focal-plane shutter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No. A traditional focal-plane shutter is a 'rolling shutter', exposing the sensor sequentially line by line, which can cause distortion. A 'global shutter' exposes the entire sensor simultaneously, a feature found in some specialised sensors.

No. There is a maximum 'flash sync speed' (e.g., 1/200s or 1/250s). At faster speeds, the second curtain starts closing before the first is fully open, creating a slit. Using flash faster than the sync speed would result in a partially black image.

It depends on the application. Focal-plane shutters allow for much faster maximum speeds (e.g., 1/8000s) and are standard in SLRs/mirrorless cameras. Leaf shutters are quieter, simpler, and sync with flash at all speeds but are typically slower (max ~1/500s) and built into lenses.

Because it is positioned at (or extremely close to) the focal plane of the lens – the flat plane where the lens projects a sharp image onto the film or image sensor.

A camera shutter located directly in front of the image sensor or film plane, consisting of two curtains that move across the frame to expose the sensor.

Focal-plane shutter is usually technical / photographic / academic in register.

Focal-plane shutter: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfəʊ.kəl ˈpleɪn ˌʃʌt.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfoʊ.kəl ˈpleɪn ˌʃʌt.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.