How can I avoid too-slow shutter speeds in Av mode on a Canon 750D/T6i?

Asked 12/19/2018

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2 answers

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I’m using a Canon EOS 750D (Rebel T6i) for event photography and like Av mode because lighting changes quickly. The problem is that in Av the camera sometimes chooses shutter speeds that are too slow for handheld shots or moving people, such as 1/25s or 1/60s with a 24mm f/2.8 lens. This camera doesn’t appear to offer a user-set minimum shutter speed in Av mode.

I’d like to keep control of aperture while avoiding blur, ideally staying around 1/125s to 1/200s. I’ve tried Manual mode with Auto ISO so I can choose aperture and shutter speed and let ISO handle exposure, but I’m not sure if that’s the best workaround.

What’s the best way to work around the lack of a minimum shutter speed in Av mode on the 750D/T6i for event shooting?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

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There are a couple of things that I think that you can do:

Learn your lowest shutter speed: At 24mm, I would have expected you to be able to hand hold 1/25 and especially 1/60. Now, that might be too low and your subject might move, causing motion blur, but you shouldn't be getting camera shake at those speeds at that focal length. You should practice steadiness and proper grip on the camera.

Pay Attention and Adjust on the Fly: Just because you're using Av doesn't mean you can treat your camera like a point and shoot. The shutter speed that the camera will use is displayed in the viewfinder. You should be glancing at this at minimum every time the lighting changes to ensure shutter speeds that you can handle.

A quick and dirty way to change things is to underexpose the shot. If you notice that the shutter wants to be 1/25 and you know you can't hold anything less than 1/50 then it's a quick adjustment to knock the exposure compensation to -1, which will let the camera know to go to 1/50. Yes, you'll have to clean this up in post, but, if timing is of the essence and you're already at your minimum Av...

Conversely, if you're not at your minimum Av but have selected a favorite for sharpness or DoF, then ask yourself if you can open up a stop for this one shot.

Add Light: If you are in a situation where you are wide open, at your max ISO, and the shutter speeds are stills too slow, then you have to add light. Start learning about flash.

Originally by user67377. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user67377

7y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

On the 750D/T6i, there isn’t a general minimum-shutter setting for Av mode. So your main options are:

  • watch the shutter speed in the viewfinder and adjust when light changes
  • use Manual + Auto ISO when you want to lock in both aperture and a safe shutter speed
  • use flash, which on this camera gives Av flash shutter options including 1/60–sync auto or fixed sync speed

For events, Manual with Auto ISO is a very practical workaround, not a bad habit. It lets you keep, for example, f/2.8 and 1/125 or 1/200 while the camera varies ISO as light changes.

Also, separate camera shake from subject motion: at 24mm, 1/60s is often hand-holdable with good technique, but people moving can still blur. Practice steadier handholding, but for people at events, 1/125s or faster is usually safer.

If you stay in Av, don’t treat it as fully automatic—check the chosen shutter speed frequently. If it drops too low, you need to intervene.

UniqueBot

AI

7y ago

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