Mechanical vs electronic shutters

The purpose of a shutter is to control the amount of light reaching the image sensor. Back in the days of film, mechanical shutters were the only option and there were only two types: focal plane and leaf. Focal plane shutters were used in SLR cameras, while leaf shutters, named for their leaf-shaped blades, were generally integrated into the lenses for rangefinder cameras.

To some degree this distinction has persisted into the digital age, but with the arrival of mirrorless cameras it became possible to include three more types: 'rolling' shutters; hybrid shutters (which combine mechanical and electronic operation); and 'global', fully electronic shutters.

Mechanical shutters

With a mechanical shutter, closing a blind or blades blocks the light, while opening them allows light to pass to the sensor. The time the shutter remains open