Shutter Speed Calculator

Calculate optimal shutter speed for any lighting condition, aperture, and ISO setting

Calculate Shutter Speed

Select the lighting condition that matches your shooting environment

f/

Lower f-numbers = wider aperture, more light

Higher ISO = more sensitive to light, more noise

Recommended Shutter Speed

1/512
Fraction format
0.001953s
Decimal format

Camera Settings: f/8, ISO 100, EV 15

Photography Tip: Very fast shutter - Perfect for high-speed action, sports, wildlife, and freezing rapid motion completely.

Exposure Analysis

✅ Fast shutter - Great for freezing motion and handheld shooting

Example Calculation

Milky Way Photography

Scenario: Night photography under clear starry sky

Lighting Condition: EV -7 (Deep star field/Milky Way)

Camera Settings: f/2.8, ISO 6400

Formula: Shutter Speed = (100 × 2.8²) ÷ (6400 × 2⁻⁷)

Calculation: (100 × 7.84) ÷ (6400 × 0.0078125) = 784 ÷ 50 = 15.68 seconds

Sports Photography

Scenario: Bright daylight sports action

Settings: EV 15, f/5.6, ISO 400

Result: 1/1000 second - Perfect for freezing motion

The Exposure Triangle

S

Shutter Speed

Controls motion blur and exposure time

A

Aperture

Controls depth of field and light amount

I

ISO

Controls sensor sensitivity and noise

Shutter Speed Guide

Fast (1/500s+)

Sports, wildlife, action photography

Standard (1/60-1/250s)

Portraits, general photography

Slow (1/30-1s)

Motion blur, low light, tripod needed

Long (1s+)

Star trails, light painting, astrophotography

Understanding Shutter Speed Calculations

What is Shutter Speed?

Shutter speed is the length of time the camera's shutter remains open to expose the sensor to light. It's measured in seconds or fractions of a second (like 1/500s). Faster speeds freeze motion, while slower speeds create motion blur and allow more light.

The Formula

Shutter Speed = (100 × aperture²) ÷ (ISO × 2^EV)

  • aperture: f-number (like 2.8 for f/2.8)
  • ISO: Sensor sensitivity (100, 200, 400, etc.)
  • EV: Exposure value for lighting condition

Creative Applications

  • Fast (1/1000s+): Freeze sports action, wildlife movement
  • Medium (1/60-1/250s): General photography, portraits
  • Slow (1/30-1s): Flowing water, motion blur effects
  • Long (30s+): Star trails, light painting, astrophotography

Practical Tips

  • Use tripod for shutter speeds slower than 1/60s
  • Consider image stabilization capabilities
  • Balance ISO to minimize noise