Mechanical Vs Electronic Shutter. Which is BETTER for wildlife photography?

The Mechanical vs Electronic Shutter debate rages on and here is Pangolin Photo Host, Janine Krayer, explaining how each works and what are the PROS AND CONS OF EACH mechanism in terms of wildlife photography.
Timestamps
0:47 How do mechanical and electric shutters work
4:50 What are the pros and cons of mechanical vs electronic shutter
9:47 Are mechanical shutters better for photographing fast moving subjects
12:39 What to look out for when shooting in artificial light
13:58 What is a global shutter and how does it work
15:15 Will new technology offer us more speed
16:02 Do you need an electronic front curtain shutter
Welcome to our channel which is dedicated to the wonderful world of wildlife photography. We endeavour to load one new video every week featuring beginner to advanced photo skills, editing tutorials, hacks and gear reviews. We are based in Northern Botswana in The Chobe National Park and we invite you to travel here, either virtually or physically, and we will do our very best to make you a better wildlife and nature photographer. Enjoy the channel.
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#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #photographytips

[@PangolinWildlife]

Do you shoot with mechanical or electronic or even maybe both? Please let us know in the comments. Will be interesting to see the split.

[@shivashishbajpai9884]

Mechanical

[@patrickcloutier3305]

I have a Nikon D500, so mechanical...

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

@@patrickcloutier3305 always a trusted tool

[@andrear9500]

Mechanical. Modern shutters are also quieter than ever. My feet over dry leaves make more noise than the shutter!

[@johnharvey1786]

I do understand why you make the negative points you do about electronic shutters but these have now been largely overcome when using the Sony a9i and a9ii. There is no noticeable rolling shutter due to the very fast readout. The other manufacturers are catching up very quickly which is good. I have the a9i and I use the electronic shutter most of the time for wildlife including birds in flight. Just watch Mark Smiths KZbin channel to see what is now possible with mirror less cameras. The advantages you missed on cameras like the Sony a9 series and the new Sony a1 is “no blackout” when shooting bursts plus the much wider spread of focus points than DSLRs. I appreciate that older mirror less cameras do not have these advantages. Having used DSLRs in the past I would now never go back as these modern mirror less cameras are just so good.

[@howardrankin7119]

Very illuminating explanation, I hadn’t seen anyone explain these issues so clearly and in such practical terms

[@victormeldroo]

what a perfect explanation in detail without too much maths I am old school, sticking with mechanical shutter DSLR has always served me well.

[@andrear9500]

Great explanation and communicating skills. I’ve watched many tutorials on the subject through the years and yours is among the best!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Andrea, thank you so much. That is a huge compliment

[@fernandocardenas2264]

Among the best? I'd say it is THE best one, at least for me. I'm sticking to Mechanical for wildlife. Still have questions for Landscape and Portrait etc. Cheers! 😊

[@mralsal]

At last someone has explained to me in a simple, clear and precise way the difference shutters. Thank you.

[@EdwardKilner]

A complete description well presented. Thank you.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thank you so much Edward, I really appreciate it

[@andresalgadomarques]

Great video, as always. Perfect explanation and such a soothing voice! :)

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Andre, thank you so much. I have never been complimented on a soothing voice... 😂 I will tell my partner that

[@robigerovasilisphotography]

Janine...you are literally the first reviewer/tutorial KZbinr I've watched who has laid out the details. given facts and specs and has ended with a very strong suggestion based on all the information at hand!! Very very well done!! :)

[@RonClifford]

Keep producing such amazing content! Great to see you even if it has to be through KZbin.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thank you so much Ron... we are trying out best. Also loving your channel!

[@hectormarchesi5379]

Very clear explanation and excellent video. Thank you

[@Xingqiwu387]

Brilliant presentation! This is the best clarification I've seen of this arcane topic. THANK YOU!!

[@dayalanpadayachy]

Hi Janine, Thanks for a very good explanation with just enough technical information to make this topic so easy to understand. Well done!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Dayalan, thanks so much for watching

[@craigroethler1495]

Great explanation! Thanks for the information so clearly presented 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🖖🏼

[@kmacfly59]

Another very informative video and a great explanation, thanks very much!!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much Keith, I am glad it clarified a few things...

