Shutter Speeds

Shutter Speeds control how much time the light can reach the camera sensor. It is a camera setting that controls the amount of time the shutter is open. (To better understand how a shutter works, think of a stage curtain opening and closing.)

Shutter speeds also control how movement (or lack of movement) can be captured in a photograph. The higher the shutter speed number (i.e. 1/500) the faster the shutter opens and closes. This action reduces the amount of light let in and stops or freezes any movement in the image. You would want to use a faster shutter speed to freeze the action in sports like soccer or football.

The lower the shutter speed number, the longer the shutter is open and it may cause blurring because the subject is moving or even the camera may have motion (sometimes called camera blur or motion blur). Sometimes motion blur is a desired result - say for example you want to show speed.

Numbers indicated like 2" means the shutter is open for 2 seconds.
Numbers indicated like 1/60 or 1/250 is actually a fraction of a second.

It is important to remember that most photographers can hand-hold the camera (meaning without a tripod) at about 1/60th or 1/125th of a second without having motion blur. Anything longer than these will most likely require a tripod and remote release or self-timer).

*Information from Judith Pisconeri and Light and Lens. www.pisconeri.com