Shutter speeds

tcole1983

Thought this was a pretty good article explaining things in simple terms.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/04/25/minimum-shutter-speed-handheld-camera/

ThomasHorton

Being an old shakey guy, I take the old rule of 1/f and double it at a minimum. With the higher res systems, sometimes 3x works. One of the many reasons why I shoot a lot off of a tripod.

sevencrossing

IMHO the biggest cause of unsharp photos is camera shake
I would recommend using the HH speed with VR
eg with a D800 and VR @ 50mm I would recommend 1/125
Yes I can get OK results at 1/30 but very few, if any, will be pin sharp

manhattanboy

Being an old shakey guy, I take the old rule of 1/f and double it at a minimum. With the higher res systems, sometimes 3x works. One of the many reasons why I shoot a lot off of a tripod.

I'd like to think of myself as neither old nor shakey, but without VR I too find myself using 3x on a high res DX sensor. Hopefully the shutter speed you have to use to shoot Nikon gear does not enter the Dictionary under the term "old". :O

TaoTeJared

I'm always 1.5x or 2x the focal length on FX which is 2-3x on DX. I would rather deal with some noise or bringing the EV back up than have a blurry photo. The D800 36mp sensor is very unforgiving but equally rewarding on the other side when you get it right.

I agree with @sevencrossing - the largest cause of un-sharp photos is camera shake. The second is high ISO.

Msmoto

Just my thoughts today…. the factors affecting shutter speed involve many issues and cannot IMO be simply put into a table except as a very basic starting place. The focal length, proper holding of the camera, use of other than a tripod as external stabilizing objects, expectation of the final image size, subject movement, VR, and of course just how much some of us old folks shake…. oh, also for some, what we did the night before may be a factor, or if you have just stopped your Xanax suddenly…LOL

And, in low light the pay-off of shutter speed vs aperture vs.ISO will be important. The bottom line is that we can determine what we as individuals are comfortable with in terms of shutter speed only after a heck of a lot of experience.

Ironheart

+1 @Msmoto, the 1/focal is a "rule of thumb" not the eleventh commandment. I use it as a starting point in a much bigger equation that factors into what kind of photo I'm ultimately trying to achieve.

spraynpray

I have my auto-ISO set for 1/160th minimum shutter speed. I'd rather have a sharp 1600 ISO 55mm shot of a B&G than a shaky 400 ISO one.

ThomasHorton

I have my auto-ISO set for 1/160th minimum shutter speed. I'd rather have a sharp 1600 ISO 55mm shot of a B&G than a shaky 400 ISO one.

And that's really the bottom line. What are people more forgiving about? Noise or blurry details. I think it is noise. I have never used auto-ISO but am starting to think this might be something worth looking into.

tcole1983

Of course if you are steady or have any type of support you can always muster slower shu

I have my auto-ISO set for 1/160th minimum shutter speed. I'd rather have a sharp 1600 ISO 55mm shot of a B&G than a shaky 400 ISO one.

And that's really the bottom line. What are people more forgiving about? Noise or blurry details. I think it is noise. I have never used auto-ISO but am starting to think this might be something worth looking into.

I say do it :-) I am a pro shoot the lowest ISO possible but a blurry picture is a ruined one. I have changed my approach recently with good results. A little noise which probably won't even be noticeable except at larger magnification. So it is a compromise of course. I put mine as high as I thought was acceptable and of course varying on camera model...ISO 800 for my d5000.

As for the shutter speeds I didn't mean for it to be the rule...just some guidance and more rule of thumb and simple explanation for newbies. It also explains vr and why you get more blur at longer mm. I use 1/mm but it depends. I will push it lower at small mms.

sevencrossing

Another vote for AUTO ISO
I set the shutter speed to AUTO plus 2 clicks faster
( this is on a D800 and may not be available on all Nikons )
Do remember, high ISO does only affect noise, it also reduces dynamic range
for landscapes I am more likely to turn auto ISO off

proudgeek

IMHO the biggest cause of unsharp photos is camera shake

Encountered this problem last weekend. Big marathon in town, where I usually shoot a bit while attending a neighborhood party. This year a ton of my shots came out pretty crappy and I couldn't figure out why (D800 w/ 70-200). My shutter speed was fine, my aperture was stopped down enough to avoid DOF issues, etc.

It wasn't until later that I remembered that I'd just bought a MB-12 and was experimenting with one-hand vertical shooting. I realized that I'd been shooting with the camera in my right hand and bloody mary's (3 over the course of the race) in my left.

Technique, technique, technique.

PB_PM

IMHO the biggest cause of unsharp photos is camera shake

Just to throw a wrench in the spokes of that wheel...

The biggest cause of unsharp photos is actually missed focus, not camera shake. That's my experience anyway.

Photobug

Another vote for AUTO ISO
I set the shutter speed to AUTO plus 2 clicks faster
( this is on a D800 and may not be available on all Nikons )
Do remember, high ISO does only affect noise, it also reduces dynamic range
for landscapes I am more likely to turn auto ISO off

Love the Auto ISO since I started using it 2 weeks ago. I'll accept a little bit of noise but it's got to be sharp. I was shooting at a reunion and those I tossed were missed focus and camera shake. I need to tweak my minimum setting.