Who said you have to be a professional photographer to take a good picture—but wait, a great product image requires more than just lights, aim and shoot! When you are shooting products to sell on your ecommerce store, you want to achieve the best results possible. A remarkable product image can give your online store a professional look that tells Continue Reading
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| Cross-sectional image of conventional Back Side Illumination (BSI) CMOS sensor compared to Panasonic’s Organic Photoconductive Film (OPF) sensor. (Image courtesy of Panasonic.) |
Panasonic has announced that it has developed a new sensor using Organic Photoconductive Film (OPF), developed by Fujifilm, that is capable of recording a much wider range of tones (up to 3 EV greater dynamic range) than current silicon-based sensors, and in which each pixel is read out simultaneously to effect a true global shutter.
We first heard about this collaboration back in 2013, and it appears that the companies have made progress during that time. Similar to InVisage Quantum Film technology, the OPF sensor employs a thin, light-sensitive film on top of CMOS silicon circuitry. Panasonic says that the separation of the light conversion medium and electronic charge storage removes some design trade-offs that need to be made with conventional CMOS designs. The design allows for a larger active pixel area that makes it 1.2x more sensitive to light than normal photodiodes. Decoupling the photoconversion and storage areas also allows for the ability to store more total charge (higher full well capacity), resulting in 10x, or 3 EV, greater dynamic range.
Additionally, the OPF layer is only 0.5 microns thick, or four to six times thinner than silicon photodiodes that are typically 2-3 microns in depth. According to Panasonic this expands the incident angle of light that can be collected to 60 degrees, compared to 30-40 degrees for conventional silicon sensors, which should allow greater flexibility in lens design. It should also help reduce false color and vignetting.
In addition to better sensitivity and dynamic range, the new technology brings other benefits as well. In particular, the OPF-based sensor will provide global shutter, by allowing all pixels to be exposed essentially at the same time by turning on and off the entire photosensitive area at once. The net effect is that all the lines of the sensor are essentially exposed simultaneously, as opposed to line-by-line as is the case with traditional ‘rolling’ electronic shutters. This helps avoid the dreaded ‘jello effect’ often seen in video, or the distortion of fast moving objects. It also helps avoid flickering and banding with artificial light sources, which with a ‘rolling’ shutter otherwise result in different rows on the sensor being exposed while the pulsating light source is on vs. off.
When combined with Panasonic’s historical strength in video-oriented products this will likely get the attention of the videography crowd. The potential benefits don’t stop there though. Panasonic has also developed a method of recording sequences of images at slightly different exposure values, that it calls Variable Sensitivity Multiple Exposure Technology. The process can track the direction of motion in the scene by tracing the subject as it moves across the scene becoming gradually darker from one frame to the next. If the camera knows it applied less exposure to the second frame than to the first, it can determine in which direction the subject is moving and at what speed. This could be of great assistance to AF algorithms.
The company is not absolutely clear about what practical uses it will put this new sensor to, but says ‘We expect this technology to be used widely in motion capture applications and also extend to other applications that have been thought to be difficult to realize unless high saturation global shutter or variable sensitivity multiple exposure.’ Panasonic is also developing a system for using cameras that replace wing mirrors in cars, and this technology will probably see the light of day in that area first, but the lessons learned will be very useful for its regular camera business.
Press release:
Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has developed a new highly functional global shutter[1] technology for CMOS image sensor using organic photoconductive film (OPF)*1. This technology enables to capture high speed moving object up to 10 times brighter*2 scene in global shutter mode. In OPF CMOS image sensor, charge-storage function and photoelectric-conversion function can be set independently. By utilizing the unique feature of OPF CMOS image sensor, this technology solves the degradation of saturation signal[2] in conventional image sensor with global shutter function. Motion direction can be detected from acquired object’s signal level in one picture by fine control of shutter sensitivity by changing applied voltage to OPF which is hardly realized by conventional CMOS image sensors.
The newly developed highly functional global shutter technology contributes to high speed image sensing of moving objects without image distortion which appears in conventional shutter operation under very bright scene. We expect this technology to be used widely in motion capture applications and also extend to other applications that have been thought to be difficult to realize unless high saturation global shutter or variable sensitivity multiple exposure.
The new technology has the following advantages.
1. Wide incident angle (60 degrees), high sensitivity, high saturation and highly-functional circuits due to a unique feature of OPF, in which an OPF for photoelectric-conversion and a readout circuits are independent.