[@patrickcloutier3305]

Thanks very much Janine! Again, a very useful video!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks for tuning back in Patrick, fortunately mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option so that we have the choice in all our gear!

[@ekoch9776]

Hello Janine, very good explanation. Thanks a lot. With my new EOS R5 I use the electronic shutter for "normal" wildlife with no noise and 20 frames/s without any problems. Only for birds in flight I use the mechanical one, to be on the safe side. Best regards Eckhard

[@thomastuorto9929]

Great dive into the quirks of the electronic shutter in which I have yet to try using . Always look forward to the vids from Pangolin.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks Ted, it is a completely new world which is constantly improving which makes it so exciting!

[@ro3843]

This was extrtemely helpful as I picking out a new camera system. Thank you!

[@Photogal]

Gosh you are such a peach!! I love your way in explaining and your videos. Thank you!

[@shivashishbajpai9884]

Thanks for the elaborative explanation Janine. Much needed tutorial. It actually helped a lot. 👍

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks Shivashish... I am glad it helped you out!!!

[@FredVaughn55]

Thank you for a well communicated tutorial on this issue. Love the channel. 👍👍

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much Fred, we really appreciate it!

[@reflexosolucoesdeimagem9273]

Best explanation I’ve found so far. Congrats!

[@andyvan5692]

good description of the electronic shutter, PS: this IS why any time we open the space, to change a lens, or put the body cap back on, we MUST do this FAST & in a dust free place, and do things like facing the camera away from wind, facing downwards to stop dust falling on/in the sensor, as we DON'T have a shutter/ mirror system as a final fail-safe to prevent this!! and also why makers provide a special cleaning cloth/stick & fluids to clean the sensor, as this has a greater risk of accumulating dust, and any dust CAN'T be "blown" off with a blower, as this wrecks the sensor!!

[@scrptwic]

Thank you , thank you, you just confirmed why I use DSLR cameras over a mirrorless cameras. I prefer a mechanical shutter and a camera with a viewfinder.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much for watching my video - I also do prefer the mirrored viewfinder even though the new viewfinders and especially focusing technology in the newest Canons and Sonys are outstanding. So mirrorless is coming if we want it or not - but dont fret it as most mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option! Therefore, this video will not necessarily answer your question DSLR vs. mirrorless!

[@tomfranz25]

Hello Janine! Here is François from France. Your video is really great, great, first-class. So clear, fine explanations, Those are from one of the best teachers i have never heard. So fine and intelligent nuances pfff. I am not any more in this age, but i must admit that I am completely under your charm. A very calm voice, patient , wonderful conclusion!! Perfection. I am a German teacher .if I had to give a note to evaluate your teacher capacitys, i would give 20/20. Charisma ,clarity, distinction....wow. by the way, i still have kept my nikon D5 Dslr, and i am not ready to switch. To see a bif in real life, means through an ovf , is the best thing that can happen after looking all day on computer screens, handy screens, tablets screens .thanks again for your great video

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Francois, thank you so much for your wonderful review. That was a real booster! I totally agree... do not swap your D5 too soon... Especially when it comes to real outdoor adventures there is nothing like a good DSLR camera. The mechanical cameras just don't pack up so easily when they are being challenged by the weather, drops, or other things. Nevertheless, it is astounding how much the electronic viewfinder has improved and in all honesty, I cannot wait to test the new focusing systems of Canon's mirrorless cameras. They must be a dream when it comes to wildlife.... cannot wait to see what the rumoured R1 might have to offer.

[@richardfink7666]

er hat Recht, mit Allem was er schreibt.

[@tomfranz25]

@@richardfink7666 vielen Dank für Ihre nette Antwort. Ich fand wirklich, dass der Vortrag, den Sie natürlich außerordentlich vorbereitet hatte, herrlich war sowohl förmlich als auch inhaltlich. Mit Ihrer Art und Ihrer Erscheinung höchst charmant!!? Klar wird einesTages der EVF den OVF ersetzen, aber Mann, wir sind schon so sehr auf unseren Bildschirmen überall. Pffff? Selbst wenn der Bildschirm 8k,16k,oder 100k ist, ist er eben nicht die Natur, und das wird mir verdammt fehlen!!!!

