Where to find shutter speed on your Nikon

Shutter speed on a Nikon camera lives in one of two places depending on your shooting mode. In Shutter Priority mode (marked S on the mode dial), you control shutter speed directly using the command dial — usually the wheel on the back of the camera near your thumb. In Manual mode (marked M), you use the same command dial to set shutter speed, then adjust aperture separately with a different control.

In Aperture Priority mode (marked A) and Program mode (marked P), the camera picks shutter speed for you, though you can still see what it chose on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. If you want full control, switch to S or M mode first.

The shutter speed appears as a fraction or whole number — 1/1000, 1/500, 1/125, 1, 2, 15, and so on. Smaller fractions mean faster speeds (the shutter opens and closes quickly). Whole numbers mean slower speeds measured in seconds (the shutter stays open longer).

Key Takeaways

  • Switch your camera to Shutter Priority (S) or Manual (M) mode on the mode dial to control shutter speed yourself.
  • Use the command dial on the back of the camera to change the shutter speed number up or down.
  • Faster speeds like 1/1000 freeze motion; slower speeds like 1 second create motion blur.
  • In Shutter Priority mode, the camera adjusts aperture automatically to match your chosen speed.
  • Check your LCD screen or viewfinder to see the current shutter speed before you take the shot.

Shutter Priority mode: the easiest way to control speed

Shutter Priority mode is the simplest route if you want to pick shutter speed without thinking about aperture. Rotate the mode dial on top of your camera to the S. Now the camera will adjust the aperture (f-stop) automatically to match whatever shutter speed you choose.

Rotate the command dial (the wheel on the back near your right thumb) to the left to slow down the shutter speed, or to the right to speed it up. Watch the LCD screen on the back or look through the viewfinder — you will see the shutter speed number change as you turn the dial. Once you see the speed you want, stop turning and take your shot.

This mode works well for sports (where you want a fast speed like 1/1000 to freeze action), waterfalls (where you want a slow speed like 1 second to blur the water), or any situation where shutter speed matters more than aperture to you.

Manual mode: controlling both shutter speed and aperture

Manual mode gives you control over both shutter speed and aperture, but requires two separate adjustments. Rotate the mode dial to M. Now you will set shutter speed with one dial and aperture with another.

On most Nikon cameras, the command dial (back right) controls shutter speed in Manual mode. Turn it left to slow down, right to speed up. To change aperture, hold down the Aperture button (usually marked with an f symbol) on the left side of the camera while turning the command dial, or use the sub-command dial if your model has one on the front.

The LCD screen will show both values — shutter speed and f-stop — so you can see exactly what you are setting. Manual mode takes more practice but gives you the most control over how the final image looks.

What each shutter speed does

Shutter speed controls how long light hits the camera sensor. A fast speed like 1/1000 of a second lets in very little light and freezes motion — useful for sports, wildlife, or bright sunlight. A slow speed like 1 or 2 seconds lets in much more light and blurs anything that moves — useful for night photography, waterfalls, or intentional motion effects.

Common speeds you will see are 1/4000, 1/2000, 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, and 30 seconds. Each step either doubles or halves the amount of light entering the camera. Moving from 1/250 to 1/125 lets in twice as much light; moving from 1/125 to 1/250 cuts the light in half.

If your image is too dark, use a slower (larger) shutter speed. If it is too bright, use a faster (smaller) shutter speed. If motion is blurry when you do not want it to be, speed up the shutter. If you want to blur motion intentionally, slow it down.

Using exposure compensation when the camera disagrees

In Shutter Priority mode, the camera picks an aperture to match your shutter speed. Sometimes it will choose an f-stop that is too wide (like f/1.4) or too narrow (like f/32), which means the image comes out too bright or too dark. This happens when the light in your scene does not match the shutter speed you chose.

Instead of changing your shutter speed, you can use exposure compensation to tell the camera to brighten or darken the image. Press and hold the Exposure Compensation button (usually marked with a +/- symbol) while turning the command dial. Turn right to brighten, left to darken. The LCD will show a scale from -3 to +3, with 0 in the middle being no change.

Exposure compensation is temporary — it stays in effect until you change it back to 0. This is useful when you want to keep your shutter speed locked but need the overall brightness to shift.

Checking shutter speed before you shoot

Always look at the shutter speed displayed on your camera before pressing the shutter button. On most Nikon models, you can see it in the viewfinder (looking through the back of the camera) or on the LCD screen on the back. The shutter speed appears as a number or fraction, usually in the bottom left or right corner of the display.

If the shutter speed is too slow and you are holding the camera by hand, your image may come out blurry from camera shake. A common rule is to not go slower than 1 divided by your lens focal length — so with a 50mm lens, do not go slower than 1/50 of a second without a tripod. With a 200mm lens, do not go slower than 1/200.

If you see a blinking shutter speed or a warning symbol, the camera is telling you the exposure will not work with your current settings. Adjust either the shutter speed, aperture, or ISO to fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 1/250 and 1/500?

1/500 is twice as fast as 1/250, so it lets in half as much light and freezes motion more effectively. If you are photographing a moving subject and it still looks blurry at 1/250, try 1/500. If your image is too dark at 1/500, try 1/250 to let in more light.

Can I change shutter speed in Program mode?

In Program mode, the camera picks both shutter speed and aperture for you. You can see the shutter speed on the LCD, but you cannot change it directly. Switch to Shutter Priority (S) or Manual (M) mode if you want control over shutter speed.

Why does my shutter speed keep changing when I do not touch anything?

In Shutter Priority mode, the camera adjusts aperture automatically to match the light in your scene, which can make the shutter speed appear to change if you are looking at the wrong value. In Aperture Priority or Program mode, the camera adjusts shutter speed automatically as the light changes. Switch to Manual mode if you want both values to stay locked.

Do I need a tripod for slow shutter speeds?

Yes, for speeds slower than about 1/60 of a second. Holding the camera by hand at slow speeds almost always results in blurry images from camera shake. A tripod, monopod, or even resting the camera on a solid surface will keep it still enough for sharp photos at slow speeds.

What shutter speed should I use for freezing action?

Start with 1/1000 or faster for sports and wildlife. If the motion still looks blurry, go faster (1/2000 or 1/4000). If the image is too dark, slow down slightly and increase your ISO or open the aperture wider. The exact speed depends on how fast the subject is moving and how much light you have.