R3M Shutter Speeds / Noise Question (potential problem?)

[david.elliott]

Quick question, hopefully.

I just took my R3M out of the box and am listening to the shutter speeds / sounds. On the faster speeds, i.e. 1/1000 I just hear a click.

On the slower speeds, i.e. 1 sec, I hear a sort of continual noise while the shutter is open. Kind of like a relatively quiet hum or grind.

I do not hear the noise in bulb setting while the shutter is open, but do hear the noise quickly as the shutter closes.

Is this all normal, or might the camera have a problem? I am a bit worried.

Thanks for your help.

-David

[antiquark]

Try using your TV as a shutter tester:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-135.html

It will give you an approximate idea if it's working OK.

[ClaremontPhoto]

It's entirely normal behavior with a mechanical shutter.

1/1000 will be a click, because it's open/close very fast indeed.

1 sec. will be gears whirring, because that's what's happening.

B will be silent, because the camera isn't timing anything.

[david.elliott]

Thank you both for the help and for setting my mind at ease!

Merry Christmas!

[tedwhite]

What you're hearing is absolutely normal, as Jon said. If I take my old Pentax Spotmatic SLR and work through the shutter speeds from top down to bulb, I get exactly the same sequence - only a lot louder!.