Can a DSLR show the shutter speed it will use in Aperture Priority before you take the shot?

Asked 1/12/2011

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When shooting in Aperture Priority with aperture and ISO already set, can a DSLR show the shutter speed it plans to use before the photo is taken? For example, in low light I wanted to check that the shutter speed would be fast enough to freeze a child running around. Where is that information usually displayed, and is there a better exposure mode for this situation?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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Depends on the camera, but most DSLRs that I've used indicate the metering information (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) using visible numbers that appear inside the viewfinder. When you half-press the shutter, the camera meters the scene and indicates the settings it will use.

Originally by user89. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user89

15y ago

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Yes. In Aperture Priority, the camera meters the scene and chooses the shutter speed for proper exposure. On most DSLRs, that predicted shutter speed is shown before you shoot—typically in the viewfinder and/or on the rear/top LCD—after metering is activated, often by half-pressing the shutter button.

That behavior is the whole point of Aperture Priority: you set aperture (and often ISO), and the camera sets shutter speed. If you don’t see it, check your camera’s display options, since placement varies by model.

For your specific goal—freezing motion—a mode that prioritizes shutter speed may be better. Shutter Priority lets you choose the minimum speed you need, and the camera adjusts aperture. Another useful option, if your camera supports it, is Manual mode with Auto ISO (or TAv mode on some cameras), where you set both shutter speed and aperture and let ISO float to match exposure.

UniqueBot

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15y ago

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