What does shutter speed do
Understanding Shutter Speed for Beginners
An image of a bird captured using fast shutter speedOne of the three most important settings in photography is Shutter Speed, the other two being Aperture and ISO. Shutter speed is responsible for two particular things: changing the brightness of your photo and creating dramatic effects by either freezing action or blurring motion. In the following article, we will explain everything you need to know about it in very simple language.
Shutter speed exists because of the camera shutter – which is a curtain in front of the camera sensor that stays closed until the camera fires. When the camera fires, the shutter opens and fully exposes the camera sensor to the light that has passed through your lens. After the sensor is done collecting the light, the shutter closes immediately, stopping the light from hitting the sensor. The button that fires the camera is also called “shutter” or “shutter button,” because it triggers the shutter to open and close.
Table of Contents
What is Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed is the length of time the camera shutter is open, exposing light onto the camera sensor. Essentially, it’s how long your camera spends taking a photo. This has a few important effects on how your images will appear.
When you use a long shutter speed (also known as a “slow” shutter speed), you end up exposing your sensor for a significant period of time. The first big effect of it is motion blur. If your shutter speed is long, moving subjects in your photo will appear blurred along the direction of motion. This effect is used quite often in advertisements of cars and motorbikes, where a sense of speed and motion is communicated to the viewer by intentionally blurring the moving wheels.
Motion blur.Slow shutter speeds are also used to photograph the Milky Way or other objects at night, or in dim environments with a tripod. Landscape photographers may intentionally use long shutter speeds to create a sense of motion on rivers and waterfalls while keeping everything else completely sharp.
On the other hand, shutter speed can also be used to do just the opposite – freeze motion. If you use an especially fast shutter speed, you can eliminate motion even from fast-moving objects, like birds in flight, or cars driving past. If you use a fast shutter speed while taking pictures of water, each droplet will hang in the air completely sharp, which might not even be visible to our own eyes.
Shutter speed: 1/1600th second (a fast shutter speed)All of the above is achieved by simply controlling the shutter speed. In summary, quick shutter speeds freeze action, while long ones create an effect of motion when you photograph moving objects.
How Shutter Speed is Measured
Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second when they are under a second. For example, 1/4 means a quarter of a second, while 1/250 means one-two-hundred-and-fiftieth of a second (or four milliseconds).
Most modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras can handle shutter speeds of 1/4000th of a second at the fastest, while some can handle even quicker speeds of 1/8000th of a second and faster.
On the other hand, the longest available shutter speed on most DSLRs or mirrorless cameras is typically 30 seconds. You can use a longer shutter speed by using external remote triggers, if necessary.
Shutter Speed and Exposure
The other important effect of shutter speed is on exposure, which relates to the brightness of an image. If you use a long shutter speed, your camera sensor gathers a lot of light, and the resulting photo will be quite bright. By using a quick shutter speed, your camera sensor is only exposed to a small fraction of light, resulting in a darker photo.
However, shutter speed is not the only variable that affects the brightness of an image. There are also aperture and ISO, along with the actual brightness of the scene in front of you. So, you have some flexibility when you’re deciding on a shutter speed, but you need to pick your other settings carefully.
Shutter speed can be a vital tool to capture a photo of the proper brightness. On a sunny day, you may need to use a fast shutter speed so that your photo isn’t overexposed.
Or, if it is dark out, a long shutter speed may be necessary to avoid a photo that is too dark (which, in turn, could require a tripod, due to motion blur from handholding the camera). For many people, this is the main reason to adjust shutter speed: to make sure your photos are the proper brightness. Still, motion blur concerns are also very important, and should not be overlooked.
Fast, Slow and Long Shutter Speeds
A fast shutter speed is typically whatever it takes to freeze action. If you are photographing birds, that may be 1/1000th second or faster. However, for general photography of slower-moving subjects, you might be able to take pictures at 1/200th second, 1/100th second, or even longer without introducing motion blur.
Long shutter speeds are typically above 1 second – at which point, you will need to use a tripod to get sharp images. You would use long shutter speeds for certain types of low-light / night photography, or to capture movement intentionally.
If anything in your scene is moving when you use long shutter speeds, it will appear very blurry.
In between, shutter speeds from 1/100th second to 1 second are still considered relatively slow. You may not be able to handle them without introducing camera shake from your hands, especially close to the one-second mark.
