Sounds interesting and, absolutely, faster readout speeds will result in less distortion. I am wondering if we may not ever see a global shutter as readout speeds get to faster than 1/500th of a second, it will likely be good enough. Granted, some of us may always want a true global shutter.

In terms of rolling shutter, I do not think shutter speed will impact it. The readout speed of the sensor will stay the same regardless of shutter speed. For the R5, something like 1/60 of the second. For R3, something like 1/180th of a second.


Shutter speed can be very fast, but think of it in terms of how long each row is turned "on" to receive light. The top row (time 0 for the read out) might only be turned on for 1/1000th of a second, so the exposure is only 1/1,000th of second, but 1/60th of a second later (on the R5) the bottom row will be turned on for 1/1000th of a second.

An old article from DPReivew may say it better:

"However, although each part of the image is only made up from, say, 1/16,000th of a second, the slow shutter rate means each part of the image is made up from different 16,000ths of a second. Essentially, you're capturing the very short slices of time that your shutter speed dictates, but you're capturing many different slices of time. And, if your camera or subject have moved during that time then that distinction becomes apparent. This effect, where the final image is made up from different slices of time as you scan down it is known as the 'rolling shutter' effect."