1. What is Exposure Time?

Exposure time, also known as shutter speed, is the length of time a camera's shutter is open to allow light to reach the sensor or film. It's a crucial element in photography that affects both exposure and motion capture.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Shutter Speed — The reciprocal of exposure time (e.g., 60 for 1/60s)
• Exposure Time — The duration the shutter remains open in seconds

Explanation: This formula converts between the two common ways of representing shutter duration in photography.

3. Importance of Exposure Time

Details: Proper exposure time is essential for correct image brightness, motion blur control, and creative effects in photography. It's one of the three pillars of exposure (along with aperture and ISO).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the shutter speed value (the denominator of the fraction - e.g., enter 60 for 1/60s). The calculator will return the exposure time in seconds.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are common shutter speed values?
A: Typical values include 1/1000s (fast action), 1/250s (general use), 1/60s (low light), and 1s (long exposures).

Q2: How does exposure time affect photos?
A: Shorter times freeze motion but require more light, while longer times create motion blur but work in low light.

Q3: What's the relationship with f-stop?
A: Exposure time and aperture (f-stop) work together to determine total exposure. Changing one requires adjustment of the other.

Q4: What's the slowest handheld shutter speed?
A: Generally 1/focal-length seconds (e.g., 1/50s for 50mm lens), though image stabilization can allow slower speeds.

Q5: When would I use bulb mode?
A: For exposures longer than your camera's maximum shutter speed (typically 30s), where you manually control the duration.