Shutter Speeds

Ghost in the Shell · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:09

Ok i need some help.

Can someone help me to understand and determine the right shutter speeds to use in certain situations.

4000
3000
2000
1500
1000
750
500
350
250
180
125
90
60
45
30
20
15
10
8
6
4
.3
.5
.7
1.0
1.5
2.0
3.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
30.0
BULB

with that list i was hoping to understand the following:

at what point does motion become blurred.
at what point is it most reasonably considered difficult to use handheld without losing focus.
what areas are best for what kind of shots. (i.e. 15 seconds+ good for shooting moving traffic at night)

and just some general advice on what others have found to be the case or learnt from trying etc.

thanks!

Joe T · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:13

The rule of thumb for handholding is 1/ the focal length. Whether this includes 1.5 or 1.6 conversion factor is open to debate.

Yes, 15s+ is good for shooting traffic trails.

To capture a fast moving obect dead still you need 1/1000 or faster.

Does that help any?

SDK^ · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:17

When taking photos of people you should really use 1/60 (60 in the above list) or faster.
Motorsport panning shots 1/250 or slower

Other stuff depends on subject speed, distance, available light etc.

e.g. You can't just decide to use 1/4000 and hope to get a good exposure. You need to balance shutter speed, aperture and ISO with the lighting conditions you're shooting in.

Ghost in the Shell · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:19

The rule of thumb for handholding is 1/ the focal length

can you explain that a little better?

SDK^ · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:21

Ghost in the Shell said:
can you explain that a little better?

Match shutter speed with focal length

i.e.
Focal length 300mm - Shutter speed 1/320 (nearest setting)
Focal length 100mm - Shutter speed 1/100

etc...

This is to avoid blur from camera shake

Ghost in the Shell · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:21

e.g. You can't just decide to use 1/4000 and hope to get a good exposure. You need to balance shutter speed, aperture and ISO with the lighting conditions you're shooting in.

i understand that but i am trying work out at what point in the shutter speed i need to rely on those other factors to help me get the shot.

maybe im going about it the wrong way but i took a lot of party shots recently some worked some didnt and its the blurring that im trying to eliminate

Ghost in the Shell · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:22

SDK^ said:
Match shutter speed with focal length

i.e.
Focal length 300mm - Shutter speed 1/320 (nearest setting)
Focal length 100mm - Shutter speed 1/100

etc...

This is to avoid blur from camera shake

this is purely for use on primes like my 50 so that should be easy to learn from (unless i get into the conversion debate...)

SDK^ · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:24

Ghost in the Shell said:
i understand that but i am trying work out at what point in the shutter speed i need to rely on those other factors to help me get the shot.

maybe im going about it the wrong way but i took a lot of party shots recently some worked some didnt and its the blurring that im trying to eliminate

There are no hard and fast rules for shutter speed.

1) There are the variables I listed above
2) Photography is about being creative

Generally speaking though, if you want sharp photos of people standing use shutter of 1/60 or faster. This is fast enough to freeze small movements.
Obviously, if they are moving faster you need to use a faster shutter speed

Ghost in the Shell · 16 Mar 2006 at 21:53

ok thanks for the advice. ill post some from this party at some point to show you how i faired.

thanks