Shutter speed

Main Hero

Definition

How long the sensor is exposed to light.

Advanced

Faster speeds, such as 1/1000 freeze motion, while slower speeds, such as 1/30, introduce motion blur. Shutter speed interacts with aperture and ISO to complete exposure. In video, shutter is paired with frame rate using the 180-degree guideline.

Why it matters

Controls motion rendering and camera shake.

Use cases

  • Freezing action during events
  • Intentional blur for dynamic product shots
  • Interview stills where sharpness is critical

Metrics

  • Handheld minimum for stills: about 1 over focal length
  • Video baseline: shutter near 1 over twice the frame rate

Issues

  • Camera shake at slow speeds
  • Flicker under artificial lights at certain speeds

Example

Using 1/250 to photograph a speaker mid-gesture without blur.