E-M1.2 - electronic shutter noise impact

[medon78]

Just found out a little detail about the impact of the fully electronic shutter, in comparison to the mechanical shutter.

In silent / electronic mode, there is a slight image noise penalty at higher ISOs.

I tried ISO6400 vs. ISO200 and found that with electronic shutter at ISO6400, the channels R and G2 seem to get read out with lower fidelity (?). RAWdigger shows fewer individual pixel values, and if you look closely, you can see a slight visual difference in the final JPG. Shadow areas get a little blotchier.

Luckily, at ISO200 there is no (big) difference at all.

No big deal - I just found it after two years shooting the E-M1.2.

 

[drj3]

This could be the reason Olympus slows the readout speed with the electronic shutter at ISO 8000.

Is the same thing true if the shutter speed is above the maximum mechanical shutter flash sync speed, like 1/1000?

 

[medon78]

This could be the reason Olympus slows the readout speed with the electronic shutter at ISO 8000.

Is the same thing true if the shutter speed is above the maximum mechanical shutter flash sync speed, like 1/1000?

Hmmm... have to try this tomorrow. This would be a bummer... let's see when daylight is back.

 

[medon78]

...

Is the same thing true if the shutter speed is above the maximum mechanical shutter flash sync speed, like 1/1000?

Just checked. Seems: There is no noise penalty when using the fully electronic shutter at speeds from 1/250th to 1/8000th of a second, at ISO200.

That's good.

One other thing I found when comparing electronic vs. mechanical shutter:

Starting already from 1/1000s and up (towards 1/8000th) the mechanical shutter lets in more light than the electronic one. At 1/8000th there is a whopping 1EV difference, which means the mechanical shutter at 1/8000th is a bright at the electronic one at 1/4000th.

Since the histogram moves strictly 1EV steps when doubling the exposure time in electronic mode, I assume this one is precise.

The mechanical shutter's EV steps become smaller than 1EV at shutter speeds above 1/1000th.

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

BR Medon

 

[drj3]

...

Is the same thing true if the shutter speed is above the maximum mechanical shutter flash sync speed, like 1/1000?

Just checked. Seems: There is no noise penalty when using the fully electronic shutter at speeds from 1/250th to 1/8000th of a second, at ISO200.

That's good.

One other thing I found when comparing electronic vs. mechanical shutter:

Starting already from 1/1000s and up (towards 1/8000th) the mechanical shutter lets in more light than the electronic one. At 1/8000th there is a whopping 1EV difference, which means the mechanical shutter at 1/8000th is a bright at the electronic one at 1/4000th.

Since the histogram moves strictly 1EV steps when doubling the exposure time in electronic mode, I assume this one is precise.

The mechanical shutter's EV steps become smaller than 1EV at shutter speeds above 1/1000th.

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

BR Medon

I will check that when I go out later today. That does not surprise me, mechanical shutters are always approximate and small errors at long shutter times would have less of an effect. The amount of error would probably vary with the specific camera and possibly with the number of mechanical shutter activations. The electronic shutter can control exposure time much more precisely.

 

[medon78]

....

The mechanical shutter's EV steps become smaller than 1EV at shutter speeds above 1/1000th.

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

BR Medon

I...The amount of error would probably vary with the specific camera and possibly with the number of mechanical shutter activations. The electronic shutter can control exposure time much more precisely.

I agree, although I am a little surprised: I use fully electronic shutter almost permanently since day 2, without checking I guess the mechanical shutter has seen far less clicks that 10k.

Anyway. Happy Christmas! May our flawed and imperfect cameras catch some nice pictures.

Medon

 

[stateit]

...

Starting already from 1/1000s and up (towards 1/8000th) the mechanical shutter lets in more light than the electronic one. At 1/8000th there is a whopping 1EV difference, which means the mechanical shutter at 1/8000th is a bright at the electronic one at 1/4000th.

Since the histogram moves strictly 1EV steps when doubling the exposure time in electronic mode, I assume this one is precise.

The mechanical shutter's EV steps become smaller than 1EV at shutter speeds above 1/1000th.

...

Interesting stuff. Thanks.

 

[skamaraju]

Check this Robin Wong's post

 

[Adrian Harris]

Fascinating post, thank you.

 

[Helen]

...

Is the same thing true if the shutter speed is above the maximum mechanical shutter flash sync speed, like 1/1000?

Just checked. Seems: There is no noise penalty when using the fully electronic shutter at speeds from 1/250th to 1/8000th of a second, at ISO200.

That's good.

One other thing I found when comparing electronic vs. mechanical shutter:

Starting already from 1/1000s and up (towards 1/8000th) the mechanical shutter lets in more light than the electronic one. At 1/8000th there is a whopping 1EV difference, which means the mechanical shutter at 1/8000th is a bright at the electronic one at 1/4000th.

Since the histogram moves strictly 1EV steps when doubling the exposure time in electronic mode, I assume this one is precise.

The mechanical shutter's EV steps become smaller than 1EV at shutter speeds above 1/1000th.

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

BR Medon

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

 

[medon78]

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

.... thanks for the feedback, Helen! So it is a feature.

 

[Helen]

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

.... thanks for the feedback, Helen! So it is a feature.

It’s also similar on the E-M5 Mark III.

 

[M_digicapt]

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

.... thanks for the feedback, Helen! So it is a feature.

It’s also similar on the E-M5 Mark III.

Have you tested the e-m10 mkii?

Do you think this was done on purpose?

Thanks

 

[Helen]

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

.... thanks for the feedback, Helen! So it is a feature.

It’s also similar on the E-M5 Mark III.

Have you tested the e-m10 mkii?

I believe I have, but will have to wait for daylight to re-check. If memory serves, it is there, but to a lesser extent - a large part of this would be due to the fact that the E-M10 Mark II's mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000 rather than 1/8000, and the difference between silent and mechanical shutter is largest at 1/8000.

Do you think this was done on purpose?

I doubt it. I don't think it's a fault as such either, more an unavoidable limitation or side effect of the mechanical shutter's design (though I'm only guessing). Or it could be something that is more obvious due to something about the characteristics of the 20MP sensor, perhaps. Or both...

Thanks

 

[M_digicapt]

Does your E-M1.2 behave the same?

Yes. Over time, I've checked that on three different E-M1 Mark II bodies and it is very consistent.

.... thanks for the feedback, Helen! So it is a feature.

It’s also similar on the E-M5 Mark III.

Have you tested the e-m10 mkii?

I believe I have, but will have to wait for daylight to re-check. If memory serves, it is there, but to a lesser extent - a large part of this would be due to the fact that the E-M10 Mark II's mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000 rather than 1/8000, and the difference between silent and mechanical shutter is largest at 1/8000.

Do you think this was done on purpose?

I doubt it. I don't think it's a fault as such either, more an unavoidable limitation or side effect of the mechanical shutter's design (though I'm only guessing). Or it could be something that is more obvious due to something about the characteristics of the 20MP sensor, perhaps. Or both...

Thanks

Thanks.