[@tomfranz25]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722. Dear janine. I never thought before, that it was possible to have a speech, lesson on internet, with such a high quality. It is obvious with such a quality, a voice of truth, intelligence,.... And beauty 🥰, that every one will listen to it. I know you are right, EVF will replace ovf, but for a while I am still glad to see the nature through an ovf and not an EVF, even if it is 8k,16K,. Look for instance, if I would take a great picture of you a lovely portrait I would of course prefer to see you in reality than on a screen. It would be so much better 🤣😂. Thanks again for your wonderful video, we know now everything about it.

[@tomfranz25]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Hi Janine! I hope I didn't hurt you with my indelicate joke. If I did, I sincerely apologize for it. I know that in fact, you're very interested by the EVF. So I have a question : don't you think that we will lose something in the sport photography, or wilflife photography, if we can't see anymore the real life, I mean the nature, through an OVF. The Dslrs are the only thing which do not need a SCREEN. Everywhere, we look on-screens. The cameras were the only things until today, where we didn't need screens. Don't you think we will lose something by looking again on a screen by taking a photograph, even if the screen is a very high quality???? It would be very nice if you would give me an answer, because an answer from a person like you has of course a great importance. With kind regards. François.

[@brunobrys4960]

Excellent explanation! Very to the point and it covers everything one should know

[@fernandocardenas2264]

AWESOME!!!! Thank you so much for this concise, yet eloquent explanation. The best one I've seen, hands down. I'm new to mirrorless cameras and was all confused until...I watched your video!!!! The curtain of confusion has opened LOL Thank you and all the best to you! 🙏🙏🙏👌

[@Picplosions]

Thank you for excellent explanation!

[@garydavies3848]

As has already been said, an excellent and detailed explanation of the issues. Thank you.

[@MichaelAllen-nc4xr]

Excellent, answered my questions regarding wildlife EFCS.

[@varunmylavarapu6281]

I'm an amateur aviation photographer, and your videos are extremely helpful! I always learn new things that help me improve, and I'm so grateful.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Varun, thank you so much for following our channel. I am glad it is helping you out!

[@fengshuischoolindonesia6161]

beautiful. Thank you.

[@mrrcassidy]

Best explanation of pros/cons of various shutter modes I've ever seen.

[@gavinedmondstone316]

I have a fair bit of experience with using electronic shutter on m43 cameras. My old old camera could sometimes exhibit rolling shutter artifacts when shooting birds so I switched back to mechanical shutter. With my newer EM-1 mkii and EM-1 mkiii bodies it's a non-issue in most situations and I almost always use electronic shutter. Hummingbirds in flight are my main exception but electronic shutter is no disaster even for flying hummers. Mechanical shutter is better for posed photos of people so they know when photos are being taken. The main advantage of electronic shutter is achieving nearly double the frame rate which can be critical for capturing the decisive moment. Another advantage of silent shooting is that your camera is not the soundtrack of tour for everybody else in your group when on a tour.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Gavin, that is very true. A lot of people are disturbed by the sound of the high frame rates. However, I find that 14 frames a second on a mechanical shutter is already very good.... unless you shoot hummingbirds like you said it wouldn't be an issue

[@dougsturgess2651]

If you were shooting landscapes on a tripod, where nothing is really moving, I'm assuming full electronic shutter would be optimal to further reduce vibration?

[@CCravenMD]

Sehr sachlich, sehr anschaulich, sehr kompetent erklärt. Top, besser geht’s nicht. Thank you very much for those great tutorials. I’m still learning very much from them and I also really enjoy every single clip.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Chris, vielen lieben Dank. Ich freu mich dass die Tutorials helfen!

[@SkylarkFields]

Very interesting and I understand much more now. Thanks!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi, you are so welcome...I am glad if it is helping....

