If the camera shutter opens and closes slowly, a large amount of light will enter the camera to create a photograph. This will mean that your photo could turn out very bright.
Shutter speeds are measured in Fractions.
Before you start practicing adjusting the various shutter speeds on your own camera, it’s important to know that most camera companies don’t accurately display shutter speed. Here is a list of what cameras usually display in their menu, and also what that number really means:
1 = One second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one second)
2 = 1/2 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within half of a second)
4 = 1/4 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one quarter of a second)
8 = 1/8 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one eighth of a second)
15 = 1/15 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one fifteenth of a second)
30 = 1/30 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one thirtieth of a second)
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2000 = 1/2000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one two-thousands of a second)
4000 = 1/4000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one four-thousands of a second)
8000 = 1/8000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one eight-thousands of a second).
You may have noticed that even though a one-second exposure seems very fast, it’s actually a very slow shutter speed compared to 1/4000’s of a second, or 1/8000’s of a second.
Before you start practicing adjusting the various shutter speeds on your own camera, it’s important to know that most camera companies don’t accurately display shutter speed. Here is a list of what cameras usually display in their menu, and also what that number really means:
1 = One second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one second)
2 = 1/2 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within half of a second)
4 = 1/4 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one quarter of a second)
8 = 1/8 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one eighth of a second)
15 = 1/15 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one fifteenth of a second)
30 = 1/30 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one thirtieth of a second)
~
2000 = 1/2000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one two-thousands of a second)
4000 = 1/4000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one four-thousands of a second)
8000 = 1/8000 second exposure (the shutter opens and closes within one eight-thousands of a second).
You may have noticed that even though a one-second exposure seems very fast, it’s actually a very slow shutter speed compared to 1/4000’s of a second, or 1/8000’s of a second.
2. Bulb setting and how to use it.
The “B” setting in most DSLR and mirrorless cameras stands for Bulb. To use bulb mode, set your camera to the B setting. Each camera model has a different way to access the bulb mode, so you may need to read your camera’s manual to locate it.
When you have found the bulb setting, press and hold the shutter release button. Don’t let go of the shutter button, but keep pressing firmly until you are ready to stop the picture.
The camera will digitally record the scene in front of you, and will let more and more light into the camera for as long as you keep the shutter release button pressed down. The B mode is very good for creating pictures before sunrise or after sunset.
If you have a scene with moving water in the late evening or very early morning, put your camera on a tripod and on B mode. Press the shutter button to take the photo.
Let go of the shutter button anytime that you like. You’ll probably find that by holding the shutter button for 20 to 40 seconds will produce good results, depending on how dark it is outside. If your photo turns out to be too bright, try again but let go of the shutter button much sooner.
To summarize, B mode means that your camera will record the picture for as long as you keep the shutter release button pressed down with your finger.
3. Time Setting (“T”) And How To Use It
The “T” mode (aka Time Value) for most DSLR cameras is almost identical to the B mode, however it’s much more convenient. Instead of having to physically hold down the shutter release button, all you need to do is click the shutter release button once and then let go of the camera altogether.
When you are ready to stop the photo-taking process, press the shutter release button once more, and the camera will stop taking the picture. The T mode is ideal for a night time photo that could last for several hours. This photo of the Milky Way and electrical pole took about one minute to complete by using the T mode.
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