By MICHAEL PERKINS
IT WAS NEARLY FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE ADVENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY that practical mechanical shutters ushered in the first era of fine control in the making of images. The lenses in the first cameras of the early 1800's were always either "open" (lens cap or shield physically removed) or "closed" (cap back on). Exposure was a matter of experiment and guesswork. Once mass production entered the scene and shutters became a permanent part of every camera sold, photography passed from a tinkerer's hobby to a mass pastime. Thousands of variations and refinements followed, but the mechanical shutter has remained an essential part of every image from snapshots to studio portraits for a century and a half.
At this writing, however, the evolution of the electronic shutter has reached something of a set point, making these byproducts of the digital age serious competitors for their mechanical counterparts, and, for more shooters than ever before, a superior option. Nikon and other manufacturers have, by early 2024, already released professional-level cameras that contain electronic shutters only, even as opinions pro and con on the two choices rage on among users. Some shooters see mechanical shutters as the biggest killers of cameras, since they are one of the only parts in new gear that can still wear out due to heavy use. Those of us who have sought bargains on the resale market are accustomed to seeking a "shutter count" on the unit we're eyeing, so see what its remaining life span is likely to be. Electronic shutters, on the other hand, have no moving parts, capturing the image by reading exposure information directly from the digital sensor.
This can mean that ESes support a faster frame rate, allowing for shooting up to 20 frames per second, while also delivering exposures as quick as 1/2,000. On the other hand, fans of mechanical shutters say that they create fewer flash synch mishaps and avoid uneven exposures. Both camps agree that the virtual elimination of vibration from a mechanical shutter greatly reduces the chance of camera shake, and that electronic shutters are also completely silent, a valuable tool in stealth situations. And the debate rages on.
This article from Photography Life offers more factual fuel for both sides of the argument than can be summed up here. However, one thing seems clear: the lightning advance of today's tech guarantees that the elimination of any practical flaws in electronic shutters is just a matter of time, with the mechanical shutter soon going the way of the physical film transport system, the light meter and other legacy tools that eventually are viewed as quaint but unwieldy obstacles between photographer and photograph.
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