Find the minimum handheld shutter speed using the reciprocal rule and stabilization.
Traditionally you hold a lens steady at a shutter at least 1 over the effective focal length, and stabilization lets you slow that down. Under the rule, camera shake blurs images, so keeping shutter speed above the threshold is the first defense against soft handheld shots.
Handheld Shutter Rule
Reciprocal rule: shutter >= 1 / (focal x crop) with stabilization divisor
Reciprocal rule: shutter >= 1 / (focal x crop) with stabilization divisor Traditionally you hold a lens steady at a shutter at least 1 over the effective focal length, and stabilization lets you slow that down.
Under the rule, camera shake blurs images, so keeping shutter speed above the threshold is the first defense against soft handheld shots.
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Focal length, Crop factor, Image stabilization stops. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.