Where to find shutter speed on your Canon

On most Canon cameras, you adjust shutter speed using the Mode dial on top of the camera body and the Main dial (the rotating wheel on the back right). The exact steps depend on which shooting mode you're in — that's the setting you choose before you take the photo.

In Shutter Priority mode (marked S on the Mode dial), you control shutter speed and the camera picks the aperture automatically. This is the most direct way to change shutter speed. In Manual mode (marked M), you control both shutter speed and aperture yourself. In Program mode (marked P) or Aperture Priority mode (marked A), the camera controls shutter speed for you, though you can shift it slightly in Program mode.

Key Takeaways

  • Rotate the Mode dial to S (Shutter Priority) to have full control over shutter speed while the camera adjusts aperture automatically.
  • Once in Shutter Priority or Manual mode, turn the Main dial on the back of the camera to change the shutter speed value shown in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.
  • Faster shutter speeds (like 1/1000) freeze motion; slower speeds (like 1 second) blur motion and require a tripod to avoid camera shake.
  • The camera's light meter will show you whether your chosen shutter speed will result in an image that is too dark, too bright, or properly exposed.

Using Shutter Priority mode for direct control

Shutter Priority mode is the easiest way to set shutter speed because you only have to think about one thing. Turn the Mode dial on top of the camera until the S lines up with the white mark. Now the camera is in Shutter Priority mode.

Look through the viewfinder or at the LCD screen on the back. You'll see a number that looks like 1/250 or 1/500 — that's your current shutter speed. Turn the Main dial (the wheel on the back right of the camera) to the right to make the shutter speed faster (the number after the slash gets bigger), or turn it to the left to make it slower (the number gets smaller). As you turn, the shutter speed display updates in real time.

The camera's light meter — usually shown as a scale at the bottom of the viewfinder — tells you if the image will be too dark or too bright at your chosen speed. If the meter points to the minus side, the image will be underexposed (too dark); if it points to the plus side, it will be overexposed (too bright). Aim for the middle of the scale for a properly exposed photo, though you can intentionally overexpose or underexpose for creative effect.

Manual mode if you want to control both shutter speed and aperture

In Manual mode (M on the Mode dial), you set both the shutter speed and the aperture (the size of the opening that lets light in). This gives you complete control but requires you to manage two settings instead of one.

Turn the Mode dial to M. In the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, you'll see two numbers: the shutter speed (like 1/250) and the aperture (like f/5.6). Turn the Main dial to change shutter speed, just as you would in Shutter Priority mode. To change aperture, hold down the Av button (usually on the back left of the camera) while turning the Main dial. The light meter still shows you whether your exposure is correct, but now you're responsible for adjusting both settings to get there.

Program mode and Aperture Priority if you want the camera to handle shutter speed

If you don't want to think about shutter speed at all, Program mode (P on the Mode dial) lets the camera choose both shutter speed and aperture for you based on the available light. You can still shift the camera's choice slightly by turning the Main dial — this is called Program Shift — but the camera remains in control.

Aperture Priority mode (A on the Mode dial) is useful when you care most about depth of field (how much of the image is in focus). You set the aperture, and the camera picks the shutter speed. This is common in portrait photography, where you want a shallow depth of field, or landscape photography, where you want everything sharp. The camera adjusts shutter speed automatically as the light changes, so you don't have to.

Understanding what different shutter speeds do

Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second (1/1000, 1/500, 1/250) or whole seconds (1, 2, 5, 15, 30). The larger the number after the slash, the faster the shutter opens and closes, and the less light reaches the sensor.

Fast shutter speeds like 1/1000 or 1/2000 freeze motion — use these for sports, wildlife, or any subject moving quickly. Slow shutter speeds like 1 second or longer blur motion intentionally — use these for waterfalls, light trails, or silky-looking water. Shutter speeds between 1/60 and 1/250 are typical for everyday photography and handheld shooting. Anything slower than 1/60 usually requires a tripod to keep the camera steady, or you'll see blurring from camera shake.

How to read shutter speed in the display

Canon cameras show shutter speed as a fraction or a whole number. A display that reads 250 means 1/250 of a second. A display that reads 2" means 2 full seconds. Some cameras show the fraction explicitly (1/250), while others abbreviate it (250). Check your camera's manual to see which format yours uses, but the meaning is the same either way.

On older Canon film cameras or some entry-level models, you may need to look at the top LCD panel or the viewfinder display to see the shutter speed. On newer Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, the shutter speed appears in multiple places: the viewfinder, the back LCD screen, and sometimes the top LCD panel. Whichever display you use, the number represents the same thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What shutter speed should I use for handheld photos?

A common rule is to use a shutter speed of at least 1 divided by your focal length — so if you're using a 50mm lens, use 1/50 or faster. For most everyday handheld shooting, 1/125 or faster is safe. Faster lenses and image stabilization let you go slower, but if you're new to this, start with 1/250 and adjust down as you get comfortable.

Why does my image look too dark even though I set a fast shutter speed?

Fast shutter speeds let in less light, so they naturally produce darker images. If your image is too dark, either slow down the shutter speed (turn the Main dial left), open the aperture wider (lower f-number), or increase the ISO. The camera's light meter in the viewfinder shows you which direction to move.

Can I use a slow shutter speed without a tripod?

Not reliably. Shutter speeds slower than 1/60 are prone to blur from camera shake — tiny movements of your hands as you hold the camera. A tripod eliminates this problem. Image stabilization (available on many Canon lenses and some camera bodies) can help you go a bit slower handheld, but it's not a substitute for a tripod when you need speeds of 1 second or longer.

Does shutter speed affect image quality or file size?

Shutter speed does not affect image quality or file size. It only controls how long the sensor is exposed to light, which changes how bright or dark the image is and whether motion is frozen or blurred. File size depends on resolution and image format, not shutter speed.

What's the difference between shutter speed and frame rate?

Shutter speed controls how long each individual photo's sensor is exposed. Frame rate (or frames per second) controls how many photos the camera takes per second when you hold down the shutter button. They are separate settings. You can shoot at 10 frames per second with a shutter speed of 1/1000, or 3 frames per second with a shutter speed of 1/30.