Minimum Shutter Speeds (rule of thumb question)

[Zarch]

Whilst I understand the general shutter speed rule of thumb (focal length x crop factor = approx shutter speed), i'd like to just elaborate on that if I could?

On a 18-55 kit lens on a DX sensor at the wide end you'd be looking at 18 x 1.5 = 27, so 1/30 shutter speed ....... and at the the long end 55 x 1.5 = 82.5, but you would do 1/125 as 1/60 would be pushing it a little?

Similarly, my 18-70 lens would be the same at the wide end, but at the long end it would be 70 x 1.5 = 105, so 1/125?

But am I right in thinking this rule is ONLY for taking shots of static objects? The rule is only there to help YOU with hand holding the camera and eliminate YOUR shake etc?

If you are taking shots of moving subjects you should always use a higher shutter speed? Regardless of what focal length and/or lens you are using?

For example, i'm taking pictures of my little girl and she doesn't keep still whenever I take a picture. Be it sat in her high chair or crawling around the garden, she is always liable to move when the shutter presses. So even if i'm shooting at 18mm, the 1/30 rule goes out of the window and I should be looking at what? 1/125? 1/250? Higher?

Granted, she's not playing football or anything (yet) where 1/1000 might be required.

Have I got the above right?

 

[ziggy©]

I thought the rule was
Shutterspeed = 1/focal length

I don't take into account the crop factor but thinking about this now I could be wrong

 

[jamin100]

@zarch - Yes pretty much.

The shutter speed should be focal length x crop to help eliminate camera shake but the faster you set the shutter the less likely your going to get camera shake.

Fot taking pictures of moving objects you need to up the shutter speed to eliminate blur in your photos. If your finding that you need to up your shutter speed but are having trouble with low light then upping your ISO will aloow you to have a faster shutter speed.

 

[Steelfish]

If possible I like to stick to around 1/100 th when i take pics of people. Obviously when they're at rest you can go lower but the times I've thought I get a decent shot only to find the pic on computer has blurred body parts.

For my kids playing footy I like to get the fastest speed possible.

 

[Zarch]

@zarch - Yes pretty much.

The shutter speed should be focal length x crop to help eliminate camera shake but the faster you set the shutter the less likely your going to get camera shake.

For taking pictures of moving objects you need to up the shutter speed to eliminate blur in your photos. If your finding that you need to up your shutter speed but are having trouble with low light then upping your ISO will aloow you to have a faster shutter speed.

Thanks Ben, great reply.

I'm happy leaving the camera on auto ISO and taking whatever ISO is necessary to get the sharp shot. (I think better noisy but sharp) I've been using either a minimum of 1/125 or 1/250 with my 18-70 to ensure i'm covered for moving things at 70mm as the 18-70 has no VR.

In my opinion, I think its alright people asking "what is the minimum shutter speed for handheld", but unless i'm shooting a landscape or building (very rare), everything else is moving, so saying shooting at 18mm means 1/30 is no good for those moving subjects?? Although it does obviously adhere to "the rule".

If possible I like to stick to around 1/100 th when i take pics of people.

Not sure how you've done that, I can only go 1/60 and then upto 1/125, 1/250 in stages.

 

[Steelfish]

...

Not sure how you've done that, I can only go 1/60 and then upto 1/125, 1/250 in stages.

Neither am I, so I just checked. On my GF1, I'm able to go up by thirds of a stop. I'm sure I could do the same on my d90 as well. So that'll be 60, 80, 100 125th.

Now I know on both my GF1 and my old d90 there was a buried setting that stopped you going through ISO in whole stops rather than thirds, but there doesn't appear to be an equivalent for shutter speed...unless I've missed it.

 

[Zarch]

Well until I can find a reason to drop any lower, I think i'm going to stick having my camera set at a minimum shutter speed of 1/250 for everyday shots to ensure pin sharpness, use Aperture Priority and take the ISO consequences with my Nikon 18-70.

I suppose the next stage of this thread could be:

Zoom Lenses & VR......So if your at 200mm (300m with crop), do you need 1/500 at all times as per the rule?..... or if the lens has VR, does the magical "VR saves 4 stops of shutter speed" really work? And you can drop back to lesser speeds?

 

[lensflair]

Well until I can find a reason to drop any lower, I think i'm going to stick having my camera set at a minimum shutter speed of 1/250 for everyday shots to ensure pin sharpness, use Aperture Priority and take the ISO consequences with my Nikon 18-70.

I suppose the next stage of this thread could be:

Zoom Lenses & VR......So if your at 200mm (300m with crop), do you need 1/500 at all times as per the rule?..... or if the lens has VR, does the magical "VR saves 4 stops of shutter speed" really work? And you can drop back to lesser speeds?

Good VR enables me to handhold at very slow shutter speeds, I routinely use 1/40 at 200mm on my nikon 70-200 and can go even slower if I brace myself against something.

 

[Jujitsu1]

So if I've read this right. If I use my lens at 300mm I should by right use a shutter speed of at least 1/450 being as my crop is 1.5. Cant say I've every really used it up that high.

 

[lensflair]

So if I've read this right. If I use my lens at 300mm I should by right use a shutter speed of at least 1/450 being as my crop is 1.5. Cant say I've every really used it up that high.

For handholding without IS that would be a starting point but some people could hold it steady enough to go slower. Also that's for no camera shake, in practice you might be happy with 'acceptable' sharpness which will depend on final viewing/print size.

I find I can actually go slower if I am panning on a subject, seem to be steadier with a slow movement.

 

[Alastair]

You need to be sensible about this type of "rule", it's a guideline only. From experience I know that despite what the "rule" says, no matter what lens I'm holding I struggle to hand-hold with shutter speeds slower than 1/50th.

A bit of common sense and experience and you'll know without needing to see what everyone elses says, what shutter speeds work for you.