Rolling or Global Shutter

**Robin** · 11-06-2019, 08:54 AM

An interesting question came to mind recently. I'm now working quite a bit with drones, and one of the selling points of the more high end products is a global shutter as opposed to a rolling shutter. This got me wondering about my cameras. Do Pentax sensors work on global or rolling shutters?

**UncleVanya** · 11-06-2019, 09:08 AM - **1 Like**

Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size:

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/

I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter.

**Robin** · 11-06-2019, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size:

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/

I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter.

Thank you Vanya

photoptimist · 11-06-2019, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size:

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/

I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter.

It's also worth noting that even that new Sony sensor isn't very good -- it's got worse dynamic range than older APS-C sensors and worse video frame rate performance than other older (but smaller) video sensors.

For video and global shutter, smaller sensors are generally better.

biz-engineer · 11-06-2019, 10:37 AM

Pentax sensors have a unique technology, it's called the local global shutter, each Pentax pixel has a global shutter that is local to that pixel.

**othar** · 11-06-2019, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Pentax sensors have a unique technology, it's called the local global shutter, each Pentax pixel has a global shutter that is local to that pixel.

But I think that's not so unique as you try to make us believe

**Mikesul** · 11-06-2019, 11:39 AM

I do not think any consumer level camera has a global shutter yet. The shutters exist but are not ready for prime time.

photoptimist · 11-06-2019, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by Mikesul

I do not think any consumer level camera has a global shutter yet. The shutters exist but are not ready for prime time.

iPhones have had them for over a year, now. So they are in at least 70 million consumer level cameras.

Global shutter sensors are in widespread use but only on smaller sensors.

**Mikesul** · 11-06-2019, 11:51 AM

Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny.

**Robin** · 11-06-2019, 11:52 AM

The drone camera we're using, with global shutters, is a Parrot Sequoia, with an RGB sensor, and 4 individual sensors in green, red, red edge and near infra red. It's designed to take vertical aerial images only, for vegetation health index. The global shutters are to prevent smearing of the images in flight.

photoptimist · 11-06-2019, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by Mikesul

Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny.

Exactly!

For any performance parameter related to speed such as global shutter, video, frames-per-second, etc., small sensors beat big sensors.

For any performance parameter related to image quality: dynamic range, bit depth, color accuracy, noise, etc., big sensors beat small sensors.

The video specs on smaller sensor cameras will always lead the specs on bigger sensor cameras.

The still image specs on bigger sensor camera will always lead the spec on smaller sensor cameras.

**UncleVanya** · 11-07-2019, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Mikesul

Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny.

Those phone sensors are getting bigger. The new iPhone 11 pro sensor is 1/2.55" vs the original Q sensor at 1/2.3" (current q model has a 1/1.7" sensor).

11-06-2019, 08:54 AM	#1
Robin Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Pietermaritzburg Photos: Gallery Posts: 432	Rolling or Global Shutter An interesting question came to mind recently. I'm now working quite a bit with drones, and one of the selling points of the more high end products is a global shutter as opposed to a rolling shutter. This got me wondering about my cameras. Do Pentax sensors work on global or rolling shutters?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sony A7sIII - Stacked Sensor with Global Shutter	Winder	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	2	03-18-2019 12:06 PM
Rolling shutter effect when using electronic shutter	D1N0	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	10	07-27-2018 02:37 PM
31MP Sony Sensor Global Shutter - 4/3 Aspect Ratio BUT 27.9mm Diameter	Winder	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	11	06-27-2018 08:09 AM
Rolling shutter	nobody	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	13	06-04-2018 12:16 PM

11-06-2019, 09:08 AM - 1 Like	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,400	Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/ I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter.

11-06-2019, 09:14 AM	#3
Robin Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Pietermaritzburg Photos: Gallery Posts: 432 Original Poster	Originally posted by UncleVanya Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/ I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter. Thank you Vanya

11-06-2019, 10:04 AM	#4
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,122	Originally posted by UncleVanya Rolling as far as I know is the norm for the size sensors involved. Global shutters are relatively new additions to the sony sensors in this size: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2018/09/10/its-official-sony-has-new-global...hirds-sensors/ I'm not aware of any Pentax using a sensor with a global shutter. It's also worth noting that even that new Sony sensor isn't very good -- it's got worse dynamic range than older APS-C sensors and worse video frame rate performance than other older (but smaller) video sensors. For video and global shutter, smaller sensors are generally better.

11-06-2019, 10:37 AM	#5
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,231	Pentax sensors have a unique technology, it's called the local global shutter, each Pentax pixel has a global shutter that is local to that pixel.

11-06-2019, 11:24 AM	#6
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	Originally posted by biz-engineer Pentax sensors have a unique technology, it's called the local global shutter, each Pentax pixel has a global shutter that is local to that pixel. But I think that's not so unique as you try to make us believe

11-06-2019, 11:39 AM	#7
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	I do not think any consumer level camera has a global shutter yet. The shutters exist but are not ready for prime time.

11-06-2019, 11:48 AM	#8
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,122	Originally posted by Mikesul I do not think any consumer level camera has a global shutter yet. The shutters exist but are not ready for prime time. iPhones have had them for over a year, now. So they are in at least 70 million consumer level cameras. Global shutter sensors are in widespread use but only on smaller sensors.

11-06-2019, 11:51 AM	#9
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny.

11-06-2019, 11:52 AM	#10
Robin Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Pietermaritzburg Photos: Gallery Posts: 432 Original Poster	The drone camera we're using, with global shutters, is a Parrot Sequoia, with an RGB sensor, and 4 individual sensors in green, red, red edge and near infra red. It's designed to take vertical aerial images only, for vegetation health index. The global shutters are to prevent smearing of the images in flight.

11-06-2019, 12:01 PM	#11
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,122	Originally posted by Mikesul Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny. Exactly! For any performance parameter related to speed such as global shutter, video, frames-per-second, etc., small sensors beat big sensors. For any performance parameter related to image quality: dynamic range, bit depth, color accuracy, noise, etc., big sensors beat small sensors. The video specs on smaller sensor cameras will always lead the specs on bigger sensor cameras. The still image specs on bigger sensor camera will always lead the spec on smaller sensor cameras.

11-07-2019, 06:56 AM	#12
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,400	Originally posted by Mikesul Phone cameras are a different world because their sensors are so tiny. Those phone sensors are getting bigger. The new iPhone 11 pro sensor is 1/2.55" vs the original Q sensor at 1/2.3" (current q model has a 1/1.7" sensor).