This photo is blurry because I used a relatively slow shutter speed of 1/30 second.Also, this strongly depends upon your lens. Some lenses, such as the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8, have specific image stabilization (also known as “vibration reduction”) technologies within the lens that can help photographers take pictures at very slow shutter speeds when hand-holding cameras, without introducing camera shake. Other lenses do not have vibration reduction, which means you need to use the reciprocal rule instead to determine how long your shutter speed should be without introducing blur from camera shake. It is also important that you know how to hold a camera.
How to Set Shutter Speed
Most cameras handle shutter speeds automatically by default.
When the camera is set to “Auto” mode, the shutter speed is selected by the camera without your input (and so are aperture and ISO). However, you can still set the shutter speed manually if necessary:
- By setting the camera to “Shutter Priority” mode, you choose the shutter speed, and the camera automatically selects the aperture.
- By setting the camera to “Manual” mode, you choose both shutter speed and aperture manually.
Within both of these modes, you can choose to set ISO manually or automatically.
In most cases, we recommend letting the camera select the correct shutter speed for you. Still, watch to be certain that you aren’t introducing too much motion blur in a photo (or freezing motion that you want to be blurred). I cover more of this in an article on camera modes, but I tend to shoot in “Aperture Priority” mode 95% of the time, letting the camera calculate the shutter speed automatically.
How to Find Shutter Speed
Do you know how to find what your camera shutter speed is set to? It is typically very easy to find it.
On cameras that have a top panel, the shutter speed is typically located on the top left corner, as circled:
If your camera does not have a top LCD, like some entry-level DSLRs, you can look through the viewfinder, where you will see the shutter speed on the bottom-left side. And if your camera has neither a top LCD nor a viewfinder, like many mirrorless cameras, you can see your shutter speed simply by looking on the back screen.
On most cameras, the shutter speed will not show up directly as a fraction of a second – it will typically be a regular number. When the shutter speed is longer than or equal to one second, you will see something like 1” or 5” (with the quotation sign to indicate a full second).
If you still cannot find the shutter speed, set your camera to “Aperture Priority” mode, and make sure that you have turned “AUTO ISO” off. Then, start pointing around your camera from dark to bright areas. The number that changes will be your shutter speed.
Below are some other related posts you might enjoy:
- Seven Tips to Pick the Perfect Shutter Speed
- Guide to Motion Blur and Panning in Photography
- What is Exposure?
- What is Shutter Shock?
- How to Take Sharp Photos
We also made a video explaining shutter speed if that’s how you prefer to learn things:
Shutter Speed FAQ
Below are some of the frequently asked questions related to shutter speed:
What is a Slow Shutter Speed?
A long shutter speed is typically around 1 second and longer. In comparison, a slow shutter speed can refer to a fraction of a second, such as 1/2 or 1/4.
What is a Fast Shutter Speed?
A fast shutter speed is often referred to as the shutter speed that is fast enough to freeze action.
Typically, photographers refer to small fractions of a second, such as 1/250th of a second or faster when talking about fast shutter speed.
How Do I Find My Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed is often displayed on your camera’s top or rear LCD as a number or fraction. If you half-press the shutter release, then move your camera towards a brighter area, the number that changes is typically your shutter speed.
Which Shutter Speed is the Slowest?
Depending on your camera, the slowest shutter speed that is allowed to use without using a remote shutter release is typically 30 seconds.
What is the Fastest Shutter Speed I can Use on My Camera?
That depends on the camera’s capabilities. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras can shoot as fast as 1/4000 of a second using the mechanical shutter. Some of the more advanced cameras can shoot as fast as 1/8000 of a second with mechanical shutters, and even faster when using electronic shutters.
How is Shutter Speed Written?
Shutter speed is always written in seconds or a fraction of a second. For example, a 1-second shutter speed is typically displayed as a single number with a quote sign or a letter “s” at the end of it, such as 1″ or 1s. Whereas a fraction of a second such as 1/250 is typically displayed as 1/250 or simply 250 on most cameras.
What is the Best Shutter Speed?
There is no such thing, as it really depends on what you are trying to achieve.
How Do I Change Shutter Speed on My Phone?
While some smartphones allow changing shutter speed using the built-in phone app, most require installing a third-party camera app to allow changing the shutter speed. If you use an iPhone, try out some apps like Camera+.
And if you want to continue learning from our Photography Basics Guide, below is our Table of Contents.
The next chapter in the guide covers everything you need to know about aperture.
Take me to Chapter 4: Aperture
Nikon | Imaging Products | DSLR Camera Basics
Shutter speed is a measurement of the time the shutter is open, shown in seconds or fractions of a second: 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s … 1/250 s, 1/ 500 s, etc. The faster the shutter speed, the shorter the time the image sensor is exposed to light; the slower the shutter speed, the longer the time the image sensor is exposed to light.
