The concept of the open source camera.

[koraks]

There is little need for advanced microprocessor in a practical film camera.

The fact is that some things are just easier to solve in software/firmware than in hardware. E.g. a shutter with a number of speeds and decent accuracy is way easier to implement using an electronics + software approach than using mechanical escapements etc. It'll also be more reliable, easier to calibrate (or even no calibration necessary) and simpler to construct with less moving parts.

 

[Chan Tran]

The fact is that some things are just easier to solve in software/firmware than in hardware. E.g. a shutter with a number of speeds and decent accuracy is way easier to implement using an electronics + software approach than using mechanical escapements etc. It'll also be more reliable, easier to calibrate (or even no calibration necessary) and simpler to construct with less moving parts.

You don't need advanced microprocessor to have shutter accuracy and while electronically controlled shutters are accurate at slow speed, at high speed like 1/1000 and higher they don't fare better than purely mechanical shutter. At those speed the shutter travel time, acceleration, deceleration etc.. have a lot more influent on the shutter accuracy.

 

[lumoStoria]

You don't need advanced microprocessor to have shutter accuracy and while electronically controlled shutters are accurate at slow speed, at high speed like 1/1000 and higher they don't fare better than purely mechanical shutter. At those speed the shutter travel time, acceleration, deceleration etc.. have a lot more influent on the shutter accuracy.

I don't think that is true. Assuming a smooth and consistent movement of the shutter curtains (that is a pure mechanical problem), you can fine-tune the higher speeds like the 1/1000sec much better on a electro-mechanical camera than on a pure mechanical one. Usually, you do this by adjusting the release time of the second curtain. Yes. there is an acceleration and deceleraration when using shutter curtains but if the mechanics of the shutter is in good order they do not influence the shutter accuracy significantly as long as they are consistent. If they deviate a lot between shots neither a mechanical nor an electro-mechancial shutter would be accurate.

 

[koraks]

You don't need advanced microprocessor to have shutter accuracy and while electronically controlled shutters are accurate at slow speed, at high speed like 1/1000 and higher they don't fare better than purely mechanical shutter. At those speed the shutter travel time, acceleration, deceleration etc.. have a lot more influent on the shutter accuracy.

Need - no. But it's the easiest way.