Rolling Shutter Vs. Global Shutter

A global shutter is most common in professional cameras.

Rolling shutter and global shutter are film industry terms used to describe how a camera records an image from the image sensor. This discernment most likely won't matter to a casual user, but the difference makes a dramatic difference for a director or cameraman.

Rolling Shutter

"Rolling shutter" is a term used to describe an image sensor that takes data from different areas of the sensor at different times. The most common rolling shutter sensors send data from the top of the sensor, work their way downward until they reach the bottom and start at the top again. This cycle occurs many times per second depending on the frame rate, which is usually 24, 30 or 60 times per second.

Global Shutter

"Global shutter" refers to an image sensor that takes data from different parts of the sensor at the same time. Data from the top, middle and bottom of the sensor is transmitted at almost simultaneously. This type is the most common sensor in traditional video cameras, which usually are more expensive.

Which is Better?

In general, a global shutter is a better sensor to have in the camera. Because rolling shutters read data at different times, quick camera movement can result in a "jello" effect, where the image seems to stretch due to the data delay. While this result only affects cameras when they are turned quickly, the problem can be inconvenient. Global shutters do not have this problem.

References

• DVXUser.com: CMOS Rolling Shutter
• Dalsa.com: Global Shutter Imaging