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Shutter speed chart
The following are suggested shutter speeds to use when photographing a variety of subjects.
| SUGGESTED SHUTTER SPEEDS | |
|---|---|
| TO FREEZE ACTION* | TO CAPTURE MOTION** |
| Children - 1/250 - 1/1000 seconds | Amusement park rides: +/- one second |
| Moving water/waterfalls: 1/000 seconds or more | Moving water/waterfalls: 4 or more seconds |
| Sporting event: 1/500 - 1/2000 seconds | Fireworks: 1/2 - 4 seconds |
| Birds in flight: 1/500th a second and above | Moving cars at night: 8-10 seconds |
| Night photography - one or more seconds | |
* The closer action is to your digital camera, the faster the shutter speed is needed.
To help prevent images from becoming blurred, set the shutter speed faster than the focal length. For example, a zoom lens set at 200mm (35mm equivalent) requires a shutter speed of at least 1/200 second to avoid a blurred image.
** Tripod or other camera support recommended whenever using slow shutter speeds. Also use the self-timer or remote to trigger the shutter to prevent camera movement.
If your camera has Image Stabilization, most manufacturers recommend shutting it off when using a digital camera on a tripod.
