Shutter Speedtechnical
How long the sensor is exposed to light. Fast freezes motion; slow blurs it or gathers more light.
See it
Drag to see the effect (illustrative simulation).
Wings frozen1/4000 sec
Shutter speed controls the duration of the exposure. Faster speeds (e.g. 1/2000s) freeze fast action; slower speeds (e.g. 1/4s) blur motion or let in more light in the dark. Handheld, keep it at least 1/(effective focal length) to avoid camera shake.
Use this when
- Birds in flight: 1/2000-1/4000
- Walking people: 1/250-1/500
- Landscapes on tripod: any
- Waterfalls: 1/4s to several seconds
Common mistake: Using too slow a shutter for moving subjects.