One of the most specific criticisms of the new R8 I see is the lack of a mechanical shutter like the one on the R6II. So the R8 relies on an electronic shutter. When and why might this matter? Does it affect image quality? I have seen the criticism suggested, but I am still vague on how this becomes a major disadvantage for most photographers.
Having an electronic front curtain and mechanical rear curtain means the bokeh can become asymmetrical as the mechanical curtain is not in the sensor plane and produces a softer transition.
Also with tilt/shift lenses when movements are used wide open, EFCS can cause a gradient ie. some parts of the frame are lighter than others.
This isn't a big deal for most but it could affect a few people on occasion.
You can choose fully electronic shutter which will then resolve the above issues but with increased rolling shutter distortion.
It could be a major disadvantage to many action photographers due to rolling-shutter effect. One would have to see how the R8 distorts wing beats, baseball bats, golf clubs, etc.
Since I've had the R5 I've only used EFCS and electronic shutter. For those investing in an entry level full frame SLR, it's a very good compromise IMO.
downhillonwater wrote:
Since I've had the R5 I've only used EFCS and electronic shutter. For those investing in an entry level full frame SLR, it's a very good compromise IMO.
Imagemaster wrote:
I would not call a $3500 camera 'entry level'.
He is referring to the R8 which costs $1499.
The R8 does have EFCS (first curtain electronic, second mechanical) and full ES which you can
choose from but EFCS is limited to 6 fps on this camera (not 12 fps as on some other models).
The Nikon Z9 only has ES but with a faster readout so rolling shutter is comparable with mechanical shutters.
ilkka_nissila wrote:
You can choose fully electronic shutter which will then resolve the above issues but with increased rolling shutter distortion.
I watched a lot of reviews when the R6/2 and R8 was launched. I was surprised how little rolling shutter was present. Even when shooting tennis players serving.
Imagemaster wrote:
It could be a major disadvantage to many action photographers due to rolling-shutter effect. One would have to see how the R8 distorts wing beats, baseball bats, golf clubs, etc.
Google "rolling shutter"
This is not a problem. The camera has a mechanical shutter, it’s just a “close only” shutter. The opening of the shutter is electronic and close is mechanical, so the artifacts you’re describing won’t occur unless you choose the full electronic shutter mode.
MarshallG wrote:
This is not a problem. The camera has a mechanical shutter, it’s just a “close only” shutter. The opening of the shutter is electronic and close is mechanical, so the artifacts you’re describing won’t occur unless you choose the full electronic shutter mode.
Well if it was not a problem for many sports and wildlife photographers, why do you think so many went from Canon and Nikon to Sony simply because the Sony A-series was the only camera with no rolling-shutter effect in electronic shutter mode?
And perhaps many photographers prefer shooting in electronic shutter mode because they end up with far less wear on the mechanical shutter, and they prefer to shoot in many situation where 'silent-shutter' mode is truly silent.
What is the advantage to Canon from removing the fully mechanical shutter? Simpler/cheaper mechanism? Longer shutter life? Product differentiation? All of the above?
FWIW, I almost always use EFCS shutter on my R6 so I probably wouldn't care about lack of a fully mechanical shutter. I tried to produce bad bokeh with the EFCS but couldn't do it. I guess I don't have the right lenses.
Imagemaster wrote:
Well if it was not a problem for many sports and wildlife photographers, why do you think so many went from Canon and Nikon to Sony simply because the Sony A-series was the only camera with no rolling-shutter effect in electronic shutter mode?
And perhaps many photographers prefer shooting in electronic shutter mode because they end up with far less wear on the mechanical shutter, and they prefer to shoot in many situation where 'silent-shutter' mode is truly silent.
I don't think you understand. True, the R8 does offer a fully electronic shutter mode, which likely has the rolling shutter issues and banding under artificial lighting issues you mentioned. But it also has an Electronic First Curtain Shutter mode. That is what a poster asked about, and you replied that the EFCS mode would have rolling shutter... but rolling shutter is not a problem in EFCS mode, except very mild issues under rare conditions.
With EFCS, the sensor begins to receive light virtually all at once (that’s the electronic first curtain part), and then the shutter closes over the sensor, and the sensor is read out. So you don't have the readout issues of a fully electronic shutter. What the camera does not have is a fully mechanical shutter mode, but that doesn’t matter much. Most R5 and R6 owners mostly use the EFCS mode.
Zenon Char wrote:
It is great due to the stacked sensor. Where will the R8 fall into this area for readout speeds?
Where does this chart with readout speeds come from? Regarding R3 readout speed something is not right there. If R3 can shoot with speed of 195 pictured per second (photos, not video) then the readout time must be shorter than 5.13 msec (1/195 = 0.00513) because the exposure time must also be squezed within these 5.13 msec. Did provider of this chart actually measure R3 readout speed for photos or 5,5 msec was just assumption based on specified flash sync speed which is 1/180 sec or 5,5 msec.
