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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Focal length - shutter speed relationship question
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05/11/2006 09:25:21 PM · #1
I've been pondering this a while after reading a few posts. Why is it that a focal length of say 35 mm only require much slower shutter speeds in comparison to a large focal length, such as 300 mm? I've read that shutter speed needs to be 1 / focal length...so a 300 mm would theoretically need a minimum 1/300 shutter speed. I don't know if this makes any sense at all....I really don't know how to explain my question.
05/11/2006 09:35:11 PM · #2
It has to do with angle of view. If your hand shake is, say, 1/2 degree of angular movement, that's a significant added blur to a lens with an angular field of view of, say, 20 degrees and insignificant to one with, say, a 100 degree angle of view.

R.

And, btw, you need to multiply the focal length of the lens by your crop factor if you're not FF: i.e., my 200mm lens is 320mm on my 20D, as far as angular coverage goes, so my reciprocal is 1/300, not 1/200.

R.

Message edited by author 2006-05-11 21:37:05.
05/11/2006 09:36:35 PM · #3
think about what happens when you look through binoculars...
you have a hard time seeing, because any movement you make is multiplied many times over. i have heard that 1 over the focal length is good, but also 1 over twice the focal length (1/100 for 50mm). i do not agree with either of these, just because my hand is steady enough to go much slower. it is really a matter of knowing how steady your hands are, although you should always be safe at 1 over twice the focal length, even if you are very shaky.
05/11/2006 09:42:37 PM · #4
what it means is that when you use a longer lens like that, that a little bit of shake translates into a lot of movement in the frame, so the faster shutter speed is needed to freeze that movement. Ex: Take a long stick, hold it in front of you, move your hand a little bit, you'll notice that the other end of the stick moves quite a bit, it's the same princple with the long lens.
05/11/2006 10:21:52 PM · #5
It is all so clear now! haha, thanks for those who responded...they were all helpful and I really do understand now.
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