[@altevenema3834]

Thanks for the very good explanation for mirrorles and slr camera's . You've convinced me, i stay for my Canon eos 5D lv . Thanks again

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Alte Venema, just be aware that good mirrorless cameras also have the option for both an mechanical shutter as well as an EFCS.... so just because you go mirrorless doesn't mean you have to make use of the electronic shutter all the time

[@AlpeshPatel-jh5ti]

Another amazingly informative video Janine

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much

[@martinhommel9967]

Thank you for the excellent presentation of this complex subject. I believe we have arrived at the point where it's only a matter of time before electronic shutters become the norm. The Nikon Z9 seems to have few issues with rolling shutter and if history is anything to go by technology will improve and trickle down. I am looking forward to that.

[@evasz814]

Thank you! Thank you! Great tutorial. I'm so glad that I kept my my favourite D500 camera beside the Z6. I've been trying really hard to get the same result as I was able to do with D500 with no luck so far. Both are great cameras but they serve different purposes.

[@ashj1979]

Really love your videos. You are great teachers at Pangolin. Would love to visit!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hello Anders, thanks so much! We would love to welcome you here in the Chobe some day. It is a magical place for wildlife photography!

[@ashj1979]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 thank you, Janine

[@richardruda267]

Good explanation about a complex subject Janine. Thanks

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks a lot Richard!

[@vsmcl3979]

Thanks for your very clear and detailed explanations. Well done!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so muck Vicki, how are you doing?

[@vsmcl3979]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Hey Janine! Thanks for asking! Doing well! I'm out shooting extensively but not posting too much on FB these days. Will catch up when I come out of the field - right now I'm going around the clock! Keeping fingers crossed/holding thumbs to be in Africa in 2021 - miss the bush so much and my friends!

[@tremaincheerful4189]

Thank you so much for your incredible clarity and grasp of this complex subject, perfectly organized and comprehensibly explained. You are a much appreciated treasure. If I understand correctly, I want to try my electronic shutter for tripod assisted landscape shots (with slow shutter speeds, small apertures, and low ISOs) eliminating mechanical movement and the vibrations it can cause. I have always used the mechanical shutter for wildlife such as birds in flight, and at higher shutter speeds, with good results. Now I understand better why!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Mark, yes the electronical shutter is great for stills, portraits, and even regular movements.... I have no doubt that it will soon be sufficient for wildlife too. It will be exciting to follow the technological advancments!

[@nitinbhide5964]

Very Nice & Informative 👍🌹👌

[@mikebennett4922]

perfect video

[@cii1072]

Thanks for educating me. I didn't know much about the mechanisms of either.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi, you are so welcome... I hope it helps

[@PangolinWildlife]

Glad to help

[@danbernskoetter]

The best explanation of these shutter options that I have ever seen.

[@sergioedgarsantos]

Very nice tutorial. Thanks four sharing knowlege

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much - fortunately, most mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option and therefore we can choose whatever works best at the given moment in time... (and a lot of DSLR cameras have an optional electronic shutter on live view)

[@NikCan66]

Another oracle of knowledge for people who maybe new to photography or people switching from.film to digital

[@scottthompson5263]

Great video to explain the pros and cons of the various shutters. Easy to understand.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garzapedroa]

Gracias por tu video Janine, muy bien explicado. Saludos desde Monterrey, Mexico

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Gracias Pedro, I am glad they are helping!

[@tassiad.9137]

I have learnt in 18 minutes more than 3 years in photography school . Not a wild photographer but I subscribed. Thank you!

[@PangolinWildlife]

Hi Tassia, so glad it helped you. Thanks for subscribing

[@DennisMMokapisi]

Awesome information, something to dive into and do more research about.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks Dennis, it never stops - There is always more....

[@raylander6329]

Great explanation, thank you, Janine

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

You are so welcome Rat, I am happy if it helps!!!

[@raminhashemi1946]

Nicely explained! hanks

[@peterbrackenbury]

Many thanks Janine, you have just solved an issue for me. I have just bought a Canon R6 and wasn’t sure which would be better for wildlife photography - the mechanical or electronic shutter. Mechanical it is then!