If you are photographing a subject that is in motion, you will get different effects at different shutter speeds. Fast shutter speeds will “freeze” motion, while slow shutter speeds introduce blur from two sources: camera movement (camera shake) and subject movement (for information on this topic, see “Camera Blur and Motion Blur”). In other words, the faster the shutter speed the easier it is to photograph the subject without blur and “freeze” motion and the smaller the effects of camera shake.
In contrast, slower shutter speeds are suited to suggesting the motion, such as that of flowing water or other moving subjects. Changing the shutter speed gives you control over whether to “freeze” or suggest motion.
Fast Shutter Speeds
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- ※The illustration is an artist's conception.
Blur Caused by Subject Motion at Slow Shutter Speeds
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- ※The illustration is an artist's conception.
In the photograph taken at a fast shutter speed, the walker appears “frozen” in mid step. This is due to the fact that only a brief instant of the walker's motion was recorded because the shutter was only open for a short time. In the photograph taken at a slow shutter speed, the walker is blurred. This is due to the fact that the walker moved while the shutter was open.
- Fast shutter speed
- Slow shutter speed
Expressing Subject Movement
- Fast shutter speeds freeze motion.
- Slow shutter speeds suggest motion.
Shutter Speed Values
Shutter speeds change as shown below.
Choosing a shutter speed one step faster than the current shutter speed (by, for example, changing shutter speed from 1/60 s to 1/125 s) is referred to as “increasing shutter speed by one step” and halves the amount of time the shutter is open. Choosing a shutter speed one step slower than the current shutter speed (for example, by changing shutter speed from 1/125 s to 1/60 s) is referred to as “slowing shutter speed by one step” and doubles the amount of time the shutter is open.
If you are using a Nikon DSLR Camera, shutter speed changes in 1/3 steps; some models also support increments of 1 step and 1/2 step.
Camera Blur and Motion Blur |
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- Camera blur
- The camera moved while the shutter was open, producing blur.
- Motion blur
- The main subject moved in the wind while the shutter was open and is blurred; the surrounding flowers and leaves, which were at rest while the shutter was open, are not.
- Out-of-focus shot (focus blur)
- The camera is focused not on the flower in the center but on a flower further back.
- Intended result
- The central flower is in focus.
Sample Camera Displays
- camera information display
Shutter speed:
Speeds faster than one second are shown as fractions (e.g.: …1/125, 1/160, 1/200, 1/250…). Some cameras may omit the numerator so that “1/125” becomes “125,” “1/250” becomes “250,” etc. Speeds slower than one second are shown by a double prime symbol following the value (e.g.: 1 ˝).
What is shutter speed? | FIU
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Photography is a beautiful art form that is over 200 years old. All types of photography have unique tricks and techniques for creating stunning images, although many photographers use shutter speed.
So what is shutter speed?
Quick Navigation
- What is shutter speed?
- What is the difference between fast and slow shutter speed
- What controls shutter speed?
- How to calculate the correct exposure for your photo
- in full swing
- in low light conditions
- Change in shutter speed
- Understanding the excerpt priority
- Why do you have to change the speed of the gate
- Executive shutter speed
- What is a slow shutter speed?
- How to use a tripod for slow shutter speeds
- How to use an outbreak with a long exposure
- Synchronization rate of Flash Mapamy
- Board freezing to freeze the action of
- shutters for blurring
- Examples of blur in motion
- Using chamber stabilization systems
- when do not use a long shutter speed
- Related questions
- What is the correct shutter speed?
- What's the best way to shoot sports on an overcast day? nine0012
- Why would I use a faster shutter speed?
- Conclusion
What is an extract?
Shutter speed determines how long the camera shutter remains open when taking a picture.
When you photograph at night or in low light conditions, the shutter speed should be slower so that more light hits the sensor and creates an image.
You can measure shutter speed in seconds and fractions of a second. A fast shutter speed will freeze any movement or action in sharp detail, although it can make your subject look blurry if it's not still during the exposure. nine0003
What is the difference between fast and slow shutter speed
Shutter speed is measured in units of time, such as seconds or fractions of a second. A slower (or slower) shutter speed allows more light to reach the film (for an analog camera) or camera sensor.
Conversely, a faster (or faster) shutter speed allows less light to hit the film or camera sensor.
