Why is shortest possible shutter speed 30s?

I seem to remember that part of the reason for not having really long exposure options on an electronic shutter were that on some cameras that had up to 2 minutes on auto you could find yourself having to wait a long time between shots when loading a film (when typically the lens cap might be on).

I think later cameras tended to unlink the meter for those first loading shots, while others metered off the film (so if the exposure was long you could just point the camera towards light). Reciprocity failure would also have been a reason for losing the slower speeds though.

Tricky01 wrote: addy landzaat wrote: Phil Wood wrote: Most wired remotes can lock - so you simply push and lock and walk away if you want, coming back to unlock and end the exposure Yep. Yeah, I have one of these, but it's ridiculous in this day and age to need to carry an extra piece of hardware when it could be easily made redundant by firmware/software. 2 or 10 second timer serve same purpose as need for a cable release, why not also longer length shutters. At least another few stops beyond 30s

Its not really redundant though. A cable release is extremely useful in lots of circumstances and its not exactly bulky or heavy.

My Fuji GW690, a.k.a. Texas Leica, also has a T-setting. The mark III version was introduced in 1992, that is within 40 year. Much more interesting camera then the Seagull But it has a mechanical shutter.

There is no reason to assume a T-setting couldn't be done with an electronic shutter. But I can understand why most camera makers did not implement it as when the battery runs out with the shutter open it might be a problem.

And, people complain to no end about the T-mode - there is that.

A T shutter setting is no more of a problem for a dead battery than the B setting is.

This thread is named "Why is shortest possible shutter speed 30s?". Shouldn´t it be ...longest...?

XKAES wrote: A T shutter setting is no more of a problem for a dead battery than the B setting is.

Well, I said "might" and it depends how it is implemented.

Let me explain. If the normal position of the shutter is closed, the shutter needs to be kept open by force, draining the battery. That is a problem. You might say the battery also drains with the B position, however, if you no longer push the button, the shutter automatically closes - with T no such situation - you can put it in the bag with the shutter open.

One can of course design a shutter that can be set open and closed, I can imagine some design limitations to that. You need to force close the shutter and I doubt it was possible to do this quickly enough for fast shutter times.

These are things I can think about, maybe there are more difficulties. Also, by then, the standard was B not T - so, why take the risk and just keep the market standard and only offer B.

XKAES wrote: With an electronic shutter if you use B and the battery dies while the shutter is still being help open (with a finger or a cable release) is no difference than with T when the shutter is opened with a press of the button (or cable release). The shutter is open and the battery dies (which would only happen with long exposures, of course). It makes no difference to the camera if T or B is being used -- the shutter is open and the battery dies. Releasing your finger in B mode makes no difference.

Yes, however the chance of that happening is smaller then with the B setting then with the T setting. Like I said. And B already was the standard. Like I said. Like Johan Cruijf said: if you see it, you see it