[@DjCjFoto]

Excellent video!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thank you so much

[@josdenis3684]

What a super explanation. Thank you so much!

[@PangolinWildlife]

🙂🙃🙂

[@lightsaver3352]

So appreciate your clear guidance on this subject ❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 It’s inevitably a trade off with wildlife photography with regard to so many unforeseen factors so to compromise a potential shot even more by choosing the wrong shutter setting has been something that has been a constant source of frustration for me. Particularly BIF. Owls especially. They’re so sensitive to sound. But guess I’ll stick with mechanical after watching your talk. Makes sense. Thank you ☺️👍🏻

[@amhtxc2960]

reeeeally good explanation!. And so relevant these days. Seems that we are getting almost there with the global shutters...

[@SemPixels]

Thank you for making this video

[@PangolinWildlife]

No problem 😊

[@ajss3756]

Thank you. This actually helped a lot in making my decision.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thank you Amit, but be aware - most mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option! Therefore, this video will not necessarily answer your question DSLR vs. mirrorless!

[@brianludwig180]

I thought I knew everything about cameras but this was a real eye opener. Well done Janine for such a detailed explanation - for now I'll stick with my Canon 6D Mk2 and its mechanical shutter. THANK YOU !

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Brian, it is a brilliant piece of equipment. Just be aware that mirrorless cameras also have the option to utilize mechanical shutter as well as EFCS

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

Thanks for a nice review of an important topic. I also enjoyed your graphic illustrations e.g. the 960 fps shutter movements and drone blade demonstration of rolling shutter. On my relatively light weight Canon R7, the shutter shock with mechanical shutter can be quite dramatic, with noticeable image softening. I therefore rely on either electronic front curtain or electronic shutter. I use the ES to avoid shutter noise or to take advantage of faster frame rates (30 fps) and shutter speeds (1/16,000s), though rolling shutter can be significant due to slow read out. Moreover, Canon has recently acknowledged issues with focus acquisition on the R7 at faster frame rates due to its slower read out speed, which makes it difficult for the AF to keep up. Since I am generally happy with 7-15 fps, I don't feel limited by the EFCS, though I still prefer the quieter sound of the ES. And for birds, I also like the "pre-capture" feature that uses the ES.

[@tomalfredpuno84]

Already watched many videos about this topic. I couldn't agree anymore, this is the best explaination which I really understand.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Cheers Tom.

[@deep-fat]

Just a brilliant example of how to maker complex subject and make it simple. Also evidence based reasoning is so rare on KZbin. So thankyou and I get the mechanical thing and Id' use mechanical for wildlife and electronic for landscape & slow moving things in normal conditions to save on that shutter count

[@himsxoxo]

Thanku for the valuable explanation

[@PangolinWildlife]

It's my pleasure

[@ynnot65]

Great video, again😊👍

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much - I really appreciate!

[@i18nGuy]

Excellent content!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much - fortunately, most mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option and therefore we can choose whatever works best at the given moment in time... (and a lot of DSLR cameras have an optional electronic shutter on live view)

[@ernestosaldarriaga3135]

Excelente explicación, muchas gracias.

[@PangolinWildlife]

De nada. (is that right?)

[@richardtadman]

Excellent explanation Janine. Mechanical shutters still for me for all the reasons you outlined. I've no doubt in time technology will perfect the mirrorless shutter, but still early days.

[@bjarnehansen3812]

Great explanation of a complicated topic. I use all 3 modes for different purposes on my new R5. We have some row deer around here and they are very sensitive to noice while they don't see very well. I rarely got many shots with my 1DX mk ii before they ran away due to noice. Not a problem with the electronic shutter on the R5. I get too many shots though at 20 fps and I miss the feed back from the shutter sound. You can't have it all. It is very dark there at this time of the year so I often use slow shutter speed meaning first curtain eletronic shutter is nice. And mechanical shutter for the rest. My wife and I hope we can visit you when this crazy world gets back to near normal.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Bjarne, thanks so much... it seems like you are implementing the subject perfectly for each situation, grasping when shutter shock, sound or rolling shutter could be an issue. The great thing is that we have the option to choose in the mirrorless cameras... I don't think everyone understands that mirrorless does not automatically equal electronic shutter only.

