Handheld Shutter Rule
Find the minimum handheld shutter speed using the reciprocal rule and stabilization.
About Handheld Shutter Rule
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.
Formula
Handheld Shutter Rule
Reciprocal rule: shutter >= 1 / (focal x crop) with stabilization divisor
- stabilization
- Stops of shake reduction the lens or body provides
Worked example
With the default values below, Handheld Shutter Rule returns Minimum Shutter (1/x s) of 9. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Focal lengthminimum 1
- 50
- Crop factorminimum 0.5
- 1.5
- Image stabilization stopsaccepts 0–8
- 3
Results
- Minimum Shutter (1/x s)
- 9
- Minimum Shutter Seconds
- 0.1111
- Rule
- Shutter at least 1/9 s
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Handheld Shutter Rule
- 3Minimum Shutter (1/x s)= 9
- 4Minimum Shutter Seconds= 0.1111
- 5Rule= Shutter at least 1/9 s
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Handheld Shutter Rule calculated?
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.
Why does Handheld Shutter Rule matter?
Under the rule, camera shake blurs images, so keeping shutter speed above the threshold is the first defense against soft handheld shots.
What values do I need to enter?
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.