Do Smartphone Cameras Have Shutters?


With technology so advanced, smartphones and their cameras have been updated to do some incredible things. These days everyone with a smartphone can be considered amazing with a camera if they know how to work the angles. These smartphone cameras lead to some exceptional selfies and snapshots. As smartphones get more advanced, so do the cameras. 

Smartphone cameras do not have the mechanical shutters that traditional cameras have. Instead, smartphones have an electronic camera shutter, which works by switching the camera’s sensor on and off for the exposure time.  

Whether or not you know all the ins and outs of the shutter, manufacturers have made it almost impossible not to be able to get a great shot with your smartphone. Many features have been added to the camera settings on a smartphone to help give each picture that wow factor. There are even ways to fake good pictures. For best results, adopt all of the tips and tricks we share with you here!

How Does the Electronic Shutter on a Smartphone Work?

Due to the size of a smartphone, there isn’t a way to include the sliding door-like mechanical shutter you see on traditional cameras. And, due to today’s technology, a physical opening and closing of the shutter aren’t even necessary. There are sensors for that. Smartphones have an electronic sensor to control the shutter to admit the light needed to capture the image. 

Light is essential to photography, and the smartphone’s sensor is what receives the light. This is the key to what kind of quality you see in your photos. 

How the Sensor on a Smartphone Works

Any smartphone camera you buy will come with a camera, and this camera will have a tiny sensor already built into it.  This sensor contains millions of pixels that capture the lighting of your image. It is already fully saturated, and you don’t have to worry about how long you expose an image. This makes it one of the most convenient ways to capture a photo quickly. 

What Kind of Lens Does a Smartphone Camera Have?

Smartphone cameras are not like original cameras; they do not have the shutter needed to stop exposure. However, the sensor in a smartphone is a lot like a film frame, but when digital photography took over, film went out the window. When the camera sensor is activated, it automatically picks up light. 

Both types of cameras allow a certain amount of light into the picture called exposure. This drastically impacts how your image turns out. Smartphones have sensors to pick up light, and a camera has a shutter to stop light. It allows whatever light in as it snaps the picture. 

Any kind of shutter on a smartphone would negatively impact the other functions of the phone. Having a camera be able to capture a nice shot that is well detailed is enough for most people. Anyone who is a professional photographer will learn about exposure to their specific camera. However, for any Instagram star posting selfies, usually, a camera works just fine. 

What Features Are on a Camera App?

Smartphone cameras may not have traditional shutters to limit or add exposure, but they have many features on the camera app that can help edit pictures. These can give a photo of the appearance of having more exposure than it does. This may be useful for some phone users. 

  • Light or Exposure– On most phones or apps for cell phones, you can find one the adds a certain amount of light to the photo. This can also be used to darken the photo if you think it may be too bright. It can set the vibe of a photo very easily. 
  • Contrast– This means the dark spots will become darker, and the light spots will become lighter. This can help give your image a dramatic edge. 
  • Structure- This can help enhance your pictures by adding clarity to it. This can add to the overall look of a picture
  • Sharpen- This can make the objects in your image more noticeable and stand out more than usual. It can be an excellent tool for anyone looking to make products look appealing. 
  • Color- If there is one specific color you are going for, you can now add it to your picture to keep with the theme. This can help your Instagram aesthetics. 

There are so many things you can do with your smartphone camera; there are apps that will automatically edit your pictures for best results and more. There are tons of filters to choose from, and other things to play with like shadows, and highlights. Once you start experimenting, you will figure out how to take the best pictures without a shutter controlling exposure. 

Other Ways to Fake a Good Picture

If you don’t want to use the features on your phone, the best way to fake a good picture and make it look like it came from a professional is through Photoshop. This can take work, but there are good websites and apps you can use that will help you edit your pictures. 

  • Lightroom- This is a desktop app that you need to download on your computer to use. It is an extension of the Adobe application. The great news about this application is that it has all the features of a phone but more. You can even use it to add in your name to the bottom corner, giving you the copyrights to all of the photos. 
  • InstaSize- An excellent app for adding a background to your photos. It will let you create many different filters and control the color with accuracy. 
  • Pixlr- This is a fantastic app if you want to add in backgrounds, enhance your photos, and need it on multiple platforms. Every photographer loves this app, and you can quickly download it on your phone!
  • Mexture– The downside to this app is that it is only for iPhones. However, it is one of the coolest if you are looking to layer and fade your photos for an ultra-trippy effect. 

If you are unhappy with your smartphone camera editing features, be sure to adopt one of the applications. You may love the results. 

Phones with The Best Camera

Some smartphones are better than others. Some can even come with more than one lens providing you with a wider picture range. Any smartphone you have is capable of a good picture, but some have better cameras than others. You will also have the option to get editing apps. 

  • Apple iPhone 11– This picks up incredible detail for a smartphone camera, and will allow you to edit directly on the phone versus an app. It has a versatile camera with three different lenses on the back and one on the front. Another benefit of this phone is that it has amazing night vision cameras! Apple is known for making some outstanding products. 
  • Google Pixel 4– This is great for anyone looking to take pictures of scenery on vacation or in general. It has one lens on the front and on the back. If you’re posing in nature a lot, this may be your best option. 
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra– This is a camera with lenses one on top of each other three down the back. There is one lens in the front, making it a great selfie camera. The best feature about this camera is that the zoom is excellent. You can get a close up without it turning super pixelated.

There are so many smartphones out there with amazing cameras; this is just one place to start looking.  These are a few options that will give you amazing pictures so you can produce a few high-quality photos. 

Smartphones Have A Different Kind of Shutter

Smartphones are responsible for some amazing photos, and thanks to their sensor, they can pick up thousands of details. There are other ways to fake the exposure that an average camera would take. Phones are not intended to take too much light for photos, and a shutter would considerably slow it down. If you’re looking for something super professional, you should opt for a camera.

Sources:

https://thesmartphonephotographer.com/phone-camera-sensor/

https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-cameras-explained-767029/

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