The quick answer
A camera takes a photo by exposing film (or a digital sensor) to the light. The shutter acts like a barrier — it stays closed to keep the light out when you’re not taking a picture. When you hit the shutter release button on the camera to take the picture, the shutter opens and captures the image, and closes when it’s finished.
A camera takes a photo by exposing film (or a digital sensor) to the light. The shutter acts like a barrier — it stays closed to keep the light out when you’re not taking a picture. When you hit the shutter release button on the camera to take the picture, the shutter opens and captures the image, and closes when it’s finished.
That's the basic function of the camera shutter. Like any other camera function, there are creative ways to use it which will get to shortly. In the meantime, here's a shutter speed definition to give us a starting point. It may seem obvious but "What is shutter speed" is a common question. The answer is simple but the effects are a bit complicated.
What is shutter speed and its role in the exposure triangle becomes clearer when shutter, speed, and role are considered together instead of treated as disconnected details.
A useful film guide makes its subject clearer through specific examples, not broad labels.
Watch the workflow
APERTURE, SHUTTER SPEED AND ISO/ THE EXPOSURE TRIANGLE MADE EASY!
Exposure is one of the most important aspects of photography so in this video I'm talking about the three main elements that affect ...
Shutter speed is how long the camera shutter is open, exposing the
Shutter speed is how long the camera shutter is open, exposing the image to light, typically measured in milliseconds to minutes. If the shutter is left open for a long time, a lot of light is being let in, which could overexpose the image. When there are moving subjects in your photo, a slow shutter speed could cause motion-blur. If the speed is quick, it’s likely the picture will come out too dark.
These speeds are measured in fractions of a second. ½ means "one half of a second," while 1/250 means "one two-hundred-fiftieth of a second. " The smaller the number (the higher the denominator), the faster the shutter speed. Conversely, the higher the number, like whole numbers from 1 to 30 seconds, are considered slow shutter speeds.
Exposure — depending the lighting conditions, a slow shutter will brighten the image and a fast shutter speed will darken it.
Motion in What is Shutter Speed and Its Role in the Exposure Triangle?
Motion — the slower the shutter speed, the more motion blur you'll create. The faster the shutter, the motion will appear sharp and jittery.
Most mirrorless and DSLR cameras have a large range of shutter speeds. It usually depends on the quality of the camera. Most DSLRs can go from 1/4000th to 30 seconds. While some can climb to 1/8000th, depending on the model. This is just one of the differences between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
With our shutter speed definition established, let's get into some of the technical aspects. These include the types of camera shutters, either mechanical, digital or a hybrid, and then we'll cover the creative applications of slow and fast shutter speed.
While the general process of shutter speed is similar across photography and
While the general process of shutter speed is similar across photography and video, and between analog and digital cameras, the types of camera shutters need a bit of explanation. Let's start with mechanical shutters.
In the good old days of celluloid filmmaking, the cameras and projectors used what's called a rotary disc shutter. This is a disc with one or more openings that rotates to block and unblock the light from the filmstrip.
The opening on this disc is typically set at 180 degrees (more on that later) but it can usually be adjusted to anything between 0 and 360 degrees. In this video, you can see that adjustment being made.
In photography, cameras typically have a focal plane shutter
These work with two shutters — one to drop down, exposing the frame, before a second shutter blocks the light once again. In this video, you'll see this process in slow motion.
There's one other mechanical shutter type to discuss — the leaf shutter. These function similarly to the lens aperture, as multiple blades expand away from or contract into the center of the image plane. Here's another slow motion video to illustrate this.
When the shutter release button is pressed, the pixels turn on and off for a pre-determined amount of time, this is how shutter speed works in the digital realm.
Many digital cameras use both a mechanical and digital shutter and there
Many digital cameras use both a mechanical and digital shutter and there are two main types of shutter settings to know: rolling and global.
With a rolling shutter, the pixels are turned on sequentially, for example, from the top left corner down the bottom right corner, or top to bottom horizontally. Rolling shutters are known to create less "noise" in the image as well as a wider dynamic range, which can lend a more "cinematic" feel.
The issue with rolling shutters is that because they record light sequentially, there is a chance that the image can be distorted. An equal amount of light is captured but each pixel captures a different moment. The difference can be fractions of a second but it's enough to notice.
Frequently asked
What does shutter speed control in a camera?
Shutter speed controls how long the shutter stays open and the sensor or film is exposed to light. That time affects both image brightness and how motion appears.
How do you read shutter speeds such as 1/50 and 1/250?
They are fractions of a second. A setting of 1/250 is faster and exposes the frame for less time than 1/50, while whole-second settings are much slower exposures.
When should a filmmaker use a faster shutter speed?
A faster shutter speed reduces motion blur and makes movement look sharper, but it also lets in less light. The aperture, ISO, or scene lighting may need to compensate.
Why can a rolling shutter distort fast movement?
A rolling shutter records rows of pixels sequentially rather than capturing every pixel at the same instant. During fast motion or a quick camera move, different rows can record slightly different moments and create visible distortion.