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Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 3 / 360° Shutter
Definition
A 360-degree shutter describes an exposure lasting a full frame interval. In a digital-camera shutter-angle convention, it represents the longest theoretical exposure for that frame rate, though the exact available setting depends on the camera and recording mode.
At 24 fps, a full frame interval is 1/24 second. At 25 fps it is 1/25 second, and at 30 fps it is 1/30 second. The angle does not describe the lens’s field of view.
Compared With a 180-Degree Shutter
A 180-degree setting exposes for half the frame interval. Moving from 180 to 360 degrees doubles the exposure time and, with the other exposure controls unchanged, gathers twice as much light: one stop more.
It also records movement for longer within each frame. Moving subjects and camera motion generally show more blur. The additional exposure therefore changes the appearance of the shot as well as its brightness.
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Practical Example
A static night shot at 24 fps is underexposed at a 180-degree shutter. Selecting a full-frame exposure may gain one stop, but a person walking through the scene will leave a longer motion trace. Whether that is acceptable depends on the intended look and how the shot cuts with the surrounding coverage.
If the production needs the original motion rendering, adding light or changing another exposure control may be more appropriate. A shutter adjustment should be communicated as a creative and technical change, not treated as free brightness.
Digital and Mechanical Limits
Traditional film cameras need a dark interval while film moves through the gate, so a literal fully open rotating shutter cannot operate like ordinary intermittent film transport. Digital camera menus use angle as a convenient way to express exposure relative to frame rate. Their readout and timing limitations still determine what can actually be recorded.
Checks Before Using It
- Review moving subjects and camera moves at normal playback speed.
- Check whether the mode supports exactly 360 degrees or a slightly shorter maximum.
- Test practical lights and screens for flicker or banding.
- Tell editorial about footage with an intentionally different motion texture.
- Recheck exposure if the frame rate changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 360 degrees create slow motion?
No. Slow motion depends on the relationship between capture and playback frame rates.
Will it remove rolling shutter?
No. Exposure duration and the sensor’s readout timing are different characteristics.
Related Terms
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