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Mechanical vs. Electronic Shutter: It Could Be Killing Your Photos!!

Magnolia Photography SC | Wildlife Photographer

23,667 views

Your choice of shutter could be killing the quality of your images without you ever realizing it!! Let's take a closer look in this video to ensure you're making the right decision!!

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20 Comments

@ericlarson6180 1 year ago

I shoot with a Nikon Z8, love the silent shutter and no longer worry about choosing since it doesn’t have a mechanical shutter. I’ve never seen rolling shutter in any of my photos due to the high speed readout

@alansach8437 1 year ago

Love electronic shutter in my Canon R7. Rolling shutter is rarely an issue. Mostly shows up when panning with fast moving subjects, like flying birds. Meanwhile, it's quiet (I set the volume so only I can barely hear it for feedback), and it eliminates shutter shock.

@wellingtoncrescent2480 1 year ago (edited)

When I bought my Canon R7, I was struck by the impact of shutter shock when using the mechanical shutter with the light-weight body. Images were simply sharper using the electronic shutter. However, my default mode is now first curtain electronic shutter, which also minimizes both shutter shock and rolling shutter. It's a hybrid method, where image acquisition begins electronically and continues until the mechanical shutter is closed. I appreciated your discussion, but I'm surprised you didn't also mention the option of a first curtain electronic shutter, which is now widely available on most cameras.

@clivehay 1 year ago

I shoot wildlife, mainly birds using a canon r5 and r7. I use both mechanical and electronic, but trend towards the mechanical - particularly during the day for two reasons. The first is that on these aforementioned cameras, the shutter noise is not as harsh as on dslr’s , but even if it was, I’ve found that birds in particular look towards me when they hear the shutter, so I get better eye contact. Second is that trawling through twice the number of images during editing- many being identical- is so time consuming as to be boring and/or frustrating. I am aware that there are great videos out there on how to streamline one’s workflow, but sometimes one is just time poor when it comes to post - less is more, and imho 12 to 15 fps on a mechanical shutter is already a massive improvement over most dslr models.

@cameraprepper_EU1 1 year ago

11:55 yes it wears out when you use the high speed series, I rarely do that, so my cameras do not wear the shutter out !

@wesleylum7585 5 months ago

Very informative and in depth explanation. I will use this when considering what camera to purchase

@cameraprepper_EU1 1 year ago

About noise from the camera´s shutter, if you are moving closer to an animal or bird without noise and then suddenly press the shutter, yes, they will often get away, but if you all the time speaks with a low and soft voice, then then the "impact" from the shutter will not scare them as much, maybe the move or jump a bit, but pause the camera, talk again and then use the shutter, the longer you press the button the more scared the animal or bird gets, so start carefully (46 years of experience). Also move as an old person do, that problem I do not have any more because I am old 😄

@okaro6595 1 year ago (edited)

There actually is a third mode: "electronic first curtain" where the exposure begins electronically but ends with a mechanical curtain. That is a handy way with mirrorless cameras that normally have the shutter open. On some cameras that is the only mechanical shutter (At least on EOS R100, R50, R8, M and M50, likely all M)

The electronic first curtain is like a mechanical in issues like rolling shutter or flash use but as the mechanical curtain is slightly off from the sensor but the electronic one is not one can get distortion of bokeh on fast shutter speeds (1/1000 s or shorter)

The benefit is that there is less vibration than in fully mechanical.09

@neilcole3406 1 year ago

Excellent information, well presented so l subscribed,thanks

@markhoffman9655 1 year ago

I only ever use mechanical shutter by accident - then switch back to electronic for the 99.99% of my photography. Rolling shutter is basically limited to early versions with slow read-out speeds and/or using excessive camera movement.

@MissySkeeter 1 month ago

I shoot with a Canon R5 and R5 Mark 2. Pre-capture raw burst is always electronic shutter. After extensive testing, I only use silent electronic shutter, except when I see river otters....with river otters they seem curious about the noise created by the mechanical shutter and I;ve got some nice incoming shots of curious otters.

@bmwohl 1 year ago

This might have a good "Part 1" video where, in "Part 2" you compare rolling shutter in different mechanical shutters and in different electronic shutters including global sensors. Also in Part 2, you could compare flash sync speeds. Also in Part 2 you could show how mechanical shutters are only fully opened at once in slower shutter speeds but just an open moving slit in shutter speeds above the flash sync speed. I was disappointed. I've tried to make up my mind shooting my Z6iii whether I want mechanical, electronic first curtain or electronic or "auto" which chooses only between mechanical and electronic first curtain. You left me wanting more. I will try some of your other videos now that I've found you on Youtube. I love your own photography.

@deepfieldphoto 1 year ago

Shooting mostly events I use mechanical so I can use flash , as the flash is disabled with electronic shutter . If shooting stage or performances in quiet theatre for instance, I use electronic, the silent shooting is remarkable. Also great for candid photography say at weddings … so your subject doesn’t take flight 😆

@hbarwick1 1 year ago

Thanks for the info. I took your advice and got a good deal on a used Sony A1 for my wildlife/bird Photography instead of the Sony A7Rv. Amazing even though it doesnt have the second processor chip for autofucus I think the back side sensor and the great processor in the A1 makes up for it

@stevenanthony578 1 year ago

With the Sony a6700, maximum mechanical shutter speed is 1/4000th while the electronic is 1/8000th. I tend to use the electtonic shutter (silent mode) when I'm in places where I want to be silent--in a church, on the bus/tram, in a café, etc.

@gregorydobson4307 7 months ago

I shoot with the R5 for wildlife. If in a hide I use mechanical as the hide hides some of the noise unless a deer is very close, then I use electronic. For shooting birds of prey in flight then 1st curtain is my go to.

@sounderdavis5446 1 year ago

One other reason, which you mentioned briefly: mechanical shutters will eventually fail. I got a great deal buying an expensive used body from LensRentals because it had a shutter count of 80,000. Since I always use e-shutter, and also recommend it for not stressing out wildlife subjects as it's almost completely silent, that high shutter count was a non-issue for me.

@azppmd 1 year ago

Good content.

Back off the mic / SM7b. Too much proximity effect making your audio muddy.

One fist distance away would be better.

@ddsdss256 1 year ago

I use e-shutter the vast majority of the time and rarely experience rolling shutter. Also, there are cases where rolling shutter can actually be used creatively (the same way ICM can). That said, there are indeed cases where the mech shutter is necessary (and some camera modes and slow shutter speeds require it), although newer cameras, such as the Nikon Z9, have no mechanical shutter, so this will become a moot point.

BtW, DxO is also my go-to software (I have it all), and I've used PhotoLab as my primary RAW processor for years. I highly recommend any of your viewers at least take advantage of the free trials, maybe they'll also prefer the UI to LR (and I like to own my software, not rent it)!