2. High saturation signal up to 10 times larger*3 than conventional image sensors with global shutter function due to Photoelectric Conversion Controlled Global Shutter Technology.
This development is based on the following new technologies.
1. CMOS Image Sensor Design Technology, in that, an OPF photoelectric-conversion part and a circuit part can be designed independently.
2. Photoelectric Conversion Controlled Global Shutter Technology that is realized by controlling of organic photoconductive film sensitivity.
3. Variable Sensitivity Multiple Exposure Technology which can detect the motion and its direction by changing image capturing sensitivity in each frame.
Panasonic holds 60 Japanese patents and 41 overseas patents (including pending) related to this technology.
Panasonic will present part of the research at the international conference ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuit Conference) 2016 which is to be held in San Francisco, USA on January 31 to February 4.
Notes:
*1: We are using an organic photoconductive film (OPF) that FUJIFILM Corporation has developed.
*2: Saturation signal per pixel area, compared with conventional silicon based CMOS image sensor with global shutter function.
More on the Technology
1. The OPF CMOS Image Sensor Design Technology, in that, photoelectric-conversion part and a circuit part can be designed independently.
The conventional image sensor consists of a silicon photodiode for capturing light, metal interconnects and an on-chip micro-lens. And, both a photoelectric-conversion function and a signal charge-storage function are executed by a silicon photodiode. On the other hand, in an OPF CMOS image sensor, a photoelectric-conversion function is executed by an OPF, instead of a silicon photodiode, and a signal charge-storage function is executed by circuits beneath the OPF. Both functions are almost independent, so an OPF CMOS image sensor can achieve the following features.
Expansion of the incident light range to 60 degrees and reproduction of faithful color.
An OPF with high optical absorption coefficient[3], instead of a silicon photodiode, is adopted, the thickness of an OPF has been reduced to just 0.5 microns, four to six times thinner than silicon photodiodes. Since the conventional silicon photodiode needs at least 2 – 3 microns in depth, the range of incident angles was limited to around 30 – 40 degrees. An OPF, achieved with the OPF CMOS image sensor technology, has enabled the expansion of this range to 60 degrees, efficiently utilizing light entering at an angle for faithful color reproduction with no color mixing. It also gives greater flexibility in lens designs, facilitating the reduction of overall camera size.
Boost of sensor sensitivity by 1.2 times compared to conventional silicon image sensors to deliver clear images, particularly in dark conditions.
The transistors and metal interconnects in each pixel, fabricated using Panasonic’s semiconductor device technology, are coated with an OPF. The area of the light receiving section becomes limited in conventional image sensors because of the existence of metal interconnects and the need to form a light shield film to prevent light incidence into areas other than the photodiode in each pixel. However, an OPF CMOS image sensor technology coats the sensor with an OPF, which can harvest all the light received on the sensor. This unique structure and high quantum efficiency of OPF boosts sensor sensitivity by 1.2 times compared to conventional silicon image sensors to deliver clear images, particularly in dark conditions.
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Cross-sectional image of conventional Back Side Illumination (BSI) CMOS image sensor and OPF CMOS image Sensor
Design of OPF and circuits completely independent and realization of high-performance (high-saturation)
In the architecture of an OPF CMOS image sensor, the OPF, that converts light into electric signals, and the circuits, that store electric signal charges and readout electric signals, are designed completely independently. Therefore, by selecting an OPF, photoelectric-conversion characteristics, wavelength, sensitivity, etc., can be set with flexibility.
Moreover, in conventional image sensors, it is necessary to place both a silicon photodiode and circuits (transistors and capacitors) on silicon substrate in each pixel, so an area of circuits is limited. On the other hand, in an OPF CMOS image sensor, it is not necessary to place a silicon photodiode, so high-performance circuits, such as high-speed or wide dynamic range[4], can be formed on a silicon substrate.
In particular, in an OPF CMOS image sensor, by providing a large capacitor for storing signal charge, a saturation value[2] of electric signal can be significantly increased from conventional image sensors.
2. Photoelectric Conversion Controlled Global Shutter Technology that is realized by controlling of organic photoconductive film sensitivity.
