Does a long shutter speed reduce sharpness for a still subject on a tripod?
Asked 3/24/2021
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If I’m photographing a completely still subject, such as a product shot on a tripod with controlled lighting, does using a long shutter speed (for example, 3 seconds) make the image less sharp by itself? If I instead add more light and use a faster shutter speed for the same exposure, would the image be any sharper?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
5
In theory increasing the shutter speed (in other words, shortening the exposure) won't make the image sharper since there is no motion to create a blur. On the other hand on long exposures the sensor can be a bit more noisy, and at some shutter speeds (around 1/10s) mirror slap can be a problem if you use a DSLR (but most DSLRs have some form of mirror lockup or two-step exposure to mitigate this).
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
5y ago
0
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A long shutter speed by itself does not reduce sharpness if nothing in the scene or camera is moving. For a still subject on a solid tripod, a 3-second exposure can be just as sharp as a shorter one with the same focus and aperture.
What can reduce sharpness during longer exposures is vibration or camera movement, such as:
- mirror slap on DSLRs
- mechanical shutter movement
- pressing the shutter button
- tripod instability or resonance
Long exposures can also show a bit more sensor noise, but that is not the same as blur.
So, adding more light and using a faster shutter speed will not inherently make the image sharper unless your current setup is being affected by vibration or another practical issue. To maximize sharpness, use a sturdy tripod, a remote release or self-timer, and features like mirror lock-up or electronic first curtain if your camera offers them.
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