Exploring the Different Types of Camera Shutters for Underwater Photography

 

Introduction

For hobbyists and enthusiasts of underwater photography, understanding the technical aspects of their equipment can greatly enhance their ability to capture the perfect shot. One important aspect to consider is the type of camera shutter used in popular cameras today. In this blog post, I will provide a detailed exploration of the various types of camera shutters available, including their mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of how different camera shutters can impact the quality of your underwater photography.

1. Mechanical Shutters

What It Is and How It Works:

Mechanical shutters are a type of camera shutter that uses physical curtains, either made of metal or cloth, to control the amount of light that enters the camera sensor. These shutters come in two main types: focal-plane shutters, which are located just in front of the image sensor, and leaf shutters, which are located within the lens. Focal-plane shutters consist of two curtains that move across the sensor, while leaf shutters consist of several metal blades that open and close to control the amount of light that enters the lens. Both types of mechanical shutters are widely used in photography and offer reliable and precise control over exposure settings.

Pros:

When it comes to reliability and durability, mechanical shutters are a more promising choice. They have a proven track record of functioning smoothly and consistently, even in diverse environmental conditions. Compared to their electronic counterparts, mechanical shutters are less prone to wear and tear, making them a more robust and long-lasting solution.

When it comes to leaf shutters, having high flash sync speeds can be particularly beneficial for underwater flash photography. With this feature, you can achieve more precise and consistent exposure, resulting in stunning images that capture the beauty of the underwater world.

Cons:

When it comes to choosing a camera for underwater use, one important factor to consider is weight and bulk. Cameras equipped with mechanical shutters tend to be heavier and bulkier compared to their digital counterparts. This can make them less ideal for underwater photography as you may need to carry them around for extended periods or use them in tight spaces. Therefore, it's important to keep this aspect in mind when selecting a camera for your underwater adventures.

Mechanical parts of DSLR cameras are prone to wear and tear due to prolonged usage. Manufacturers typically set a limit on the number of shutter counts their mechanical shutters can withstand before needing replacement. However, it's worth noting that most DSLR cameras exceed these limits, and their mechanical shutters can last anywhere between 100,000 to 300,000 shutter counts, depending on the camera's quality.

2. Electronic Shutters

What It Is and How It Works:

An electronic shutter is a modern camera feature that allows for digital operation. This feature functions by activating the sensor's pixels in a sequential manner to capture the image digitally. Unlike the traditional mechanical shutter, the electronic shutter eliminates the need for physical movement within the camera, and therefore, reduces the risk of producing motion blur in the image.

Pros:

Electronic shutters are a great tool for capturing fast-moving underwater scenes as they can achieve extremely high shutter speeds. This feature can come in handy when you want to freeze the motion of your subject, such as a school of fish or a fast-swimming aquatic animal. By using electronic shutters, you can ensure that your images come out sharp and clear, even in challenging shooting conditions.

One of the advantages of using electronic shutters is that they operate silently, making them an ideal choice for photography in environments where you need to maintain silence and discretion. For instance, when taking pictures of marine life, electronic shutters can help you avoid disturbing the creatures you are trying to capture, allowing you to take stunning shots while minimizing your impact on the environment.

Cons:

The Rolling Shutter Effect is a phenomenon that can occur when capturing fast-moving objects such as swimming fish or quick movements. This effect can cause noticeable distortions in the resulting image or video, which can be a frustrating issue for photographers and videographers alike. Essentially, the Rolling Shutter Effect happens when the camera's sensor scans the image from top to bottom, one row at a time, rather than capturing the entire image at once. As a result, any movement that occurs during the scan can appear distorted or skewed in the final output.

It is worth noting that when using electronic shutters, there is a possibility that the dynamic range of the image could be affected, which may lead to an increase in noise, particularly in low-light conditions. So, it is important to take this into consideration while capturing images to ensure optimal image quality.

3. Hybrid Shutters

What It Is and How It Works:

Hybrid shutters are a type of camera shutter that combines the benefits of both mechanical and electronic shutter mechanisms. This allows the camera to switch between these two modes based on the shooting conditions and requirements, providing a versatile and efficient shooting experience. Whether you need fast and precise capture or silent and vibration-free operation, hybrid shutters can adapt to a wide range of scenarios and deliver optimal results.

Pros: 

Photographers can enjoy the benefits of versatility with the option to choose between different types of shutters based on the specific scenario at hand. This allows for greater flexibility and control over the final outcome of their photographs.

The latest feature in the camera allows you to enhance your photography skills by utilizing the electronic shutter for high-speed captures. Additionally, you can avoid any rolling shutter effects by using the mechanical shutter in tandem. This improved performance ensures that your photos are of the highest quality and clarity, capturing every detail with precision.

Cons:

The addition of hybrid shutters to a camera increases both its complexity and cost. Hybrid shutters, while providing benefits such as faster shutter speeds and reduced noise, require more advanced technology and mechanisms to operate effectively. As a result, cameras with hybrid shutters tend to be more expensive and may be more difficult to repair or maintain.

Hybrid shutters have a complex combination of both mechanical and electronic components which make them more intricate and demanding in terms of maintenance. Therefore, it's important to keep in mind that they might require more frequent and thorough maintenance than other types of shutters.

4. Global Shutter

The global shutter technology in cameras is a recent innovation that was first introduced by Sony in their A9 III series camera. This technology has now become available in other camera models as well.

What It Is and How It Works:

It's important to understand the difference between rolling shutters and global shutters when it comes to camera sensors. Rolling shutters work by turning on and off rows of the sensor in waves, capturing images sequentially line by line or pixel by pixel. On the other hand, global shutters function by turning the entire sensor on and off as a single unit, capturing the entire image simultaneously. 

