Newbie shutter question

lilpup · Mar 31, 2008

brand stinkin' newbie, here

I've never had any classes and have been learning by thrashing through things. One thing that throws me is knowing what shutter speed to use at times. Screwing around at an airshow I used mostly auto to keep up with the planes, but then got told I should use setting so that I get prop blur when a prop plane is airborne. How does one go about figuring shutter speeds so that the prop blurs but the plane stays crisp?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilpup/1008863264/in/set-72157601226315610/

eclipse13 · Mar 31, 2008

The best way to find the shutter speed for that exact situation is to just adjust it until it comes out the way you want it. For a sit down portrait, 1/60 is a good round number, For action shots (surfing, motocross) I usually use around 1/250 or 1/350. I would imagine that these would work, but you might need to go faster for better motion stop or slower for more propeller blur. Just start as early as you can and try different speeds until it gets the effect that you want.

I hope this helps, good luck.

retellings · Mar 31, 2008

If you want the picture to be crisp and clear use a fast shutter speed like 1/250. The faster the object moving the faster the shutter speed you need.

If you want to make the plane in focus but the clouds to be blurred then follow the planes movement parallel and use a slower shutter speed.

jtpro1 · Mar 31, 2008

Good info so far. The best way to understand shutter speed is to get out there and experiment. Take several photos of the same object at different speeds and check out the results. The same goes for aperture settings as well, btw.

-JT

Crosby · Mar 31, 2008

First, nice pictures. Semper Fi. Those Thunder Chickens were good too.

2nd, did you use a digital or film camera. Just wondering, since it might be more difficult to set your shutter speed, take pics and then develop them and retry.

So camera did you use?

Village Idiot · Apr 1, 2008

Rule of thumb - you should not use a shutter speed lower than the focal length you're shooting at if you don't want your photos affected by shake.

example: no lower than 1/20 for a focal length of 18mm, no lower than 1/200 for a focal length of 200mm, and no lower than 1/50 for a focal length of 50mm.

That's just a guide line and depending on what techniques you use, you can probably go a little lower. IS helps with this as well. For prop blur, 1/100? Chimp it and adjust as needed depending on what you're shooting and what lens you're using.

lilpup · Apr 1, 2008

Thanks all!

ksm · Apr 1, 2008

Village Idiot said:
Rule of thumb - you should not use a shutter speed lower than the focal length you're shooting at if you don't want your photos affected by shake.

example: no lower than 1/20 for a focal length of 18mm, no lower than 1/200 for a focal length of 200mm, and no lower than 1/50 for a focal length of 50mm.

That's just a guide line and depending on what techniques you use, you can probably go a little lower. IS helps with this as well. For prop blur, 1/100? Chimp it and adjust as needed depending on what you're shooting and what lens you're using.

That rule of thumb from my undeerstanding takes into account 35mm camera equivalents for focal length. So you also have to account for your crop factor depending on your camera.

i.e. if you're using a 4:3 system with a crop factor of 2x if your focal length is 14 then your 35mm equivalent focal length would be 28 hence the fastest SS you would want to use for hand holding would be 1/28sec or whatever speed is close to that on your camera (I can never remember standard speeds)

TamiyaGuy · Apr 1, 2008

If you only want the propellor to move, then you could probably get away with very fast shutter speeds. Probably about 1/500s, and maybe even 1/1000s to make the prop partially blurred.

To be honest, though, you'll just have to get out there and experiment to make sure. Good luck!

lilpup · Apr 1, 2008

Crosby, I have a Nikon D70. A local Flickrite whose work I admired used one so that helped make up my mind. For some reason I still can't see as well as he does, though. :scratch: :lol: