Good point, hadn't looked at it that way. My camera does make a slight noise when the shutter opens, and of course a split second before the pic is taken. And you will never get an honest answer from a manufacturer. For one, they don't know. And for another, they would not tell you if they did.They are not going to cut into their business by offering just one or the other. As long as they can keep the controversy going between us, they will have achieved their marketeting goals. Meaning the best of both worlds for them. And so it goes.