The minimum shutter speed depends on a few things: the focal length of your lens, whether it has Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, and on the ISO value.

Ideally, the shutter speed should be 1/F secs where F refers to the focal length of the lens. This guide is generally true for users with relatively steady hands. To be sure, you might want to go with 1/(F x 1.5) secs. For example, the slowest shutter speed you can go with a lens of 35mm would be around 1/35 secs or 1/50 secs.

However, the story gets a little different if you have VR technology on your lens. With this, it is possible to go as low as “2 stops” below what is stated as “safe”. “One stop” refers to multiplying, or dividing the value by “2″. For example, on a 16mm lens and VR activated, I was able to get decently sharp images at 1/4, where “4″ is “two stops” below “16″. VR is very useful as it allows you to perform better in low light. However, this is provided that your subject is stationary, such as an object or building (Read this to find out more).

Another factor is the ISO value. For instance, if you are using a 35mm lens, and your shutter speed reads 1/20 secs, you could increase the ISO value to double the shutter speed to 1/40 secs to prevent blurriness from camera shake. Try switching to Aperture Priority mode before adjusting the ISO to see what I mean by .

With that said, if you are not using the camera handheld, then the minimum shutter speed is of little concern. For general landscapes or in cases where circumstances allow, your best bet is still a good, sturdy tripod.

Related posts:

  1. Photography basics – What is ISO?
  2. Photography basics – Mode dial (Shutter priority)
  3. Photography basics – Crop sensor vs Full frame (DX vs FX)
  4. Photography basics – Choosing your first lens
  5. Photography basics – Aperture values for prime lenses