Minimum handheld shutter speed
The classic 1/focal-length rule, corrected for your film format and any stabilisation. Below this, shake starts to show.
A guideline, not a law — steady technique, heavier bodies and bracing all help. Format factor converts to the 35mm-equivalent angle.
About this tool
Camera shake blurs handheld shots when the shutter is too slow, and the safe speed depends on focal length. This tool takes your focal length, film format, and any stabilisation stops, then returns the slowest shutter speed you can safely hand-hold. It is based on the one-over-focal-length rule and helps you avoid soft frames.
How to use it
- Enter the focal length of the lens you are using.
- Select your film format so the crop factor is applied to the effective focal length.
- Enter how many stops of image stabilisation you have, or zero if none.
- Read the slowest safe hand-held shutter speed the tool returns and set it or faster.
FAQ
What is the one-over-focal-length rule?
It says the slowest safe shutter speed is roughly one over the focal length in millimetres. A 50mm lens suggests about 1/50s, a 200mm lens about 1/200s.
Why does film format matter?
Formats smaller than full frame have a crop factor that increases the effective focal length, so the safe shutter speed must be faster to match.