The Way to Modern Shutter Speed Measurement Methods: A Historical Overview

Exposure time is a fundamental parameter for the photographer when the photo is composed, and the exact length of the exposure may be an essential determinant of performance in certain camera-based applications, e.g., optical camera communication (OCC) systems. There can be several reasons to measure the shutter speed of a camera: shutter speed may be checked at the time of manufacturing; it may be necessary to recheck in case of an elder camera model; it may be necessary to be measured if its exact value is not provided by the manufacturer; or a precise measurement may be necessary for a demanding application. In this paper various methods for shutter speed measurement are reviewed, presenting and analyzing methods that are still relevant today either for manufacturers, service personnel, amateur photographers, or the developers of camera-based systems. Each presented method is illustrated by real measurement results and the performance properties of the methods are also presented.