am trying now, is the music.  Just some background music lightly so the shutter does not appear as " suprising" sound when the picture is taken.   You would not believe how supersensitive some of the kids are.  so the music is not distracting it works by making the shutter NOt appear so loud or shocking as there is more ambient sound in the room

[Sanjay]

If that's the case then a Point and Shoot is what you should be looking for.  A Canon G9 is an excellent one.

The only truly silent cameras with a shutter are rangefinders since they have a different type, cloth rather than a mirror.  If you wanted to go into film you can pick one up rather cheap, however with digital there are only two options and the cheapest is about $2200 without a lens.

[Ed.]

I was gonna suggest music too, or even talking through the snap to try to take their minds off of it.

[bluntforcetrauma]

I was gonna suggest music too, or even talking through the snap to try to take their minds off of it.

Yeah, that is what i am trying now.  Also if i take my face away from the back of the camera and kinda say hello quietly it kind of gets their " mind" off of the anticipation of the shot, although i have to make sure i am really steady with my hand to get a good shot--just more practice

thank you for the advice, it is well received

[BJ]

I was gonna suggest music too, or even talking through the snap to try to take their minds off of it.

Yeah, that is what i am trying now.  Also if i take my face away from the back of the camera and kinda say hello quietly it kind of gets their " mind" off of the anticipation of the shot, although i have to make sure i am really steady with my hand to get a good shot--just more practice

thank you for the advice, it is well received

tripod and timer!!!

sounds like very interesting and challenging work, I'm a little envious!

[bluntforcetrauma]

I was thinking what you were thinking, a timer, or even wireless remote, I know focus might be an issue but i can just fill up the CF card and see what i get.

i also may go to the 70-200IS lens so i can step back a little further.

It really amazes me how sensitive some of the kids are.  Now its anticipation from some of the kids.  I mean its not like i am right in their face.  some of there " little" movements are so fast--it really is like sport shooting.

[su6oxone]

im telling you, you are going to kick yourself most likely if you buy on fleabay for this stuff, its worth paying a touch more over at fm and getting something you know is going to be good.

Buying anything on ebay does, of course, entail some level of risk, but I wouldn't be overly worried or skeptical necessarily.  I recently bought a Canon 40D w/28-135mm lens on ebay during the cashback savings (for a total of $900) from a seemingly reputable seller, and everything was good as described.  I would just make sure when buying on ebay to check out their feedback, especially regarding similar items, read carefully the description of b-stock, refurb, warranty, etc., and buy with paypal using a credit card.  You're pretty safe then even if you got something not as described.  Love my 40d, at least so far. 

[cgrooves]

Finally getting around to uploading a couple of shots taken with my 30D and Tamron lenses.  The first is with the 17-50mm and the second is with the 70-200mm.

[stirinthesauce]

Shane, fabulous shots!

[cgrooves]

Shane, fabulous shots!

Thanks Jon.
I wish the fireworks smoke would have been blowing away from the camera instead of right to left, but it is what it is.
+T

[stirinthesauce]

backatcha buddy.  Fireworks shots are fun

[cgrooves]

backatcha buddy.  Fireworks shots are fun

Here is the shot that I was discussing in the PM.  I'm going to approach a few of those home owners to see if they would be interested in purchasing a print.  A couple of those places are million dollar homes, so they would probably be interested in a $75-$100 large print to have matted & framed.

[stirinthesauce]

Nice!

Selling art of local stuff (like that) to the 2nd home owners is an easy mark.  I know, I do it all the time