This lesson is a set of worked examples. Each one gives a complete group of settings for a fast or slow shutter speed situation, with a note on why those values were chosen. Use them as starting points and adjust for the light you actually have.
Where fast ends and slow begins
- Fast: 1/500 s and shorter. Freezes most everyday movement.
- Medium: 1/60 s to 1/250 s. Suitable for still or slow subjects, handheld.
- Slow: 1/30 s and longer. Movement begins to show; a tripod is usually needed below about 1/15 s.
Fast shutter speed examples
| Subject | Shutter | Aperture | ISO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football match in daylight | 1/1000 s | f/4 | 200 | Continuous autofocus, burst mode |
| Indoor basketball | 1/500 s | f/2.8 | 6400 | High ISO is the price of a sharp player |
| Bird in flight | 1/2500 s | f/6.3 | 800 | Long lens magnifies every movement |
| Dog running towards camera | 1/1000 s | f/4 | 400 | Focus tracking matters as much as speed |
| Child on a swing | 1/800 s | f/4 | 400 | Shoot at the top of the arc, where motion pauses |
| Water splash | 1/4000 s | f/5.6 | 1600 | Bright light essential |
Fast shutter speeds cut the light sharply. Going from 1/125 s to 1/2000 s removes four stops, which must come back from a wider aperture, a higher ISO or brighter conditions. This is why sports photographers use lenses that open to f/2.8.
Slow shutter speed examples
| Subject | Shutter | Aperture | ISO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panning a cyclist | 1/30 s | f/11 | 100 | Handheld, follow the subject |
| Waterfall, silky water | 1 s | f/16 | 100 | Tripod; overcast light or ND filter |
| Sea smoothed to mist | 30 s | f/11 | 100 | Tripod and 10-stop ND filter in daylight |
| Car light trails | 15 s | f/11 | 100 | Tripod, after sunset |
| City skyline at blue hour | 8 s | f/8 | 100 | Tripod, self-timer |
| Fireworks | 4 s | f/11 | 100 | Tripod, manual focus at distance |
| Milky Way | 15 s | f/2.8 | 3200 | Longer exposures turn stars into short lines |
The same subject both ways
A fountain shows the difference clearly. At 1/2000 s, every droplet hangs in the air as a separate bead. At 1/2 s, the water becomes a smooth white veil. Both are correct exposures of the same fountain; they simply describe it differently. Other subjects worth trying both ways are a spinning fairground ride, a busy pavement, waves on rocks and traffic at dusk.
Equipment for slow speeds
- A tripod. It must be stable; extend the thick leg sections first and avoid raising the centre column in wind.
- A remote release or the self-timer. Pressing the button by hand shakes the camera at the start of the exposure.
- ND filters for long exposures in daylight.
- Stabilisation off on a tripod, with older lenses in particular, since some systems drift when there is no movement to correct.
Technique for fast speeds
- Use Shutter Priority or Manual with Auto ISO, so the speed you chose is never changed by the camera.
- Switch to continuous autofocus (AF-C or AI Servo) and burst mode.
- Under some artificial lights, very fast speeds produce uneven brightness or colour from frame to frame because the lamps flicker. Use the camera’s anti-flicker setting if it has one, or slow down to around 1/100 s or 1/125 s.
Common mistakes
- Using a faster speed than needed, such as 1/4000 s for a walking person, and paying for it with unnecessary noise.
- Long exposures in daylight without an ND filter, giving a completely white frame.
- Leaving ISO on Auto for tripod work, so the camera picks ISO 6400 instead of a longer exposure.
- Trying to focus in the dark with autofocus. Focus on a distant light, then switch to manual focus.
- Bumping the tripod during the exposure.
Practice exercise
- Find running water: a tap, a fountain or a stream.
- In Shutter Priority with Auto ISO, photograph it at the fastest speed the light allows.
- Put the camera on a tripod or a solid surface, set ISO 100 and take frames at 1/15 s, 1/2 s and 2 s.
- Lay the results side by side and choose the speed that suits the subject best. Note the settings for future use.
Next in this series: How Shutter Speed Affects Motion Blur, What Is Shutter Speed? and How to Balance ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. You can also browse all photography lessons.