Conventional CMOS image sensors with global shutter function require storage located near photoconversion area which makes it difficult to simultaneously shrink the pixel size and enlarge the saturation signal. Developed “Photoelectric conversion controlled global shutter technology” realizes shutter function by controlling of photoelectric conversion efficiency by only modulating applied voltage to OPF, without additional in-pixel circuit and no degradation of saturation signal. And developed “high saturation pixel technology” by pixel gain switching operation can capture under extremely bright scene, up to 10 times or more saturation signal per unit square pixel than conventional CMOS image sensor with global shutter function. This technology will solve imaging problems caused by rolling shutter distortion, flash bands[5] and LED flickers[6] in very bright scene.
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Comparison of Global shutter pixel structure
3. Variable Sensitivity Multiple Exposure Technology which can detect the motion and its direction by changing image capturing sensitivity in each frame.
Conventional multiple exposure cannot detect the direction of motion because the capture sensitivity is fixed. Panasonic have developed “variable sensitivity multiple exposure technology” by controlling the voltage applied to OPF with elapse of time, which is hardly realized in conventional silicon based image sensor. We can get several images of different exposure time and different exposure sensitivity in one picture that enables character recognition by choosing optimum exposure time, so direction of motion can be detected by acquired object’s signal level. This technology enables sensing of moving object detection and motion directions.
Technical Terms:
[1] Global shutter
Shutter operation which can capture the image at the same time in all pixels.
Ordinary CMOS image sensor operates in rolling shutter mode in which exposure and shutter operation is executed row by row.
[2] Saturation/Saturation signals
Maximum amount of electric signal that can be handled by image sensors. Receiving a signal greater than this value leads to highlight clipping.
[3] Optical absorption coefficient
A constant value that indicates how much light is absorbed into a material, when incident light enter to the material.
[4] Dynamic range
Range of brightness that can be captured. (the ratio between highest and lowest signal can be captured by image sensor)
[5] Flash band
stripe shaped contrast appears in captured image, because light flashes during image sensor capture the image row by row pixel (rolling shutter operation).
[6] LED flicker
Imaging phenomenon resulting in incomplete image capture, caused by a LED’s (traffic, headlights, signs, etc.) frequency and a camera’s imaging speed.
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Captured images of rotating propeller by different shutter mode
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Multiple exposure images by Variable exposure time and sensitivity
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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The Fujifilm X-E2S is an update to the company’s premium rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, the gold award-winning X-E2, which was introduced way back in 2013.
Probably the most significant feature is an improved Hybrid AF system (similar to that of the X-T10), which adds 77-point zone and wide/tracking modes to go along with the 49 points that were already available on the X-E2. Object tracking during autofocus is an area where Fujifilm digital cameras have traditionally lagged, so it’s encouraging to see efforts made to modernize the system: ‘wide/tracking’ was specifically introduced to track subjects around the frame in continuous AF. Fujifilm is also claiming improvements in single-point focus acquisition, with ‘best-case’ focus speeds of 0.06 sec on the X-E2S, compared with 0.08 sec on the X-E2.
Another ‘big deal’ is the addition of an electronic shutter. This allows for shutter speeds as high as 1/32000 sec as well as totally silent shooting, though rolling shutter is the main tradeoff when using a fully electronic shutter.
Three other features of note include a new top ISO of 51200, a refined grip, and a new user interface for the menu system.
What hasn’t changed is the 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS Sensor II, large and high-res electronic viewfinder, 3″ LCD display, and Wi-Fi support. The X-E2S can still capture 1080/60p video and offers the latest set of Film Simulation Modes, including Classic Chrome.
Fujifilm X-E2 owners can take heart – a firmware update will be offered in early February bringing AF system updates, performance improvements and the new graphical interface introduced in the X-E2S.
Something that caught our eye was the difference in price between the X-E2S and its predecessor. Back in 2013 the X-E2 launched at a price of $ 999 body only, where the X-E2S will be priced at just $ 699 (and $ 999 when paired with the 18-55mm F2.8-4 lens). The X-E2S doesn’t have the most cutting-edge technology, but at that price it seems like a pretty good deal.
Is the X-E2S a sensible upgrade to its predecessor? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
X-Pro2, X-E2S, X70 and XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR join the X-Series; all-weather FinePix XP90 gets the shot from sand to slopes
Valhalla, N.Y., January 14, 2016 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a leader in digital imaging, today announced new additions to the award-winning X-Series line of premium fixed and mirrorless cameras, and ultra-high quality lenses, including: the FUJIFILM X-Pro2, FUJIFILM X-E2S, FUJIFILM X70 and FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Fujifilm also introduced the new rugged and waterproof FinePix XP90, perfect for capturing amazing images everywhere, from underwater to mountain tops.