To determine the basic shutter speed of your camera, use the focal length of your camera lens. If you have a 50mm lens, start using a shutter speed of at least 1/50 as you move forward. nine0003
What controls shutter speed?
Shutter speed controls both exposure and image movement.
- Exposure. Lighting also affects how bright or dark the photo will be. A slow shutter speed brightens the image, while a slow shutter speed darkens it.
- Movement. The slower the shutter speed, the more motion blur you will get. the faster the shutter speed, the sharper and jerkier the motion becomes.
According to VHT Studios, about 32% of homes sell faster with professional photography. So mastering all the shutter speed angles will go a long way when it comes to real estate photography.
That's where Real Estate Photography comes in, helping interior and real estate photographers succeed in their jobs.
How to calculate the correct exposure for your photo
The best way to find out how your photos will look at different exposures is to experiment. Try taking many shots with different exposures and then comparing them on your computer screen after developing them. nine0003
This way you can easily see which ones are the best.
In the middle of the day
If you take a picture in broad daylight or in any other situation with a lot of light, the shutter speed will be very fast.
For example, if your scene has an exposure value (EV) of 15, the rule for determining which shutter speed to use would be "reverse", meaning that the shutter speed should be 15 seconds.
In low light conditions
If you are taking a picture in low light conditions, such as at night or indoors with the lights turned off, the shutter speed should be much slower. nine0003
For example, if it's dark outside and your scene has an EV of 12, we can use our rule to find the "inverse value" to determine that the shutter speed should be around 48 seconds.
Changing the shutter speed
Your camera automatically detects shutter speed and aperture. When shooting in shutter-priority mode or in manual mode (S or TV), you can set the shutter speed manually. You will be able to use your creativity much more freely than before.
Shutter Priority is a great alternative for people who want to forego auto mode while still being able to adjust aperture (although this mode is also often used by pros who shoot in changing lighting conditions).
- Manual: Set the shutter speed and aperture here to suit your needs.
- Shutter priority mode: You only set the shutter speed as the camera will judge the aperture. nine0012
Shutter speed can be viewed on the top LCD screen of digital SLR cameras, through the viewfinder and on the rear screen. Shutter speed can be changed on a per-camera basis, and some allow you to choose which control wheel will do this.
Understanding Shutter Priority Mode
Aperture Priority Mode is a common thing for photographers, although Shutter Priority Mode gives you control over how much light enters the camera. When using aperture priority mode, the size of your aperture determines how much light can enter; shutter priority mode is speed.
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This is good for astrophotography, and also for motion freeze - stopping the action. If you're trying to capture fast-moving subjects in low light, this is the mode for you.
Shutter-priority mode lets you control how slow or fast the shutter speed should be, allowing a lot of light to be captured in the image.
Why you should change your shutter speed
The shutter speed you choose depends on the circumstances and places you shoot. A fast shutter speed will be the best alternative if you want to freeze motion when shooting fast moving subjects. This will reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor. nine0003
So you either need to change the shutter speed or change the aperture and make it wider.
Exposure and shutter speed
Another important benefit of shutter speed is its effect on exposure, which is related to image brightness. When using a slow shutter speed, the camera's sensor collects a lot of light, resulting in a relatively bright photo.
When using a fast shutter speed, the camera sensor is exposed to less light. The result is a darker photo. nine0003
However, the brightness of an image is not only determined by the shutter speed. There's also ISO and Aperture, as well as the actual brightness of the scene ahead of you. You have some leeway when choosing your shutter speed; however, you must select other settings with extreme care.
What is a slow shutter speed?
Slow shutter speeds typically exceed one second. At this stage, you will need a tripod to get clear images. Slow shutter speeds will be used for certain types of shooting in low light or at night, as well as for targeted motion capture. nine0003
If your scene has any movement at slow shutter speeds, it will look very blurry.
How to use a tripod for slower shutter speeds
A tripod can help you avoid camera shake, although it may not be enough. If you have a slow shutter speed or an unstable hand, the image will still be blurry even with the most stable tripods.
Even if your subject is perfectly sharp, you are more likely to get blurry photos on a tripod, although it's all about the relationship between the subject and the camera. It has everything to do with:
- How you aim your shot
- Where do you place your tripod
- How stable is it
- And in some cases whether you use mirror lockup or not.
