In a camera, is the shutter in front of or behind the gate/sensor?

In a camera, is the shutter in front of or behind the gate/sensor?

• A. In front
• B. Behind
• C. Above
• D. Next to

Answer: (A)

Exposure is controlled by a shutter that sits between the lens and the image sensor. It must be in front of the sensor so it can open for a precise amount of time and then close to stop the light, shaping the exposure. If the shutter were behind the sensor, it would not regulate the light reaching the sensor in the moment you press the shutter, making proper exposure impossible with a mechanical curtain. In cameras that use a mechanical shutter, the shutter curtain is located in front of the sensor (the gate), so the correct placement is in front.

Exposure is controlled by a shutter that sits between the lens and the image sensor. It must be in front of the sensor so it can open for a precise amount of time and then close to stop the light, shaping the exposure. If the shutter were behind the sensor, it would not regulate the light reaching the sensor in the moment you press the shutter, making proper exposure impossible with a mechanical curtain. In cameras that use a mechanical shutter, the shutter curtain is located in front of the sensor (the gate), so the correct placement is in front.