The new FUJIFILM X-E2S, a premium rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, has a durable and compact body and features a Real-Time Viewfinder with a large magnification of 0.62X and an electronic viewfinder with the world’s short display lag time of just 0.005 seconds. The X-E2S also gives users an enhanced autofocus system, an improved grip, an electronic shutter, and a new, easy-to-use graphical user interface design allowing faster access to essential settings.
New firmware for the original FUJIFILM X-E2
Fujifilm will release a new firmware update for the original FUJIFILM X-E2 that will give it the same software improvements as the new FUJIFILM X-E2S. The firmware will include the updated autofocus system, improved performance and the new graphical user interface, along with several functional enhancements. For a complete list of new features, visit new firmware update. The new firmware will be available in early February 2016.
FUJIFILM X-E2S key features:
The FUJIFILM X-E2S (body only) will be available in February 2016 for USD $ 699.95 and CAD $ 899.99. The FUJIFILM X-E2S kit (with FUJINON LENS XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS) will be available for USD $ 999.95 and CAD $ 1,249.99.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $ 699/£549.00 (body only), $ 999/£749.00 (w/18-55 F2.8-4 lens) |
| Body type | |
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 4896 x 3264 |
| Other resolutions | 3:2 (3456 x 2304, 2496 x 1664), 16:9 (4896 x 2760, 2304 x 2304), 1:1 (3264 x 3264, 2304 x 2304, 1664 x 1664) |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 17 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.6 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | EXR Processor II |
| Color space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
| Color filter array | X-Trans |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 200-6400 (expandable to 100-51200) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 100 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 51200 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, Normal |
| File format |
|
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus |
|
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 77 |
| Lens mount | Fujifilm X |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/32000 sec |
| Exposure modes |
|
| Built-in flash | Yes (Pop-up) |
| Flash range | 7.00 m (@ ISO 200) |
| External flash | Yes (via hot-shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear-curtain, Commander |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/180 sec |
| Drive modes |
|
| Continuous drive | 7.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) |
| Metering modes |
|
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (mini-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n |
| Remote control | Yes (Wired or via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion NP-W126 rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 350 g (0.77 lb / 12.35 oz) |
| Dimensions | 129 x 75 x 37 mm (5.08 x 2.95 x 1.46″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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The DxO ONE smartphone companion camera is to benefit from a host of improvements and new features when the company releases new firmware early in December. General handling will be improved with what DxO vaguely describes as ‘instant access to advanced capture parameters and photo information with a simple swipe’ and ‘more control over the entire photo and video capture process’. The DxO ONE will also be compatible with the Apple Watch via a new app designed especially for it, and the DxO ONE will go on sale in Apple Stores.
New features in firmware version 1.2 include the broadening of the shutter speed range to encompass 30-1/20,000sec, and continuous shooting – though the company doesn’t say at what rate. The video mode will allow manual control of aperture, ISO, white balance and ‘more’.
DxO says that the changes have been instigated by user feedback from photographers, and that the new firmware will make the device ‘even more powerful’. For more information visit the DxO website.
Press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Version 1.2 available as a free download for existing DxO ONE users early December
PARIS and SAN FRANCISCO—November 24th, 2015—DxO announced today the availability of the first major software update for the award-winning DxO ONE Professional Quality Connected Camera. The DxO ONE app version 1.2 will be available early December via the iTunes App Store, and will introduce new camera controls based on direct feedback from DxO’s rapidly expanding community of photographers. Version 1.2 makes the DxO ONE camera even more powerful, including new ways to view and interact with advanced photo info, and provides more control over the entire photo and video capture process including via a companion Apple Watch app. The DxO ONE connected camera is now also available in select Apple retail stores nationwide, as well as on Apple’s online store.
“Using the camera has become second nature to me—it’s crazy good. I never imagined standing in a pit lane at a major motorsports event and immediately being able to provide a PR rep images of his team’s pit stop literally seconds after the car pulled away,” said John Thawley, whose images have been featured in print for companies such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Lexus, and Maserati. “I’ve been equally impressed with the DxO team and their responsiveness to feedback and suggestions. It’s nice working with a company that is listening, and I can’t wait to see what the DxO ONE team does next.”
The way you interact with the DxO ONE is even better, thanks to new features that let users get instant access to advanced capture parameters and photo information with a simple swipe. Continuous shooting offers users the ability to shoot several photos in a row by simply depressing the shutter button. The manual focus mode now provides one tap access to hyper-focal distance, and the ability to reposition the magnification loupe for critical focusing. At the request of pro photographers, the shutter speed range has been expanded for capturing even faster motion (1/20000) and longer low-light exposures (30s). Users can now capture high quality video with full manual control of aperture, ISO, white balance and more. DxO ONE selfies are now available in every capture setting and mode, including the ability to record high quality video selfies, ready to share with the world. There’s even a new companion app that lets users remotely trigger a DxO ONE camera with their Apple Watch.
The image scientists, engineers, and designers at DxO are committed to refining the connected camera experience. This relentless pursuit of perfection has been aided by the generous outpouring of support and direction provided by DxO ONE photographers, many of whom, like John Thawley, are established and respected members of the professional community. Thanks to this tight feedback loop, DxO ONE owners can expect to receive a regular cadence of exciting new features in the months and years to come.
The DxO ONE Professional Quality Connected Camera is available for purchase at dxo.com and photo retailers for a price of £449 (including VAT). Purchase price includes DxO FilmPack Elite, and for a limited time, DxO OpticsPro Elite (a £258 value).
The DxO ONE iOS app update, and companion Apple Watch app will both be available as free downloads via the iTunes App Store early December. New firmware, also available at the same time, can be easily downloaded via the app and installed on the DxO ONE.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
German camera manufacturer Leica has added another rangefinder body to its M system that has a pared-down feature set, an extra quiet shutter unit and a lower price than the M Typ 240. The new Leica M Typ 262 is very much the same as the other M bodies, but does not offer video or live view shooting, even though it uses a CMOS sensor. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Phase One has today introduced a firmware update for its new XF system, announced in June. The update brings new tools to those using the XF with its Waist Level Finder, as well as a seismograph vibration delay mode. Additionally, three new leaf shutter Schneider Kreuznach lenses are announced. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon has issued a service advisory regarding the D750, specifically targeting units made in October and November 2014. An issue with the shutter in these units could result in shading in a portion of images taken with the camera. Nikon will examine and replace the shutter on affected models free of charge to correct the problem. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
One of the most crucial factors of making any photograph is the selection of the shutter speed. It is not always an easy task to decide what shutter speed you should select, to correspond to the aperture or ISO setting you have chosen. It can be a little overwhelming, and sometimes discouraging, to learn how to select the proper shutter speed to produce whatever your desired photo may be. You might still be shooting in full auto just because you can’t seem to have any luck with manually selecting your exposures. Luckily, once you understand the basic concept of shutter speed in relation to photography, this aspect will become much easier and almost intuitive.
Let’s take a look at what shutter speed really is, and how to better understand it, so you can begin to have more control over your photography.
First things first, what exactly do photographers mean when they say “shutter speed”? This refers to the amount of time that the shutter of the camera is open. Shutter speed can be easily compared to blinking. Close your eyes, then open them for about one second. Now close them again. You have just performed a one second exposure with your eyes. Though very simplified, the exact same thing happens inside your camera when you press the shutter release button. The shutter opens, and remains open, for whatever duration you have set your camera to expose. This lets in light through the lens which interacts with whatever receptor you’re using (film or digital sensor), in order to produce a photograph. In reality, it might help you to refer to shutter speed as shutter time.
As I have said, shutter speed is one of the biggest assets you can control in order to produce the type of photograph you want. Now, the shutter is not to be confused with aperture. Aperture has nothing to do with the amount of time that light is allowed to enter your camera. Aperture simply refers to the size of the opening through which the light passes when the shutter opens. The larger the opening is, the more light that enters your camera. The shutter speed, on the other hand, controls how long light is allowed to linger in order to make the photograph. Got it? Good.
So since shutter speed is related to time, it naturally means that it will directly affect how motion is recorded by your camera. This is where an infinite amount of creativity can be applied to your photographs. You may have heard a photographer say, “I used a really fast shutter speed to freeze the motion.” What they means here is that he or she used a shutter speed that was much faster than whatever motion was happening in the scene. The faster the motion, the faster the shutter speed will need to be, in order to arrest the movement. This is the very reason beginner photographers can become frustrated when photographing sports, children, or pets. They simply don’t understand that the shutter speed must be set in relation to the subjects motion to produce a desired outcome.
Take a look at this quarter that I froze mid-roll by using a fast shutter speed of 1/1250th of a second.