The main advantage of using a tripod is that you can avoid blurring yourself. You can freely adjust the composition with a tripod without worrying about camera shake or the stability of your hand. If you move, the tripod stays in place. This is handy when you take quick shots, such as players running and kicking the ball in a football game. nine0003
How to use a slow shutter speed flash
You can always use a slow shutter speed flash, although this may cause problems. When you use a flash, your subject appears brighter and any background appears darker - it all depends on the relative intensity of the light from your flash to the existing natural light.
This makes pictures taken at very slow shutter speeds look better when there is no flash. If you use flash, your subject will look good, although the background will be too dark to see anything. nine0003
So if you're taking a photo at a very low speed and want to get some visual context, fire the flash only after the shutter speed has slowed down enough to have plenty of natural light around your subject.
Flash sync speed
In the old days, when digital cameras weren't everywhere, you had to use a flash at a shutter speed of no slower than 1/60 or 1/125 of a second. This made it difficult for photographers to get a good exposure in low light, as they had to raise the ISO. nine0003
Standards have changed over the years. However, check your manual if you're not sure if your camera can take photos at shutter speeds slower than 1/60 or 1/125 of a second. You may have very different standards these days.
Shutter speeds to freeze the action
If you want to capture any movement in your pictures, you need a fast shutter speed. For standard photographs, this can be 1/125 or 1/250 of a second. If you want to take pictures before the subject leaves the frame, you will need a faster shutter speed. nine0003
From there, sports photographers have their own standards for what is considered "fast". A good reference is 1/500 of a second, although this is just a starting point. If you're photographing fast moving subjects, it's best to experiment until you find the right settings.
Shutter speeds for motion blur
If you want to capture motion, the shutter speed must be slow enough and the motion not stop in place. This is because what is "frozen in time" has no visible motion blur. On the other hand, something with motion blur looks like it is in motion. nine0003
If you want to capture something with motion blur, the starting point is 1/15 second. If you use slower shutter speeds and still get good results, try not to slow them down. There will always be a certain amount of trial and error.
Examples of Motion Blur
As an example, consider photographing a soft waterfall with a slow shutter speed. You don't want the water to look like a fast moving blob. Instead, you want it to look smooth and fluid, even if there is still motion blur in the game. It is best to reduce the shutter speed even more. nine0003
There are great examples of motion blur on the web, especially on Flickr. Look for images with "drip" in the title and you'll see what I mean.
Using camera stabilization systems
Sometimes when photographing action or movement, even a fast-moving subject can appear blurry. This could be because your camera is moving when you're trying to take a picture, or because you don't have a tripod and everything is happening too fast. nine0003
Using stabilization systems can help with this by compensating for your movement so that the final image looks crisp and clear. If you're photographing birds in flight and can't use a tripod, then this might be your best bet.
These systems operate via optical or electronic means. Optical stabilization systems rely on lenses that physically move to compensate for movement and help keep images sharp. Electronic stabilization systems do the same, changing camera settings such as aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to compensate for movement. nine0003
When not to use a slow shutter speed
When you use a slow shutter speed, your photo will be properly exposed. However, one important consideration is that objects in motion can be blurry if they move when your camera's sensor is exposed to light.
The best way to see this effect is to photograph running water at a very slow shutter speed. As a result, the water will be much more blurry than if it was shot at a fast shutter speed. nine0003
Not only is running water less harsh at slow shutter speeds; every moving subject in your photo can become blurry, depending on how fast it's moving, how long your shutter is open, and which direction it's moving in relation to the camera.
Related questions
What is the correct shutter speed?
This depends on the amount of light present in the scene.
For shooting outdoors on a sunny day, you'll need a fast shutter speed, such as 1/500s. Indoors, you will need a slower shutter speed, such as 1/100. nine0074
What's the best way to shoot sports on an overcast day?
You would like to use aperture priority and select a fast shutter speed. This ensures that your photos don't come out too dark, and remember that you can use burst mode to take multiple shots quickly.
Why would I use a faster shutter speed?
Photographers can use a faster shutter speed to ensure that nothing with motion blur is captured when photographing. For example, if you are photographing a busy river scene, you can use a fast shutter speed to keep your images from being washed out. nine0074
Conclusion
Understanding shutter speed will help you reach your photographic potential and succeed in your photography career. Try different targets and shutter speeds day and night to perfect your technique.
deciphering shutter speed and motion
Many years have passed, but professional photographer Adam Welch still remembers how embarrassed he was when he first realized that shutter speed had absolutely nothing to do with how fast the opening and the camera shutter closes. As a beginner, he intuitively assumed that some cameras were simply made with faster shutters. nine0003
Shutter speed refers to the time the shutter stays open, not how fast it mechanically opens or closes. So, in a sense, there are no slow or fast shutter speeds. There is only a longer or shorter shutter time relative to the camera and subject's own movement.
