Shutter [shut‘ter]

The Shutter is the part of your camera that opens and closes to allow light onto the sensor or film. In the closed position no light is allowed into the light sensitive part of your camera. In the open position light is allowed through to expose the image. The image varies greatly depending on how long the shutter remains open.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to the specific length of time that the shutter remains open, allowing more or less light into the camera. A longer shutter speed allows more light for low light conditions while a faster speed requires more ambient light such as bright sunlight or strong external lights or a flash.



Common Shutter speeds:

B, 1min, 30 sec, 1 sec, 1/15th sec, 1/30th, 1/60th, 1/125th, 1/250th, 1/500th, 1/1000th

B stands for Bulb. In this setting the shutter remains open
as long as the shutter release is held down.

Slow shutter speed

Long exposure times such as 30 seconds or more allow more light into the camera and can be used to compensate for low available light. Typically a tripod is used when shooting at these speeds, otherwise everything will be affected by a motion blur. The photo to the left was shot with a 1 minute exposure time using a tripod. People standing relatively still during the exposure appear slightly out of focus while people walking or cars driving by are nearly invisable. The impression left by the taillights are seen as streaks of light.