The flipside of the shutter speed coin comes into play when you want to impart a sense of motion, or to intentionally use blur within your composition. There is no better illustration of this than when working with moving water and waterfalls. Photographers will often use a long shutter time in relation to the speed of the water in order to produce that smooth, almost fog-like appearance that many of us love (or hate) to see. This again, comes down to relativity. A longer shutter time will be needed to blur a slow moving subject. A faster moving subject will not require as long of a shutter time in order to produce the same effect.
Here’s that same quarter shot at 1/50th of a second.
As with virtually everything else that has to do with photographic technique, there are not absolutes when it comes to how you choose to manipulate your shutter speed. It always comes down to whatever it is you are trying to express through your photograph. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other things that you should know which are related to shutter speed. Two of the most important things you need to know is how aperture and ISO interact with shutter speed.
Aperture is the best friend, and worst enemy of your shutter. As you have already learned, aperture controls the size of the opening in your lens and is measured in “stops”. Stops are indicated by the usage of f-numbers. Understanding how aperture is measured is the most difficult aspect of the subject. It is actually somewhat counter intuitive and that is why it becomes so confusing. Basically, the larger the f-number, the SMALLER the physical opening becomes. It might help to think of aperture as a window in your home. The larger the window the more light can come through. When shooting at larger apertures (smaller f-numbers like f/2.8, etc.) you have a lot of light coming into your camera so your shutter time doesn’t have to be as long in order to reach the desired exposure. The opposite is also true. When you are shooting at smaller apertures (bigger f-number like f/22) a longer shutter time will be required to produce the same exposure that was achieved at the larger aperture.
Here you can clearly see why less light can come through a smaller aperture.
Let’s say a certain shutter time at a certain aperture gives you a properly exposed image. You then switch to a higher f-number. If you don’t increase your shutter time, this image will be underexposed compared to the previous one because you have essentially made the window into your camera smaller. The take-away point here is that a change in aperture must also be accompanied by a change in shutter speed if you wish for the overall exposure to remain the same.
It should also be noted that aperture plays a key role in the perceived depth of field of a photograph…but that’s another article.
ISO is a measurement of light sensitivity. It is fairly straight forward to understand. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the camera sensor, or film, is to the light coming in through the lens. Although most modern cameras are capable of selecting ISO in smaller increments, when first learning about how ISO relates to shutter time it might be easier to use increments in powers of two; meaning ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, etc. Each time the ISO number doubles, the sensitivity to light also doubles. So ISO 200 is twice as sensitive as ISO 100.
We can then easily relate ISO to shutter speed using a one second exposure to simplify the math. Let’s say we find that a proper exposure of a scene requires ISO 100 and a one second exposure time. If we increase the ISO to 200 then we have doubled the sensitivity so we can now get the same exposure using half a second instead of one second. If we further increase the ISO to 400 then we can get the same results from a ¼ second exposure. As you have probably already deduced, increasing your ISO is an easy way to allow for an increase in shutter speed to compensate for subject movement, or for low light.
Take a look at these three images. I was able to get virtually identical results each time even though I decreased the exposure from 1 second to ¼ of a second just by increasing my ISO.
Be aware though, increasing your ISO will add grain (noise) to your final image to some extent depending on your camera and equipment. Still, it is almost always more acceptable to live with a little increased grain in an image, than to underexpose or miss the shot completely.
Understanding what shutter speed means to your images doesn’t have to be a complicated issue at all. Shutter speed, or more accurately shutter time, is simply a measure of how long you choose for light to enter your camera to make an image. Learning how shutter time relates to other aspects of photography is slightly more complex. That doesn’t mean that it should discourage you from experimenting and seeing first hand how ISO, aperture, and shutter time come together to produce different types of images.
Have more questions about shutter speed? Post them in the comments below.
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The post Demystifying Shutter Speed by Adam Welch appeared first on Digital Photography School.
Sony has released a beta version of its Touchless Shutter app, immediately available for download through the PlayMemories app store. The app makes use of the eyepiece sensor as a shutter release mechanism and brings all the advantages of a traditional cable release without needing any extra camera gear. All that is needed is a hand wave near the eyepiece and the shutter will release. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon has announced a firmware update for its new AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, to fix an issue where at certain shutter speeds on D800-series cameras, images can exhibit ‘noticeable blur’. According to Nikon, the problem can occur at around 1/125sec with the lens’s VR function enabled in either ‘Normal’ or ‘Sport’ modes. Users of affected units are encouraged to return their lenses to Nikon where the update will be applied free of charge. Click through for more details
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)