The start-up sound of a camera is one that’s been lacking for so many years. I mean, think about it: when was the last time you powered up your camera and you heard some sort of start up sound greet you? You probably haven’t heard it at all unless you’ve used a point and shoot of some sort. There are several iconic sounds that live deep in the minds and souls of so many photographers. Besides the standard little jingle that a camera might have, there’s also the sound of a lens expanding/powering up, or even the click of a switch to power the camera on.
But those clicks are a standard now; and if you tried to tell the difference between one click and another, then you’d be very hard pressed to try to figure it out.
There is something totally about the way that older cameras have certain sounds for different reasons, though. Besides Canon’s power-up sound in their point and shoots (that can be turned off), there are also the default buttons beeps that we often turn off. Typically, we turn them off because we don’t want to hear them. It’s almost like the sound of typing on your phone — no one wants to hear the tapping of keys on a digital screen.
But recently, I’ve taken to keeping the autofocus beep and the button beeps activated on my Nikon Zf. It makes the process of using the camera a whole lot more immersive of an experience. When I’ve autofocused and the camera confirms it, the Nikon Zf gives off a beep. It’s more than just the autofocus reticule turning green, it acts as a double confirmation of sorts.
When I use a point and shoot with a zoom lens, the motors power up and I can hear it pretty easily.
Photographers, I truly think that we’re in a time where people won’t care if they hear these sounds most of the time. It’s why so many of us got rid of them in the first place.
At the same time, we need really need to come clean and admit that we’re not all shooting weddings or events on Capitol Hill that require our cameras to be very silent.
And if you are, then you turn off the sound.
But if you’re in a studio and you’re shooting with a model, there’s usually a flow that happens. When you shoot a frame, they usually change up the pose just a bit. The command to change the pose comes from a flash going off, a shutter sound, etc. The beep also helps a lot here.
Turn the audio cues back on. Trust me.