Shutter Exposure
Calculator

Inputs

Equivalent shutter seconds
0.032

Results

Equivalent shutter seconds
0.032

Media and photography results

Equivalent shutter seconds0.032

formula-map diagram

Equivalent shutter seconds
0.032

Media and photography relationship

Formula

t₂ = t₁ × 2^(EV₁ − EV₂)

= 0.032

Note

This result uses the values you entered and a simplified planning equation; verify quantities and local requirements before purchasing or building.

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Frequently asked questions

How does shutter speed affect exposure, and how is the relationship calculated?+

Each doubling or halving of shutter speed changes exposure by exactly one stop, so going from 1/125s to 1/250s halves the light hitting the sensor. The calculator uses this power-of-two relationship to tell you how many stops of exposure change result from a given shutter speed adjustment.

What's a 'stop' and why is it the standard unit here?+

A stop represents a doubling or halving of light, and it's used consistently across shutter speed, aperture, and ISO so that photographers can trade one setting for another using the same unit. Adding one stop of shutter speed and removing one stop of aperture cancels out to the same overall exposure.

Why does a slow shutter speed risk motion blur while a fast one risks a dark, noisy image?+

A slow shutter (like 1/15s) lets more light in over a longer window but also lets any subject or camera motion register as blur, while a fast shutter (like 1/2000s) freezes motion sharply but lets in far less light, requiring a wider aperture or higher ISO to compensate. Shutter speed is fundamentally a tradeoff between exposure time and motion sharpness.

What does the 'reciprocal rule' for handheld shooting mean?+

The reciprocal rule suggests keeping shutter speed at least as fast as 1/focal length (e.g., 1/200s or faster for a 200mm lens) to avoid visible camera shake when shooting handheld, since longer lenses magnify small hand movements. This is a practical guideline, not a strict formula, and image stabilization can push it slower.

Does the calculator account for image stabilization or a tripod when suggesting shutter speed?+

No, the exposure-stop math itself is independent of stabilization, it purely describes how much light a shutter speed change lets in, so decisions about how slow you can safely go handheld versus on a tripod are a separate judgment call layered on top of this calculation.