Samsung NX1 User Manual (English) - Page 20

Concepts in Photography Shutter speed Shutter speed refers to the amount of time it takes to open and close the shutter. It controls the amount of light which passes through the aperture before it reaches the image sensor. Shutter speeds are measured in seconds and parts of a second. On many cameras, the shutter speeds are approximately halved with each succeeding setting - 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s, 1/8 s, 1/15 s, etc. Like successive aperture settings, each successive shutter speed setting lets in about half the amount of light. Consequently, each successive shutter speed setting equals an EV (Exposure Value) change of about 1 EV. Therefore, the faster the shutter speed, the less light will be let in. Likewise, the slower the shutter speed, the more light will be let in. A slow shutter speed, as the photo below illustrates, allows more light into the camera to make photos brighter. However, because the shutter is open longer, moving subjects appear blurred. A fast shutter speed allows less light in to make photos darker. However, because the shutter is open for a shorter time, moving subjects look sharper and more focused. Exposure +1 EV -1 EV 1 s 1/250 s 1 s 1/2 s 1/4 s 1/8 s 1/15 s 1/30 s Shutter speed 19