The global shutter mechanism is a preferred choice in many professional settings due to its ability to expose all pixels on the sensor at the same time. This simultaneous exposure helps eliminate distortions and artifacts that may occur in fast-moving scenes, resulting in a more accurate and high-quality image. Unlike its counterpart, the rolling shutter, which can cause distortions due to its sequential capture method, the global shutter provides a more reliable and consistent image capture.

How Does a Global Shutter Work?

The global shutter is an electronic mechanism that controls the exposure of the image sensor in a camera. It operates in a step-by-step manner, starting with exposure preparation. When the camera is ready to take a photo or video, the global shutter clears any existing charge from the sensor, ensuring that each pixel starts from a 'clean slate.'

Upon pressing the shutter button, the global shutter exposes all pixels on the sensor simultaneously to the light. This is done by opening an electronic gate for each pixel, allowing light to hit every part of the sensor at the same moment. This uniform exposure is what makes the global shutter stand out from other shutter types.

Once the exposure time is complete, each pixel's charge, corresponding to the light it captured, is quickly transferred to a storage area on the sensor. This transfer happens simultaneously for all pixels, ensuring that the image is captured accurately.

Finally, after the charges are stored, the camera reads the values from each pixel to create the image. Unlike rolling shutters, the readout in global shutters does not affect the exposure, hence there are no motion artifacts or distortions in the final image. This makes the global shutter ideal for capturing fast-moving objects or scenes.

Pros:

When capturing fast-moving objects, rolling shutters can sometimes produce unwanted artifacts such as skewing, wobbling, or partial exposure effects. However, with global shutters, these issues can be entirely avoided as they are capable of capturing all frames at once. This results in clearer and more accurate image or video captures, making it a favorable choice for various applications.

When you're diving into the depths to capture underwater beauty, you need a camera that can capture all the action without any distortion. Global shutters are perfect for underwater photographers and anyone else who needs to freeze motion in their shots. With a global shutter, you can capture aquatic creatures and other subjects in their natural movements, with no blurring or warping. So whether you're tracking a school of fish or trying to snap a shot of a dolphin in motion, a camera with a global shutter is the way to go. It allows you to capture all the action and beauty of the underwater world with stunning clarity and precision.

Cons:

It's worth noting that cameras equipped with global shutters have a tendency to be less common and more expensive compared to their counterparts sporting rolling shutters.

It is important to note that global shutters may have a slightly lower dynamic range in comparison to rolling shutters due to the design complexities and storage element requirements for each pixel. This means that global shutters may not be able to capture the same range of brightness levels in an image as rolling shutters. However, it is worth noting that this difference is often very small and may not be noticeable in many real-world applications.

Summary

The advancement of shutter technology has led to the development of global shutters, which provide a significant improvement in image-capturing capability for photographers and videographers. The global shutter technology enables the camera to capture images without any distortion, even in fast-paced situations. This is an excellent feature for professionals in fields such as sports photography, filmmaking, and other areas like underwater photography that require clear imaging of fast-moving subjects. The use of global shutters can greatly enhance the quality of work for such professionals. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect more cameras to incorporate global shutters, making it an exciting time for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike.

What Kind of Shutter Does a Smart Phone Have?

Due to the limited space within smartphones, it's not feasible to incorporate mechanical shutters in their cameras. Instead, they rely on electronic shutters, which simulate the function of a mechanical shutter by digitally controlling the amount of time the camera's sensor is exposed to light. This allows for the capture of high-quality images, even in low-light conditions.

Conclusion

When it comes to underwater photography, choosing the correct type of camera shutter is crucial and depends largely on your specific needs and shooting conditions. There are four main types of shutters to consider: mechanical, electronic, hybrid, and global.

Mechanical Shutters, offer reliability and high flash sync speeds, making them ideal for capturing detailed macro photography. These shutters use physical components and are well-suited for still subjects as they can freeze motion.

Electronic shutters, on the other hand, are known for their excellent speed and quiet operation. They are ideal for capturing dynamic scenes without disturbing marine life. Electronic shutters work by electronically controlling the sensor's exposure, and they do not use any physical components.

Hybrid shutters combine the best of both worlds, but they tend to be more complex than the other two options. They offer flexibility and adaptability for various photographic challenges. Hybrid shutters use both mechanical and electronic components, allowing them to adjust to different situations and produce high-quality images.

Global shutters are a relatively new technology that works by capturing the entire image simultaneously. They offer a distortion-free image and are ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects. However, they are still not commonly used in many cameras.

Understanding the differences between these shutter types can help you select the best camera system for your underwater photography adventures.

End Note

I hope this guide helps you in choosing the ideal camera shutter for your underwater photography needs, ensuring that you capture the vibrant and dynamic world beneath the waves with clarity and precision.

Stay tuned and "Follow" for upcoming blogs on underwater photography tips and tricks for more in-depth insights. Please leave your comments and suggestions. Enjoy your diving and shooting experience!

Allow me to assist you in your underwater photographic journey with my upcoming online training course, which I will be announcing soon. If you are keen on acquiring more knowledge about it, kindly email me at bob@robertherb.com. You can also visit my website (Robert Herb Photography) to view some of my exemplary work. 

I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions. 
Sincerely, 

Bob Herb

Robert Herb Robert Herb Photography +1 (714) 594-9262‬  |  +504 9784-0024  |  www.RobertHerb.com Bob@robertherb.com  |  Roatan, HN or Aliso Viejo, CA (USA)