The Difference Between Mechanical and Electronic Shutters

One of the nicest features of mirrorless cameras is the electronic shutter, which allows you to shoot in total silence, a fantastic option for situations where being discreet is key. That does not mean electronic shutters are without faults, however. Knowing when to use an electronic shutter and when to use a mechanical is important, and this great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know. 

Coming to you from Rocky Mountain School of Photography, this excellent video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of electronic and mechanical shutters. The greatest perk of electronic shutters is the fact that they are totally silent. For example, I photograph a lot of classical music concerts, and I used to have to time my shots with parts I knew would be loud to cover the sound of the shutter, but once I switched to mirrorless, I could photograph without worry whenever I wanted. However, electronic shutters often suffer from a phenomenon called rolling shutter, which occurs due to the way in which image data is read from the sensor and causes visual distortions with quickly moving subjects. Understanding your individual camera's performance and how to adjust to each shooting situation will save you a lot of frustration and help you create better overall images. Check out the video above for the full rundown. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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Excellent pro/con explanation of both shutters.