The Nikon D850 is a professional DSLR camera that features a unique rotary disc shutter, offering several advantages over traditional focal plane shutters. This article will delve into the technical aspects, benefits, and drawbacks of the D850’s rotary disc shutter.

What is a Rotary Disc Shutter?

A rotary disc shutter is a type of mechanical shutter that utilizes a rotating disc with cutouts or slots to control light exposure. Unlike a focal plane shutter, which has two curtains that travel across the sensor, the rotary disc shutter rotates at a high speed, exposing the sensor to light through the slots.

How does the Rotary Disc Shutter Work?

The rotary disc shutter in the Nikon D850 consists of two discs. The first disc, called the encoder disc, has a fixed pattern of slots. The second disc, called the shutter disc, has corresponding slots that are slightly offset from the encoder disc.

As the camera is powered on, an electronic signal triggers the rotation of the shutter disc. The shutter disc rotates in front of the encoder disc, exposing the sensor to light through the slots. The speed at which the shutter disc rotates determines the shutter speed.

Benefits of the Rotary Disc Shutter

1. High Shutter Speeds:

The Nikon D850’s rotary disc shutter can achieve shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 second, significantly faster than most focal plane shutters. This allows photographers to freeze fast action and capture sharp images in bright conditions.

2. Reduced Shutter Shock:

Rotary disc shutters are known for their reduced shutter shock compared to focal plane shutters. As the shutter disc rotates smoothly, it minimizes vibrations that can cause blur in images. This makes it ideal for tripodless photography and macro work.

3. Silent Operation:

Unlike focal plane shutters that produce a distinct clicking sound, rotary disc shutters operate silently. This is advantageous for wildlife photography, street photography, or any situation where discretion is required.

4. Durability:

Rotary disc shutters are generally considered more durable than focal plane shutters. They have fewer moving parts and are less prone to wear and tear.

Drawbacks of the Rotary Disc Shutter

1. Sync Speed Limitation:

The Nikon D850’s rotary disc shutter has a sync speed of 1/200 second, which is typically lower than focal plane shutters. This means that using a flash at higher shutter speeds may require specialized techniques or workarounds.

2. Rolling Shutter Effect:

Rotary disc shutters can sometimes produce a rolling shutter effect, where moving objects appear distorted in the image. This is due to the fact that the sensor is scanned sequentially, and fast-moving objects may be exposed to light at different times.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Value
Shutter Type	Rotary Disc
Shutter Speed Range	30s – 1/8000s
Sync Speed	1/200s
Life Expectancy	200,000 actuations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What are the advantages of a rotary disc shutter over a focal plane shutter?
A: Higher shutter speeds, reduced shutter shock, silent operation, and durability.

Q: What is the sync speed limitation of the D850’s rotary disc shutter?
A: 1/200 second.

Q: Can the rotary disc shutter produce a rolling shutter effect?
A: Yes, in some cases, with fast-moving objects.

Q: Is the D850’s rotary disc shutter durable?
A: Yes, it has a life expectancy of 200,000 actuations.

References:

Nikon D850 User Manual

Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter lens from Nikon is a versatile standard lens featuring a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture and a unique rotary disc shutter mechanism. The use of a rotary disc shutter provides silent operation, making it ideal for discreet shooting and video recording. The lens also has a close focusing distance of 40cm and a 9-blade diaphragm for creating smooth bokeh. Additionally, it features a weather-resistant construction and a fluorine coating on the front element for protection against dust and moisture.

Rotary Disc Shutter Nikon Z6

The Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera features a rotary disc shutter that operates at a speed of 250 fps. This high speed allows for fast continuous shooting, with a maximum burst rate of 24 fps (14-bit uncompressed RAW). The shutter also has a low vibration design, which helps to minimize camera shake at high speeds.

One of the advantages of the rotary disc shutter is its durability. Nikon claims that the shutter is rated for up to 200,000 actuations, which is significantly higher than the average for traditional focal plane shutters. Additionally, the rotary disc shutter is more resistant to dust and moisture, which makes it a good choice for use in challenging environments.

However, the rotary disc shutter also has some drawbacks. First, it is not as quiet as a traditional focal plane shutter, which can be a concern for photographers who need to shoot in quiet environments. Second, the rotary disc shutter can cause image distortion at slow shutter speeds, which can be a problem for certain types of photography, such as panning shots.

Overall, the rotary disc shutter in the Nikon Z6 offers advantages in terms of speed, durability, and dust and moisture resistance. However, it is important to be aware of its drawbacks before making a decision about whether or not to purchase the camera.

Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a high-performance telephoto lens designed for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Notable features include:

Rotary Disc Shutter: Eliminates vibrations caused by the focal-plane shutter, enabling faster continuous shooting at up to 12 fps.
Fast f/4 Aperture: Provides excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control.
Optical Image Stabilization: Reduces camera shake by up to 5.5 stops for sharper handheld shots.
Fluorine Coating: Repels water and dirt, ensuring durability in harsh conditions.
Precision Optics: Incorporates an extra-low dispersion (ED) glass element and aspherical lens elements to minimize aberrations and enhance image quality.
Ergonomic Design: Features a lightweight magnesium alloy construction and fluoroelastomer seals for weather resistance.

Rotary Disc Shutter Nikon D5

The Rotary Disc Shutter in the Nikon D5 is a high-speed shutter mechanism that utilizes moving blades to control exposure. This innovative design offers several advantages:

Fast Speeds: The shutter is capable of achieving shutter speeds up to 1/8000s, enabling photographers to freeze fast-moving subjects.
Silent Operation: Unlike traditional mechanical shutters, the Rotary Disc Shutter operates silently, eliminating shutter noise and allowing for discreet shooting.
Reliability: The shutter’s robust construction and advanced materials ensure durability and extended lifespan.
Synchronization: The shutter allows flash synchronization up to 1/250s, making it suitable for high-speed flash photography.
Wide Range of Shutter Speeds: The shutter provides a wide range of shutter speeds, from 30 seconds to 1/8000s, offering photographers flexibility in exposure control.

Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a professional-grade telephoto zoom lens designed for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It features a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range, providing consistent brightness and subject isolation.

The lens incorporates a unique rotary disc shutter mechanism that offers fast, quiet, and reliable operation. This mechanism allows for high burst shooting speeds up to 10 fps with reduced shutter shock and noise.

Other notable features include:

Optical Construction: 21 elements in 18 groups, including ED, aspherical, and SR elements
Image Stabilization: Up to 5.5 stops of vibration reduction
Weather Sealing: Robust construction with fluorine coating to resist dust, moisture, and dirt
Focus System: Silent Stepping Motor (STM) for fast and accurate autofocus
Minimum Focus Distance: 5.5 feet (1.7 meters)

Rotary Disc Shutter Nikon Z fc

The Nikon Z fc is a mirrorless camera with a unique rotary disc shutter. This shutter has several advantages over traditional focal plane shutters, including:

Faster shutter speeds: The rotary disc shutter can achieve shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 second, which is twice as fast as the fastest shutter speeds available on most other mirrorless cameras.
Reduced vibration: The rotary disc shutter is much less prone to vibration than traditional focal plane shutters, which can blur images when shooting at slow shutter speeds.
Quieter operation: The rotary disc shutter is also much quieter than traditional focal plane shutters, making it ideal for shooting in quiet environments.

The Nikon Z fc’s rotary disc shutter is a significant advantage for photographers who need to shoot at fast shutter speeds or in low-light conditions. It is also a great choice for photographers who want a camera that is both quiet and vibration-resistant.

Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a versatile standard zoom lens designed for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It features a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range, providing excellent light-gathering capabilities and consistent exposure control.

The lens incorporates a rotary disc shutter mechanism that enables exceptionally fast shutter speeds of up to 1/2000 second, making it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects. It also features a Nano Crystal Coat to reduce ghosting and flare, and an electromagnetic aperture for precise and stable exposure control.

With a compact and lightweight design, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a well-rounded lens for a wide range of shooting scenarios, from landscape and portraiture to event and travel photography.

Rotary Disc Shutter Nikon Z7

Nikon’s Z7 mirrorless camera features a unique rotary disc shutter designed for precise exposure control and silent operation. Here’s a summary of its key features and advantages:

Precision Exposure Control: The rotary disc shutter is a mechanical shutter that uses a rotating disc with segmented apertures to control light passing through the lens. This design ensures accurate exposure settings and consistent results.
Silent Operation: Unlike traditional mechanical shutters, the rotary disc shutter operates silently, eliminating shutter noise that can disrupt subjects or environments. This is ideal for discreet photography, videography, and candid shots.
Faster Shutter Speeds: The rotary disc shutter supports shutter speeds up to 1/8000th of a second, enabling sharp images even in bright conditions or when using fast lenses with wide apertures.
Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter: The Z7 also offers an electronic front-curtain shutter that reduces shutter shock and minimizes vibrations, ensuring sharp images when using telephoto lenses or shooting at slower shutter speeds.
Durability: The rotary disc shutter is designed to withstand over 200,000 shutter actuations, providing reliable performance over time.

Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter lens is a wide-angle prime lens designed for Nikon Z-mount cameras. It features a unique rotary disc shutter mechanism that provides faster shutter speeds than conventional lenses. Key features include:

Ultra-wide 20mm focal length: Ideal for capturing expansive landscapes, architectural interiors, and astrophotography.
Fast f/1.8 aperture: Offers excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control.
Rotary Disc Shutter: Achieves shutter speeds up to 1/4000sec, allowing for faster freezing of motion and reduced camera shake.
Sharp, high-contrast optics: Four ED glass elements and three aspherical elements ensure exceptional image quality with minimal distortion and aberrations.
Weather-sealed construction: Protects the lens from dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures for reliable operation in challenging conditions.

Rotary Disc Shutter in Nikon D6

The Nikon D6 sports a revolutionary rotary disc shutter that provides exceptional speed and durability. Here’s a summary of its key features:

Fast Shutter Speeds: The shutter can achieve speeds of up to 14 frames per second (fps) in Continuous High-Speed mode. This enables capturing fleeting moments with remarkable precision.
Silent Mode: The rotary disc shutter offers a silent shooting mode, allowing photographers to capture images discreetly without disturbing their subjects.
Exceptional Durability: Rated for 300,000 actuations, the shutter is engineered to withstand rigorous use and provide consistent performance over an extended lifespan.
Electronic First Curtain: The shutter’s first curtain is electronic, minimizing vibration and camera shake during exposure. This results in sharper images, especially with telephoto lenses.
Electronic Rear Curtain: The rear curtain of the shutter is also electronic, reducing shutter shock and potential image distortion caused by mirror movement.

Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a high-performance ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras. Its unique rotary disc shutter eliminates the need for the traditional focal plane shutter, reducing camera shake and enabling continuous shooting at up to 10 fps.

Featuring a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture, the lens delivers exceptional sharpness and low-light performance throughout the zoom range. Its 14-element optical formula includes three aspherical and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, minimizing aberrations and distortions for stunning image quality.

The rotary disc shutter provides a quieter and more consistent shooting experience, making it ideal for situations where silence or a smooth shutter sound is crucial. Its robust construction and weather-sealing ensure reliability in various shooting conditions.

Rotary Disc Shutter Nikon Z5

The Nikon Z5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera that features a rotary disc shutter, which offers several advantages over a traditional focal-plane shutter.

High speed: The rotary disc shutter can operate at a maximum speed of 1/8000 second, which is faster than the typical maximum speed of 1/4000 second for a focal-plane shutter. This allows for faster shutter speeds when shooting in bright conditions, which can help to freeze motion and reduce the risk of camera shake.
Quiet operation: The rotary disc shutter is also much quieter than a focal-plane shutter, making it ideal for situations where silence is important, such as when shooting wildlife or candid portraits.
Vibration reduction: The rotary disc shutter helps to reduce vibrations within the camera, which can lead to sharper images, especially when shooting with long lenses or at slow shutter speeds.

Overall, the rotary disc shutter in the Nikon Z5 offers several advantages that make it a great choice for photographers who need a camera that can shoot fast, quietly, and with minimal vibrations.

Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a versatile standard zoom lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It features a compact and lightweight design, a constant f/4 aperture throughout its zoom range, and a rotary disc shutter that allows for high-speed continuous shooting of up to 14 fps.

The lens delivers sharp and clear images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. It utilizes Nikon’s multi-focusing system, which combines an STM motor and an AF drive system, to provide fast and accurate autofocus performance. The lens also incorporates a dedicated control ring for smooth and precise aperture adjustment.

With its impressive optical performance, wide zoom range, and high-speed shooting capabilities, the Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S Rotary Disc Shutter is an ideal lens for a wide range of photography genres, including landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and sports.

Rotary Disc Shutter: Nikon D780

The Nikon D780’s rotary disc shutter is a highly precise and durable mechanism that offers several key advantages:

Silent Shooting: The shutter can operate silently, reducing noise during critical moments such as wildlife photography or studio work.
Fast Shutter Speeds: It supports shutter speeds up to 1/8000 second, enabling sharp images in bright conditions and freezing motion.
Flash Synchronization: The shutter’s flash synchronization speed of 1/250 second allows for proper illumination with compatible flashes.
Durability: The rotary disc shutter is designed to withstand high-volume shooting and features a high shutter life rating for longevity.
Anti-Shock Shutter: It minimizes camera shake caused by the shutter mechanism, resulting in sharper images.

Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter

The Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 S Rotary Disc Shutter is a high-performance, medium telephoto prime lens designed for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Key features include:

Rotary disc shutter for precise exposure control and high burst rates
Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field control
Sharp optical design with 11 rounded diaphragm blades for pleasing bokeh
Anti-reflection coatings to minimize ghosting and flare
Weather-sealed construction for durability in challenging conditions
Compact and lightweight design for easy portability