What shutter speed does and where to find it

Shutter speed is how long your camera's sensor stays open to light when you take a photo. A faster shutter speed (like 1/1000th of a second) freezes motion. A slower shutter speed (like 1 second) lets more light in but blurs anything that moves. You change it by switching your camera out of automatic mode and into a mode where you control it.

On most cameras, you'll find shutter speed displayed on the back screen or in the viewfinder as a fraction or whole number — 1/500, 1/125, 2", 30". The number after the slash is the denominator; 1/500 means one five-hundredth of a second. A number without a slash, like 2" or 30", means 2 seconds or 30 seconds.

Where you change it depends on your camera type. On a smartphone, you use an app or built-in camera mode. On a point-and-shoot or mirrorless camera, you use the mode dial or menu. On a DSLR, you use the mode dial and the main dial wheel. The exact buttons vary by brand and model, so your camera's manual will show the precise location.

Key Takeaways

  • Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second (1/500) or whole seconds (2"), and slower speeds let in more light while faster speeds freeze motion.
  • You must switch your camera out of automatic (Auto or P mode) into Shutter Priority (S or Tv), Manual (M), or a creative mode that lets you control shutter speed.
  • On smartphones, use a camera app like Slow Shutter Cam or your phone's Pro mode; on DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, use the mode dial and the main adjustment wheel.
  • If your photo is too dark, use a slower shutter speed; if it's too bright or blurry, use a faster one.
  • Handheld photos below 1/60th of a second often come out blurry unless you have very steady hands or use image stabilization.

Switching to Shutter Priority or Manual mode

The easiest way to control shutter speed is Shutter Priority mode, often labeled S on Canon cameras or Tv on other brands. In this mode, you set the shutter speed and the camera picks the aperture (how wide the lens opens) to match. This is faster than Manual mode if you just want to freeze motion or create blur without thinking about exposure.

To find it, look for the mode dial on top of your camera (DSLRs and mirrorless) or in the camera app menu (smartphones). Turn the dial until S or Tv lines up with the indicator mark. On some cameras, you may need to press a button labeled Mode first. Once you're in Shutter Priority, the shutter speed display will light up or highlight, telling you it's ready to change.

Manual mode (M) gives you control over both shutter speed and aperture, but you have to set both yourself. Use Manual if you want full control or if you're shooting in very bright or very dark conditions where Shutter Priority might not find a workable aperture. The trade-off is that it takes longer to dial in the right settings.

Changing the shutter speed value

Once you're in Shutter Priority or Manual mode, use the main adjustment dial or wheel on your camera to change the number. On most DSLRs, this is a wheel near your right thumb. On mirrorless cameras, it's often the same. Turn the wheel right to make the shutter speed faster (1/500, 1/1000); turn it left to make it slower (1/125, 1/60, 1 second, 2 seconds).

On smartphones, tap the shutter speed number on your screen and drag up or down, or use a slider if your app has one. Apps like Slow Shutter Cam, ProCam, or your phone's built-in Pro mode all show the current shutter speed and let you adjust it by tapping or swiping.

Watch the exposure meter on your screen or in the viewfinder as you adjust. Most cameras show a scale with a center point; if the indicator moves toward the right (overexposed), your photo will be too bright, so use a faster shutter speed. If it moves toward the left (underexposed), your photo will be too dark, so use a slower shutter speed.

Choosing the right shutter speed for what you're shooting

For freezing motion — sports, wildlife, or anything moving fast — use 1/500 or faster. For everyday handheld photos of people or still scenes, 1/125 to 1/250 works well. For motion blur — waterfalls, car light trails, or intentional blur — use 1 second to several seconds, but you'll need a tripod because anything slower than 1/60 is hard to hold steady by hand.

If you're indoors or in low light and your camera is telling you the exposure is too dark, slow down the shutter speed to let more light in. If you're in bright sunlight and the exposure is too bright, speed it up. Remember that slowing down the shutter speed will blur any movement in the frame, so if you want to keep people sharp in low light, raise your ISO (sensor sensitivity) or open the aperture wider instead.

A useful rule of thumb: if you're holding the camera by hand, don't go slower than 1 divided by your focal length. If you're using a 50mm lens, don't go slower than 1/50. If you're using a 200mm lens, don't go slower than 1/200. This helps prevent blur from camera shake. Image stabilization (often labeled IS or OIS) lets you go about one stop slower safely.

Using a tripod for slow shutter speeds

Any shutter speed slower than 1/60 is difficult to hold steady by hand unless you have very stable hands or your camera has strong image stabilization. For anything slower — 1 second, 2 seconds, or longer — use a tripod. A tripod holds the camera still so the sensor can stay open without picking up your hand movements.

Even a basic tripod works; you don't need an expensive one. Set up the tripod, mount your camera, frame your shot, and then use the camera's self-timer or a remote shutter release to take the photo. This prevents you from pressing the button and shaking the camera at the moment of exposure. Most cameras have a 2-second or 10-second self-timer in the menu.

Troubleshooting common shutter speed problems

If your photos are coming out blurry but you're using a fast shutter speed, the blur is likely from autofocus missing or from camera shake at the moment you press the button. Try using your camera's self-timer or a remote release, or check that autofocus is locked on the right spot before you shoot.

If your photos are too dark even at slow shutter speeds, you may have hit the camera's maximum shutter speed limit (some cameras max out at 30 seconds). In that case, raise your ISO or open the aperture wider. If your photos are too bright even at the fastest shutter speed, use a neutral density filter — a dark piece of glass that screws onto your lens and lets you use slower shutter speeds in bright light.

If you're in Shutter Priority mode and the camera is refusing to take a photo or showing a warning, it usually means there's no aperture setting that will work at your chosen shutter speed. Try a slightly faster or slower shutter speed, or switch to Manual mode and set the aperture yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between shutter speed and ISO?

Shutter speed controls how long light hits the sensor. ISO controls how sensitive the sensor is to that light. A slow shutter speed (1 second) lets in a lot of light over time. A high ISO (3200) makes the sensor very sensitive to whatever light is there. Both brighten your photo, but slow shutter speed blurs motion while high ISO adds grain.

Can I change shutter speed on my phone camera?

Most phones' default camera app doesn't let you control shutter speed — it's locked on automatic. You need a third-party app like Slow Shutter Cam, ProCam, or your phone's built-in Pro mode (if it has one). iPhone's Pro mode and many Android phones' Pro modes do let you adjust shutter speed by tapping the shutter speed number and dragging.

Why does my photo look blurry when I use a slow shutter speed?

Slow shutter speeds blur anything that moves during the exposure — including your hands if you're holding the camera. If you want a sharp photo with a slow shutter speed, use a tripod. If you want to avoid blur from camera shake, don't go slower than 1 divided by your lens focal length (1/50 for a 50mm lens) unless you have image stabilization.

What shutter speed should I use for video?

For video, shutter speed is usually tied to your frame rate. If you're shooting at 24 frames per second, use a shutter speed of 1/48 (close to 1/50). If you're shooting at 30 fps, use 1/60. This is called the 180-degree shutter rule and makes motion look natural. Most video cameras set this automatically, but some let you override it.