Electronic Shutter Fail

[spencewine]

Just got my M Mount yesterday and I was messing around with the electronic shutter. I took some shots on the train on my way home and was really impressed with it. Dead silent, perfect for shooting candids in close quarters. I then went out to eat with my girlfriend and was demonstrating the electronic shutter when I noticed lines running the length of the photo. I've attached a photo shot on a white wall (in dim neon lighting hence the color cast ) that illustrates the problem. At first I thought it might be the neon lights causing the problem, but I went to my apartment and shot a white wall in dim light and had the same problem. I then lit the wall up with a light and shot it again and it did not show these artifacts. Anyone else encounter this? It's a bit disappointing as I could see the electronic shutter really being useful in a lot of situations.

 

[spencewine]

This one was shot with the electronic shutter as well, but doesn't exhibit the lines. The lighting isn't great here either, but better than the restaurant. So I reckon it's still usable. I'm hoping another GXR M user can verify the ES issue or, perhaps, I have a faulty unit.

 

[magrawij]

Hi,

I have the same problem. It only occurs in "unnatural" flourescent light and is more pronounced with faster shutter speeds. I tried two A12 Mount units with identical results. The second unit was sent to Ricoh by my trusty local photo store and I am waiting with bated breath to see what they come up with. (one week so far) Perhaps they can work around this with a firmware update, or maybe there´s a bunch of dodgy ones out there. I really hope they can work something out because the GXR camera (and A12 Unit) are otherwise just wonderful.

The silent shutter however was for me the dealbreaker. I like to take shots in the Theatre where I work without interrupting the players (or the audience!). As far as I know there are no high quality /big sensor cameras out there which don´t have shutter noise. There´s a feature on some nikon DSLRs which have the option to release the mirror later - but there´s still the physical shutter! and I cant afford and dont want a big DSLR - Cant afford a Leica M8 or M9 either (yet) - I guess they´re fairly quiet - Any other options?


🙁

 

[magrawij]

ok,

Ricoh told me that it wasn´t an "error", more a "characteristic" of the A12 M- Mount module that stripes can appear in the silent mode at particular light frequencies. So I returned the module it to the store. Although I have it in writing from Ricoh that this cant be fixed through a firmware update, the salesman in the camera store told me it will be.

Let´s see what happens

Its seems really odd to me that hardly anyone has noticed this!

(by the way spencewire the photo is no longer being shown)

 

[gDallasK]

Version 1.44 firmware fixes vertical stripes?

Version 1.44 firmware fixes vertical stripes?

Although I have it in writing from Ricoh that this cant be fixed through a firmware update, the salesman in the camera store told me it will be.

Let´s see what happens

One of the things fixed by the new firmware is described as follows on the Ricoh download site :

"Modified the phenomenon below. When [Auto Resize Zoom] is used, black vertical strips may be displayed while framing."

Is this the same problem, or another one none of us have noticed? Although the English is a bit impenetrable, this seems to be concerned with an lcd / EVF issue rather than an image artefact. Or maybe not?

 

[silverbullet]

This is not a bug!
It's the same with photographing a TV screen with certain camera speeds. This special 'shutter' was not designed with artifical light in mind.
The sensor is splitted in two halfs and the reading of these parts isn't done in one shot.....

 

[dreilly]

I had the same problem using the electronic shutter and it does seem to be with higher shutter speeds and flourescent light. I experience a similar problem with mechanical shutters and flourescents...sometimes it catches the image mid cycle and you get a yellow shadow running across the image. Not sure it can be fixed easily in firmware.

 

[Archiver]

Hi,

The silent shutter however was for me the dealbreaker. I like to take shots in the Theatre where I work without interrupting the players (or the audience!). As far as I know there are no high quality /big sensor cameras out there which don´t have shutter noise. There´s a feature on some nikon DSLRs which have the option to release the mirror later - but there´s still the physical shutter! and I cant afford and dont want a big DSLR - Cant afford a Leica M8 or M9 either (yet) - I guess they´re fairly quiet - Any other options?
🙁

Did you mean dealbreaker or dealMAKER? The electronic shutter in the M-module makes no noise whatsoever. Once all the beeps and clicks are turned off, the only sign that you've taken a photo is the display showing you the photo you just took. I actually find it disconcerting as I am so used to listening or even feeling for the slightest click to let me know that I've taken a photo. Not so with the electronic shutter. There is absolutely nothing.

I have read that the Nikon V1 or whatever those new ones are called has an electronic shutter as well.

To answer your other question: the M-module's mechanical shutter is quieter than the shutter in the M8 or M9, even if you shooting discreet mode. The M9 is not the silent live performance camera you may have been hoping for.

 

[magrawij]

Did you mean dealbreaker or dealMAKER?

Funny that. I meant deal MAKER and it turned out to be a deal BREAKER.

Thanks for your info about shutter noise of the M Cameras.

 

[magrawij]

One of the things fixed by the new firmware is described as follows on the Ricoh download site :

"Modified the phenomenon below. When [Auto Resize Zoom] is used, black vertical strips may be displayed while framing."

Is this the same problem, or another one none of us have noticed?

looks like they´re talking about a different problem