Photography Calculators
Handheld Shutter Speed Calculator
https://www.photosizing.com/calculators/handheld-shutter-speed/
Estimate only — not a light meter, a shooting prescription or a studio plot. Confirm on a test shot.
Handheld Shutter Speed Calculator
The old rule is 1 over 35 mm-equivalent focal length. A 50 mm on full frame wants ~1/50 s; on 1.5× crop it wants ~1/75. IBIS then multiplies time by 2^stops. Subject motion is not IBIS — a walking person still blurs at 1/10. Confirm with a test shot at 100%; claimed 8-stop IBIS is not 8 stops in your hands.
Inputs
Results
- Reciprocal (no IBIS)
- 50.0
- Shutter without IBIS
- 0.02000s
- Shutter with IBIS
- 0.64000s
50 means think 1/50 s.
Recommended gear
IBIS camera body
In-body stabilisation is the stops in this calculator. Pair it with lens OIS if the body can fuse them.
Typical range: $800–$2,500
Gimbal stabilizer
Video at 1/48 is slower than 1/50 stills. A gimbal is for motion pictures; IBIS is for stills and some video.
Typical range: $200–$700
Carbon fibre tripod
When the IBIS time is still too short, or the subject is still and you want ISO 100, put the camera down.
Typical range: $80–$400
Calculation method
The unstabilised reciprocal is focal length times crop factor — 50 mm on 1.5× is 75, so 1/75 s. Shutter in seconds is 1 over that. Each claimed IBIS stop doubles the time: 5 stops is ×32, so 1/50 becomes about 0.64 s on paper. That paper number is a ceiling, not a technique grade.
Exact formula
reciprocal = f × crop. shutter = 1/reciprocal. withIbis = shutter × 2^ibisStops. Limits: Subject motion, technique, claimed vs real IBIS and high-res modes omitted; confirm with a test shot.
Stance
Elbows in, shutter in the breath pause, strap tensioned. IBIS is not a substitute for holding the camera like you mean it.
Turn IBIS off on a tripod
Many bodies drift when IBIS hunts on locked legs. Off for tripod, on for handheld. Same as astro.
Frequently asked questions
High-megapixel bodies?
Pixel-peeping is harsher than the old 1/focal rule. Many 40 MP shooters use 1/(2× equivalent) as a stills floor and treat IBIS as bonus, not a right to 1 second handheld.
Lens OIS plus IBIS?
If the pair is coordinated, use the combined CIPA figure, then knock a stop off for honesty. If they fight, turn one off — a test shot will tell you.
Video 180°?
Do not use this stills rule for motion-picture blur. Use shutter angle. IBIS still helps camera shake; it does not replace 1/48.
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