About Shutter

By Kostas Bozikis

Shutter is that mechanism inside the camera which opens and closes, allowing light to pass through it to reach the film and create the image on it. The user can define how long the shutter will remain open for (so that the film can take the appropriate amount of light from the object).

In general, we have two types of shutters, the "Center Plan Shutter", and the "Focal Plan Shutter". The difference between them lies on their physical position inside the camera. Because of this difference, we have quite different operations concerning the use of each type of Shutter.

This shutter consists of three leaves which open and close. You can see below how this works.

Click on the button to release the shutter

Imagine this shutter as two curtains which are moving horizontally. (in most of cases). See below how it works

Click on the button to release the shutter

Inside the camera, of course, we have springs and cylinders which push and pull these curtains rather than cartoons which are used here for illustration purposes (See below.)

Click on the button to release the shutter

If you have Shocwave installed on your browser,then click here to see a more illustrative example.

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