Shutter speed and motion effects
Let's imagine for a moment that you are the fastest runner in the world and no other person can beat you in a race. Now imagine yourself running alongside a cheetah. Suddenly your speed doesn't seem all that fast, but let's not stop there. Let's say a cheetah decides to race the world's fastest jet and wins every time.
Then put it against the speed of light... The fact is that your camera's shutter speed interacts with movement in the same way. nine0003
A shutter speed (or exposure time) of 1 second is not a problem if the camera is securely mounted on a tripod. If you remove the camera from a tripod and shoot handheld at the same shutter speed, it becomes difficult to avoid camera shake in the image.
The same is true for the movement of objects; we can blur or freeze motion depending on the selected shutter speed. The perceived movement of an object is determined by the relationship between the shutter opening time and the speed of the object itself. nine0003
Practical examples
Let's choose a shutter speed randomly; let's say it's 1/60 of a second. If you are shooting a subject that is absolutely stationary relative to the camera, such as a switched off ceiling fan, everything looks calm. Let's pretend you just love taking pictures of ceiling fans.
Now we get another image with the fan on, and the situation changes. The fan blades move through space much faster than a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second can capture, resulting in the blades looking washed out. nine0003
At 1/60th of a second the blades come out blurry
And then Einstein intervenes to save us. All you have to do to control the movement in the frame is to increase the shutter speed so that it is faster than the blades of the ceiling fan.
With 1/125 s the movement becomes less pronounced
... and 1/500 s almost completely freeze the movement of the blades. One more stop faster (1/1000) and motion will be frozen.
Once you understand that shutter speed is a critical factor in controlling the perception of subject motion in a frame, you can control how much motion is apparent in your shot. nine0003
How does shutter speed vary with ISO and aperture?
So how exactly does shutter speed affect the entire exposure triangle? All parts of the triangle (ISO, aperture and shutter speed) determine the amount and duration of light that enters the camera.
Each of these factors complement each other: you can achieve similar exposure results by adjusting the variables relative to each other. Since we are dealing with shutter speed in our case, we will need to adjust the aperture and/or ISO to compensate for the shutter speed selection. nine0003
Simply put, for every full stop of shutter speed, you are doubling or halving the amount of light entering the camera. This means that a shutter speed of 1/250 second is twice as fast and lets in half as much light as a shutter speed of 1/125 second.
Alternatively, a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second is about half as slow as 1/125 and therefore doubles the amount of light transmitted. So a shutter speed of 1/250s is one stop faster than 1/125s, and 1/60s is one stop slower. nine0003
The relationship between aperture and ISO comes into play when you realize that they are also measured in stops, albeit in a slightly different way. This means that we can directly relate shutter speed to the available ISO and aperture, thinking in terms of stops.
Let's say we're shooting a moving subject at 1/60s at f/5.6 and ISO 100. The image is correctly exposed, but the subject comes out blurry. Next, we find that a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second (two stops faster) stops motion, but also leaves our scene two stops underexposed because we've effectively quadrupled the amount of light. nine0003
To maintain exposure, we must somehow compensate for the reduced amount of light due to the faster shutter speed by increasing the ISO by two stops, or by shooting at an aperture two stops wider than f/5.6. So to maintain the same exposure, the new exposure settings should be either 1/250s at f/2.8 and ISO 100, or 1/250s at f/5.6 and ISO 400.
Some considerations about shutter speed
The longer the focal length of the lens (the greater the zoom), the more noticeable the movement of the subject and camera shake become. If you're going to be using slow shutter speeds, make sure you have a sturdy tripod and, ideally, a remote shutter release.
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There are situations where you cannot equalize the exposure using only camera settings to get the level of movement you want. This is where a neutral density filter will be worth its weight in gold.
When shooting long exposures of the night sky, use the "Rule of 600" to approximate the maximum possible shutter time before the stars start moving, depending on the focal length of your lenses. The "Rule of 600" states that 600 times the focal length gives you an approximate maximum shutter speed that you can use as a starting point for other exposure factors. nine0003
Reduce camera shake when shooting handheld by applying the so-called reciprocity rule. Simply put, you should not shoot at a shutter speed that is less than one divided by the focal length of the lens. This means that with a full frame sensor and an 85mm lens, shooting slower than 1/85s is not recommended. If you are using a crop camera, then the formula will be 1 more (focal length times sensor crop factor).
