Shutter Speed - An Important Series for Point & Shoot, iPhones & dSLR Cameras

Shutter Speed - Post #1

As you read the post and study the information on shutter speeds, also note the shutter speed directly under each of the photos. What do you notice about the photos and shutter speeds?

Shutter Speed  = 1/80

My posts on aperture-f/stop were easy, right? This will be too. Leave any questions in your comment box.

With a Point & Shoot or iPhone shutter speed is set by shooting on automatic or the auto modes like action, portrait or macro. My Point & Shoot also has a specific shutter priority mode, yours may also. Check your camera's manual for setting shutter speed.

Shutter Speed = 1/250

On a dSLR, shutter speed is set automatically when using the various auto modes. When using the shutter priority mode or manual mode you set the shutter speed. Check your camera's manual on how to set priority mode.

Shutter Speed explained the easy way:

When you click the button on your camera to take a photo, the shutter opens and exposes the camera’s sensor to light. The shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open from the time the button is clicked to the time it returns to its original position. This action is called shutter speed or exposure time.

Shutter Speed = 1/650

Shutter speed is the length of time that your camera sensor ‘sees’ the scene you’re capturing.

Don’t get this confused with aperture-f/stop although the two work together and play an important role in the outcome of your photo.

Shutter speed is measured in seconds, or in most cases, fractions of seconds. The bigger the denominator is of the fraction the faster the speed. 1/1000th is much faster than 1/30th. A denominator is the number below the line in a common fraction like 1/30. So, 1/30 = 30.

Shutter Speed = 1/1000

A typical shutter speed range may look like this:

Shutter speeds: 1sec; 1/2sec; 1/4sec; 1/8th; 1/15th; 1/30th; 1/60th; 1/125th; 1/250th; 1/500th; 1/1000th; 1/2000th

When viewing shutter speed in your camera read-out, these fractions will show as a whole number: 1/60 reads as 60, etc.

As a very rough rule of thumb, use high shutter speeds like 1,000 or higher for fast moving objects. 500 is a good general shutter speed, for slow moving objects use 125 or 250. But – this is a very rough guide. We will discuss this more in my next post.

In most cases you’ll probably be using shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second or faster. This is because anything slower than this is very difficult to use without getting camera shake. Camera shake is when your camera is moving while the shutter is open and results in blur in your photos.

Shutter Speed = 1/2000

If you’re using a slow shutter speed, typically slower than 1/60th, you’ll need a tripod or a way to stabilize your camera. Setting your camera on a table or other stable object and using the self-timer works if you don’t have a tripod. If your camera offers vibration reduction turn it on. Your manual will tell you how.

We will discuss more on setting shutter speeds in my next post.

Meanwhile – happy clicking!