[@sukhvirb7684]

This is very good movie which I was looking for...thx a lot

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Sukhvir, thanks for watching our videos - I am glad it helped you out.

[@ralphsaad8637]

Conclusion for me: Will keep using the mechanical shutteras well for the same reasons explained in the video. On new bodies like the R6, R5, R3, R6 mkii, 12 fps is what we get which is in my opinion more than enough for 99% of situations. We buy a camera as opposed to a phone for the great image quality that it can produce and thus we should be aiming to use the best out of the available quality. 40 fps will be for me a plus that I can resort to if I absolutely need critical focusing speed.

[@rudolfabelin383]

Thank you Janine! This was very, very good. As you also say "they" are working on getting the rolling shutter less intrusive. I think also Sony's new A7 SIII is better (than A7 SII) and also the latest Olympus. What really confused me was the front curtain shutter. I had to Google and found a good article over at Petapixel with a video by Manny Ortiz, who had made this very mistake, that saved you doing the one hour explaining video 😃 I didn't understand all of it, despite having studied physics and optics ages ago................... 🙁 Thank you Janine! Greetings from Sweden!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Rudolf, thanks so much - I cannot wait to test the new R5 and R6 for the rolling shutter and would assume that the rumoured R1 will have further improvements. Eventually they will get it right... the question is when to switch!

[@woodygreen6826]

This cleared some things up for me, hanks.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Delighted to hear that.

[@fredbisschop9603]

Thank very much for this clear explanation. I tried to use the electronic shutter on my R5 when photogrphing birds in flight. But with 30fps and no sound you have no idea of how many photos you have taken and suddenly your memory card is full. Something else: I have been to Chobe once and found it beautiful. I would love to get back there one day.

[@iscoguy]

Great video. I really liked that you did an actual demonstration of the shutter using slow motion video. I am still working on why EFCS affects bokeh. Something about the shutter being so close to the sensor that it cuts off light rays from more extreme angles. I wonder why they did not swap locations of the shutter locations? Anyway, thanks again.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Brant, yes... I have been looking into it and found it became too technical for my tutorial. Some people also really don't mind the lack or reduction of the bokeh as they enjoy that extra clarity... not my cup of tea though.

[@vixlenz]

Excellent video.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Thank you very much!

[@dazsly]

Great explanation 👍 I use a D750 and I have lost good shots due to shutter shake at low speeds. Was quite dark though.

[@RogerZoul]

That was a very nice discussion of the issues involved. Thank you so much. Based on my own recent experience with using the ES on the Canon R5, I do have one use case where I think I disagree with your overall conclusion, however. For still objects/subjects like perched birds and other animals that aren’t moving, using the ES, a high shutter speed, and EYE-AF can work very well indeed.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Anthony, that makes total sense as you are shooting a still subject with the silent shutter. It does sort of go in line with what I mentioned. The only problem then is if you also want to get the shot of the bird taking off... changing settings that fast will not be possible

[@RogerZoul]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Yes, that is indeed a problem. For me, depending on what i am after will determine if i want to use ES. I don’t use it exclusively and as you said, one cannot switch back to MS quickly, even though i am not sure why that cannot be allowed. I shoot an R5 and once cannot switch with going into a menu. It only takes a moment or two, but certainly too long yo get on a bird doing sudden rapid take off. Take care and happy shooting!

[@caroldarby9444]

Hi Janine, Excellent tutorial and very well explained. I have now switched over to mirrorless and your clear explanation will definitely help with my settings. I can't wait for the opportunity to test it on the Chobe when all this madness is behind us.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Carol, thanks so much. It is so exciting to watch all the new advancements. To which camera did you switch? Also do your own tests as the newer gear is really phenomenal in improving all the issues regarding a rolling shutter...

