Capturing sharp and clear images is a challenge for many.

Recently, a student expressed frustration about blurry photos caused by shaky hands. I reassured them that this is a common issue and provided some suggestions. Let’s get to the bottom of it.

Q1: What causes unwanted motion blur?

Blurriness can be caused by movements, either from the subject or the photographer.

Remember, at least one of you (the photographer or the subject) needs to be still. If both are moving, the result will inevitably be a photo with motion blur.

Moving Subject

If your subject is moving, such as humans or cars, use a shutter speed faster than their movement. For example, for a walking person, a shutter speed of around 1/250 is suitable. For a fast car, use 1/250 or faster.

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Still Subject

If your subject is stationary, such as product, food and landscape. In theory, any shutter speed will work.

A tripod can be used to stabilize the camera.

Tripod enables you to

1/ Use slower shutter speed e.g. 1/5, 1 sec
2/ Focus stacking 

However, minor vibration can be caused from pressing the shutter button.

Solution: Self-timer 5 seconds / Remote release or trigger via apps

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Low Light Situations

In bright conditions, you can use a fast shutter speed, like 1/1000.

In darker environments for example in a restaurant, you may need to use a slower shutter speed.

Q2: How slow is too slow?

According to the reciprocal rule, the minimum shutter speed for a 50mm lens is 1/50. Some photographers prefer to double this, using 1/100 as a guideline.

 ↓  shutter speed =  chances of motion blur ↑

For other lenses, you can calculate accordingly; for example, an 85mm lens would require a minimum of 1/85.

Q3: Does IBIS help?

Yes, in-camera stabilization (IBIS) can offer up to 5 stops of stabilization. However, many DSLRs do not have this feature, so it’s important to figure out the slowest shutter speed you can handle.

Also, note that IBIS cannot freeze the movement of the subject.

Q4: What actionable tips can you suggest?

1/ Open the aperture and increase ISO
2/ Get closer to the light source or add additional light
3/ Use a tripod or lean against a stable object (like a wall or the ground)
4/ Utilize a 5-Second timer to delay the shutter release
5/ Make sure the exposure compensation dial is set to 0

In this silhouette photo, the subjects are far away and in motion, so I used a shutter speed of 1/80 and increased the ISO to 6400.

The distance of the subject is important as well; if they are positioned far from the camera, you might use a slower shutter speed like 1/125 or 1/60. Conversely, if the subject is close to the camera, it’s advisable to use a faster shutter speed to avoid motion blur.

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Bonus tips

1/ A prime lens is a game changer due to its wide aperture. This is why it’s often referred to as a “fast lens,” as it allows for faster shutter speeds compared to zoom lenses.

e.g. f/3.5 versus f/1.8, that’s 4 stops difference
This means the f/1.8 lens will allow four times more light to enter.

2/ In very dark conditions (like a night street), don’t hesitate to use a higher ISO such as 6400.

3/ It’s just physics- tucking your elbows into your body provides more stability than extending your arms, which is the same reason longer lenses are more prone to movement.

Does that make sense? By implementing these tips, I’m sure you will find the shutter speed that feels most comfortable for you, significantly reducing camera shake.

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