Do You Use Electronic First Curtain Shutter or Silent Shutter?

[Spiritualized67]

Hi folks - my first post in this Alpha forum. Just got the A7riii with 50mm f/1.4.  Love it so far. Coming from a Nikon D810.

 

I'm still confused about how I'm going to set up EFCS - whether on or off?  Not really confused about Silent Shutter, because I didn't get this camera to have to revert back to 12-bit images or worry about banding issues in mixed lighting.  Maybe the anti-flicker option helps? 

 

That being said, what is your experience with EFCS?    

 

I've read up on the technical and it is recommended for tripod use for sure (especially at lower shutter speeds).  But not so sure about handheld at lower shutter speeds, like 1/30s through 1/100s?

 

Certainly in-camera stabilization (along with optimal Auto ISO/wide open apertures) could help mitigate any sharpness issues caused by not having it set to ON at those lower handheld speeds (for example, when shooting in low light).

 

While not always the case, there will be times (e.g. street portrait work) where I’ll also be shooting wide open (f/1.4-f/2.8) at much higher shutter speeds in strong light.

 

From what I've read, Sony and others don't recommend having ON when shooting wide open with high shutter speeds.  Yes - you'll get those harsh Bokeh effects and maybe some uneven exposure artifacts.

Some say don't turn on after 1/500s, some say 1/1000s – and others just leave ON all the time (set and forget) or use the Mechanical Shutter exclusively.  I’m leaning towards the latter.

 

I know I’m probably splitting hairs with the whole sharpness discussion, but I’ll set it to ON if it makes a difference at slower handheld speeds like 1/30s. Probably need it OFF when shooting fast wide open. On my Nikon I used their version with MLU, but for tripod use only.

 

What is your experience – especially for handheld street work with a fast prime?  

 

~Daniel

www.danielstainer.com 

 

[Username]

...........................................

I know I’m probably splitting hairs with the

whole sharpness discussion,..................

  

     

Well spoken.   

   

-------------------------------------------

   

FWIW I use silent and or 1st curtain all the

time. Others will acoarst work differently.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

My default is efcs on. When I need better quality, I turn it off. When I need the silent shutter I enable that.

 

You may have a different preference.

[SrMi]

The consensus seems to be that it is best to shoot without EFCS at shutter speeds of 1/1000 and above. I have not enough experience to give an advice. Strange that Sony does not allow a quick way to turn EFCS on/off (e.g., via function button) or an auto mode that turns it off at high shutter speeds.

In contrast to A7r II, Silent Shooting on A7r III creates 14-bit files.

[Spiritualized67]

Thank you all!  So SrMi - I did not know that about Silent Shooting.  I did try it last night and it's cool.  Now that it's 14-bit, I may have to reconsider.  As for EFCS, I suppose I'll just disable at higher speeds - although I will agree that it should be customizable and/or automated for off above certain speeds. 

[Username]

.........  As for EFCS, I suppose I'll just disable at higher speeds - although

I will agree that it should be customizable and/or automated for off above

certain speeds. 

  

Amen 2dat !  

 

IIRC some Lumix models do that ! 

[slackercruster]

OP...Since I didn't know what it was until I looked it up, I didn't pay any attention to EFCS settings.

 

I use the silent shutter extensively for candid work. Sharpness is not a concern in any case, stealth is.

 

Only bad thing about silent mode is the flash wont work. For 99.99% of the people that is fine. But for the .01% or less of the photogs that shoot infrared flash in the dark it is bad. That is my only complaint.

[Username]

OP...Since I didn't know what it was until I looked it up, I didn't pay any attention to EFCS settings.

 

I use the silent shutter extensively for candid work. Sharpness is not a concern in any case, stealth is.

 

Only bad thing about silent mode is the flash wont work. For 99.99% of the people that is fine.   

But for the .01% or less of the photogs that shoot infrared flash in the dark it is bad. That is my only complaint.

   

   

You can use silent shutter with IR flash in the dark ... but 

not in the light. In the dark, just use open flash. The auto 

modes on the flash won't handle IR anywho, so no loss.