[@caroldarby9444]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Hi Janine. I bought an Olympus OMD EM1 Mark lll awhile back. And yesterday I added the M1X to take advantage of the new bird tracking feature. I Hope later on they will add animal tracking. I am also considering the new 150-400 f4.5 which is coming early next year. A huge outlay so will see how I go with my new camera and the Panasonic 100-400 which does have some limitations. The reviews for the new super lens do look good but.!!!

[@ladyguifu]

I had issues with banding trying to take nocturnal pictures of spiders and frogs with a Sony a6600 and a flashlight in a forest. So this flaw of the electronic shutter unfortunately can be related to wildlife photography as well. Thanks for all the content, I'm learning so much from this channel! Greetings from 🇧🇷

[@PangolinWildlife]

Thanks for sharing Vem. Much appreciated.

[@oneoldgit]

Very Interesting

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thank you so much - I really appreciate!

[@Methodical2]

Thanks for explaining and demonstrating how the mirrorless shutter works. I shoot mechanical shutter on the R5. I have not tried the electronic front shutter.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi, thank you so much. Check out @Patrick Hudgell's comment on testing EFCS ... it is very interesting

[@Methodical2]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Will do. Thanks...

[@HibikiRush]

Can we get an updated video now that the Z9, R3 and a9 III are out?

[@tkermi]

Excellent and precise information! It makes me really happy to see content where it's obvious that a lot of thought have been given to do a proper "investigative work" 😃. I also think that a mechanical shutter should be used when shooting wildlife. Only camera models that can perform really good in wildlife photography with electronic shutter are Sony A9 / A9 II. Their 12-bit FF sensor readout is ~6ms, so getting closer to mechanical shutter's ~3ms. For example the second best "similar type" camera in the market is Canon R5 with ~15ms 12-bit FF readout - so quite a lot slower (1D X Mark III and R6 ~17-19ms). Sony A7r IV has ~50ms and A7 III ~35ms readouts at 12-bit. With many of the Sony cameras these times get about twice longer when used in 14-bit sensor readout mode (apparently Canon's don't slow down that much - at least the 20Mp sensors). Also the DR of the A9 series is not quite as good as other cameras because it's designed for extreme speed with different stacked sensor construction. But for wildlife photography having "only" the 12-bit readout / A9 series "limited" DR isn't often that limiting. That's because the difference doesn't really exist at all on higher than ISO 800 values (other limiting factors masking the difference). And it's most noticeably between ISO 100-200 (depending on the camera model). But of course it still would be nice to have the option to take those low ISO / highest DR photos. So because I don't own the A9 series camera I don't use the electronic shutter (except in funerals etc.). But I do use the Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter (EFCS) when shooting at 1/125s or slower. Though when shooting wildlife I don't change to that for the rare cases needing this slow shutter (and when panning it doesn't really matter anyways). I also find the EFCS's effects to bokeh too disturbing. But they doesn't seem to appear when the shutter time is slow. This makes sense because in this case the time of the slightly/partially distorted exposure (from differing focal plains of the "curtains") is shorter compared to the balanced/non-distorted exposure.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Kermi, thank you for your amazingly educational add on. Yes the EFCS can be a blessing when shooting on slower shutter speeds.....! And just like you I wouldn't worry too much about the bit readout. Quite frankly, the average wildlife photographer enthusiast will never get to push the camera far enough to notice the difference. cheers

[@tkermi]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 Thanks 😊. Yes, I totally agree.

[@CarloFerraro]

As far as I know, have had video gear since 1983, video cameras have always had electronic shutter, since electronic photography derived from video it is a logical derivation.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Carlo, for a long time there was actually a shutter in these video cameras as well... so your view finder would keep on blacking out and flicking back. I take my head of to those videographers

[@roybixby6135]

Nice mirrorless view camera. Focal plane shutters are a step backwards from the view cameras' campur/copal type shutter. I mainly use flash so I need a mechanical shutter. The shutter protects the sensor from Sun burn. My D4 has passed 800k executions. i'm hoping to see a global sensor to become affordable soon...

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Roy, that really is an impressive amount but I am not surprised as the D4 is an excellent piece of gear. I believe that sensors have gotten a lot better though so that "sun burn" is also less and less of an issue.... very exciting how gear is transforming!

