This video by my Lizzie Peirce is one of the best explanations of the difference between global shutter and rolling shutter that I’ve ever seen, especially for how concise it is. For decades, when we take photos or videos of fast-moving subjects — whether they are cars, people or wildlife — there has been a problem of warping in the final image. This is a consequence of the rolling shutter, which by its nature rotates through the pixels it captures, meaning that within a single frame it can capture an object with different parts in different positions. It will look like a golf club is bending as it swings, a bit like a cartoon, but it’s not – it’s just the club being caught in its swing.
This used to be very clear, and the images of early racing cars you see in this video are a perfect example. However, it’s something you’re probably still familiar with today, even if you’ve never paid much attention to it.
I wonder if the demand for rolling shutters will increase in the next few decades as it becomes quaint and classic!
