07Exposure · Motion

Shutter Speed Guide

$10USD

The 180 degree rule, why it matters, and when to break it. How shutter angle defines motion blur and gives footage that unmistakable film quality.

Overview

Your camera's shutter is like a curtain in front of the sensor, every frame it opens and closes, and shutter speed is how long it stays open. In video it does two jobs at once: it sets how bright your image is, and it shapes how motion looks. A slow shutter (1/50s) lets in more light and blurs movement the way films do; a fast shutter (1/500s) lets in less light and freezes everything sharp.

For most work, set your shutter to double your frame rate, the 180° rule, for the natural motion blur our eyes associate with cinema. It's a starting point, not a law: break it deliberately when you want a specific look, never by accident. And because 1/50s lets in a lot of light outdoors, ND filters are what let you hold the rule without overexposing.

What's Inside

The 180° rule: set shutter to double your frame rate, 1/50s at 24/25fps, 1/60s at 30fps, 1/100s at 50fps, for natural cinematic blur
1/15s dreamy, movement smears into painterly trails, for light painting and abstract effect
1/50s cinematic, the 180° rule in practice: natural, immersive motion for narrative, interviews and everyday video
1/100s sharp, clean, defined edges on moving subjects, for sport and bright exteriors
1/500s frozen, time stopped cold with zero blur, for wildlife, action and product splash shots
Why ND filters: 1/50s overexposes in daylight, a 3–6 stop ND lets you hold the rule outdoors
In Cine EI / S-Log3, lock shutter and control exposure with aperture and ND, and remember motion blur is emotion, a cinematic language audiences already read

Format & Access

One-page PDF reference, built clean and written tight
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Shutter Speed Guide$10 USDor Full Library $59 · 46% off