[@roybixby6135]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 I've found "Sun Burn" to be more of a problem these days - some camera makers dont even close the shutter when not in use...

[@tanweercaa]

Interesting to know what camera manufacturers will do for wildlife shooters in mirrorless technology? Thanks for the eye opener.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hello, thanks for watching my video. Yes it is quite interesting, but be aware - most mirrorless cameras also have a mechanical shutter option! Therefore, this video will not necessarily answer your question DSLR vs. mirrorless!

[@greglepper7739]

Great explanation. But technology is already overcoming the negatives. Witness the Nikon Z9. Probably other models coming or already on the market too. Technology marches on.

[@mansoreaa]

Nice 🌷

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Thanks so much!

[@careylee5951]

Could listen to her all day.

[@JordiGuerreroM]

Awesome video, as always. Can you put an example on the effect on the bokeh of the mechanical shutter? Electronic 1st curtain also makes it less blurried? Electronic first curtain also counts for shutter count if I want to sell my camera? Thanks for your time

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Jordi, I currently do not have a mirrorless camera at hand which is why I didn't give an example. The borders had been closed up to now so that we live a little bit behind the moon. The EFCS also counts as shutter count yes!

[@FernandoTrindadePT]

Do you know the speed of sensor sweeping in the Sony a9 when in electronic shutter we shoot at 20fps?

[@patrickhudgell]

Thanks for another great video. I was intrigued by your comments about the effect on bokeh when using electronic first curtain shutter as I have never noticed any discernible difference. The Canon manual for the R5 does make a rather vague statement to support this by saying the mechanical shutter is "Recommended when shooting with the aperture of a bright lens wide open". I hadn't realised why they said that until I watched your video so thanks for the explanation. I have now done some controlled tests with a lens at f/4 and I cannot see any difference whatsoever. I will try an f/2.8 later on and will let you know if that makes a difference. I do tend to use the EFC shutter as it does seem slightly quieter but agree that rolling shutter with the purely electronic shutter can be an issue. I tend to only use the electronic shutter when I need to work in total silence and the subject is not likely to be moving across the frame - perfect for photographing classical music concerts or timid wildlife like hares. I have now done another experiment with a 100mm f/2.8 lens fixed on a tripod using the various different shutter modes and with a brightly-lit perfect circle in the out of focus background. There is no discernible difference between EFC and mechanical shutter until the shutter speed is at 1/8000th second when the circle looks very slightly squashed at the top and the other areas of bokeh start to look slightly more defined. Thanks for prompting an interesting experiment.

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Patrick, thank you so much for your real life tests and input. It is always great to know how a specific body performs and I cannot wait to actually test the R5 myself. That is amazing news as it also makes your shooting process quicker....

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Many photographers don't understand that the modern mirrorless cameras have all these amazing choices at hand. So just because you go mirrorless doesn't mean you have to shoot with the electronic shutter

[@patrickhudgell]

@@janine-pangolinphotohost9722 The one problem with the electronic shutter on the R5 is that you don't have a choice of speeds. It is either single frame or 20fps. As it is silent it is very easy to take far too many shots and fill up your memory cards really quickly! I tested the electronic shutter on Kingfishers in flight yesterday and can't see any rolling shutter on any shots. That may be just luck or maybe that the sensor readout is very fast.

[@mobelue]

Really good video. Explained really well. Q: The Canon R6 uses the same sensor and processor as the 1DX. How would the 20 megapixel be for wildlife detail in the R6? Would it be similar to the 1DX? Thank you!!

[@janine-pangolinphotohost9722]

Hi Belue, yes it would be very similar to the 1Dxiii.... I find 20mp more than enough if you have the right amount of glass. If you shoot with a 500mm fix or something equivalent you are well set up

[@ibrahimfalih9259]

Very well explained! Given the option between the R5 and the 1DX Mark III, what would you go for?

[@PangolinWildlife]

we are going to be making some videos on that exact subject in the coming weeks. Canon is sending us a whole lots of gear to try out and both those bodies are included.

[@FernandoTrindadePT]

my gosh you're stunning!