{"id":98858,"date":"2023-11-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=98858"},"modified":"2024-06-13T22:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T02:05:33","slug":"what-is-global-shutter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/what-is-global-shutter\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Global Shutter? And How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The recent announcement of the\u00a0Sony a9III<\/a>\u00a0has sparked widespread interest in global shutter technology. This innovative camera, equipped with a global shutter sensor, is the first full-frame mirrorless camera to offer this advanced feature. Before the A9III, global shutter was a niche player for video, but Sony’s move has democratized it, starting conversations about its impact for photographers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article explores the intricacies of global shutter<\/strong>, delving into its workings, advantages, and vast potential for the imaging industry and creatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Global Shutter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Global shutter exposes all pixels on a sensor simultaneously, unlike the gradual scanning of rolling shutters. Think of it as a snapshot, capturing the entire scene at once, dodging the distortions typical of fast-paced action.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crucial in photography and filmmaking, this technology, exemplified by the\u00a0Sony a9III<\/a>, ensures precision in dynamic moments, eliminating the notorious \u201cjello effect\u201d that often plagues traditional rolling shutters when panning quickly or trying to capture a fast-moving subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo is a screenshot from AdoramaTV’s Sony a9 III video<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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How Does Global Shutter Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a camera sensor as a grid of light detectors. Global shutter works like a flash photograph, where an electronic signal quickly turns off each pixel simultaneously, preventing light from being recorded. When the shutter opens, light hits all detectors at once, capturing the entire scene in one instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the shutter opens, light hits all detectors at once, freezing the moment in flash-photography style. The result is distortion-free imagery, ideal for sports<\/a>, wildlife<\/a>, or any action-packed scene. This global shutter tech, while a tad more intricate and costly to craft, ensures precise flash exposures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Sony a9III<\/a>\u00a0emerges as a groundbreaking solution to the challenges posed by rolling shutters, marking the debut of a global shutter in a full-frame mirrorless camera. The stacked CMOS sensor not only achieves this milestone but offers exceptional processing power and speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to these technological advancements, the camera boasts impressive capabilities, including shooting at 120fps in 14-bit RAW for up to 192 frames with real-time autofocus, flash sync at any shutter speed, and a maximum shutter speed of 1\/80000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The global shutter mechanism offers several benefits over rolling shutters:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n