Home > Shutter speed

In combination with variation of the lens aperture, this regulates how exposed the film will be. A fast shutter speed demands a larger aperture to avoid under-exposure, just as a slow shutter speed is offset by a very small aperture to avoid over-exposure.

Shutter speed is measured in seconds. A typical shutter speed for photographs taken in sunlight is 1/125th of a second. Very short shutter speeds are used to freeze fast-moving subjects, for example at sporting events. Very long shutter speeds are used in low-light conditions such as night or to intentionally blur a moving subject for artistic effect.

In early days of photography, available shutter speeds were somewhat ad hoc, but later a standardised 2:1 scale was adopted, which can be extended at either end:

• 1/1000 s
• 1/500 s
• 1/250 s
• 1/125 s
• 1/60 s
• 1/30 s
• 1/15 s
• 1/8 s
• 1/4 s
• 1/2 s
• 1 s
• B — keep the shutter open as long as the release lever is engaged.
• T — keep the shutter open until the lever is pressed again.

The ability of the photographer to take images without noticeable blurring by camera movement is an important parameter in the choice of slowest possible shutter speed for a handheld camera. The rough guide used by most 35mm photographers is that the slowest possible shutter speed that can be used with great care is the shutter speed numerically closest to the lens focal length. For example, for handheld use of a 35mm camera with a 50mm normal lens, the closest shutter speed is 1/60 s. Note that using this with "great care" would normally mean bracing the camera, arms, or body to minimise camera movement. For a free-standing, unsupported photographer it is usually necessary to use the next fastest shutter speed which would be 1/125 s in this case.

Other 35mm handheld examples are:

• 28mm wide angle lens, 1/30 s may be used with care, and 1/60 s is advised.
• 105 medium telephoto lens, 1/125 s may be used with care, and 1/250 s is advised.
• 300mm long telephoto lens, 1/250 s may be used with care, and 1/500 s is advised.

In cinematographyCinematography is the art and process of recording visual images for motion pictures. A professional who engages in cinematography is known as a cinematographer. As a process, it is closely related to photography. Cinematography involves the framing of a, shutter speed is a function of the frame rateFrame rate or frame frequency, is the measurement of how quickly an imaging device can produce several consecutive images, called frames. It applies to computer graphics, to video cameras, to film cameras, and to input devices such as motion picture film and shutter angle . Most motion picture film cameras use a rotating shutter with a shutter angle of 170° to 180°, which leaves the film exposed for about 1/48 or 1/50 second at a standard 24 frame/s.

Cinematographic Shutter Formulae

Where E = Exposure, F = Frames per second, and S = Shutter opening:

See also: Exposure, shutter, f number, exposure valueIn photography, exposure value (EV is a value given to all combination of camera shutter speed and aperture that gives the same exposure. By definition, EV 0 corresponds to a shutter speed of 1 s and an aperture of f/1. It is a base 2 logarithmic scale, a