Precision
Shutter Testing
Reinvented.
Photon-1 brings sub-microsecond timing accuracy and a clean modern workflow to camera repair — in a compact, open device designed to last decades.
The modern shutter tester for camera repair professionals.
Photon-1 is a dedicated shutter speed tester built around a precision optical sensor and hardware comparator, delivering timing accuracy that bench-top oscilloscope setups can't match in convenience — and legacy testers can't touch in features. One button, instant readout, instant output.
Precision Shutter Speed Tester
│
Optical sensor
Light detection — fast edge capture
│
Processing unit
Sub-µs hardware timing
├── OLED display
└── Result output
Photon-1 — Precision Hardware
Built around a precision optical sensor and a dedicated hardware comparator for clean, debounce-free edge detection. The timing circuit captures both shutter curtain transitions with sub-microsecond resolution across the full speed range.
Results appear instantly on the integrated OLED display. A formatted report is output with measured speed, deviation from nominal, and curtain travel times — no cables, no screen, no PC required on the bench.
A clean workflow — no laptop, no drivers, no nonsense.
Point the sensor at the film plane, trip the shutter. Photon-1 captures both curtain transitions, computes speed, travel time, and deviation from nominal, then displays results on the OLED — all in under two seconds.
The firmware is fully documented and will be available on GitHub. Each measurement stores speed, both curtain times, and efficiency — giving repair technicians the full picture, not just a single number.
Date : 2026-04-11 14:32
Camera : [user input]
Set speed : 1/250 s
Measured : 1/263 s (+5.2%)
Curtain 1 : 3.81 ms
Curtain 2 : 3.78 ms
Delta : 0.03 ms
Status : WITHIN SPEC ✓
Engineered for Repair Technicians and Camera Enthusiasts.
Hardware capture delivers sub-microsecond timing resolution — far beyond what any software or audio-based tool can achieve.
Both shutter curtains are timed independently. Travel time, inter-curtain delta, and efficiency ratio are all reported — the full picture for any diagnosis.
A formatted, timestamped report is generated the moment the shutter fires. No PC, no app, no setup required.
Fully documented firmware, published on GitHub at launch. Repairable, auditable, and built to last.
Results appear on the integrated display immediately after the shutter fires — speed, EV deviation, and curtain status at a glance.
Photon-1 is fully self-contained. One button, one sensor, one result. The bench stays clean and the workflow stays fast.
Works with any focal-plane or leaf shutter — 35 mm SLR, rangefinder, medium format. A mounting adapter kit covers the most common film formats.
Each measurement shows measured speed, EV offset from nominal, percentage deviation, and a clear WITHIN SPEC / OUT OF SPEC verdict.
Specifications.
At launch — includes device + all future firmware updates
Frequently Asked Questions.
Photon-1 works with any camera that uses a focal-plane or leaf shutter — 35 mm SLR, rangefinder, medium format. The sensor is positioned at the film plane. A mounting adapter set will be available for the most common formats.
The hardware capture circuit delivers sub-microsecond timing resolution. Across the typical shutter speed range, measured accuracy is well within ±0.5%. At very high speeds, the device flags borderline measurements automatically.
No. Photon-1 is fully self-contained. The OLED displays the result immediately after the shutter fires. A laptop is never needed on the bench.
Yes. The full firmware source code and schematics will be published on GitHub at launch.
Photon-1 captures both curtain transitions independently, reporting individual travel times, the delta between them, and the overall efficiency ratio — the data technicians actually need to diagnose curtain timing issues.
Photon-1 is currently in active development. Subscribe above to receive launch updates.
Updates.
ERC cleared — zero errors. Component placement in progress on the custom 2-layer board. Routing prioritised for signal integrity.
Hardware input capture working. Both curtain transitions captured and timestamped. OLED display output confirmed. Output integration in progress.
Enclosure design underway in Fusion 360. Material selected for temperature resistance and printability. Sensor mount geometry being finalised.
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