How To Change The Shutter Speed On A Canon Camera

January 17, 2023

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Are you looking to take your photography skills to the next level? One way to do that is by learning how to manually adjust the shutter speed on your Canon camera. In this blog post, we will walk you through the steps of changing the shutter speed on your Canon camera and explain why you might want to do so.

Whether you want to freeze fast-moving action or create artistic effects, adjusting the shutter speed is an important technique for any photographer to master. So, let’s get started! 

Changing a Canon Camera’s Shutter Speed – Step-by-Step 

To change the shutter speed on a Canon camera, follow these steps: 

  1. Turn on your camera and find the “M” mode on the dial. M stands for “manual,” which allows you to adjust the shutter speed manually. 
  2. Press the “ISO” button on the top of the camera. This will allow you to change the ISO setting, which controls the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor. 
  3. Use the main dial on the top of the camera to adjust the shutter speed. Turning the dial to the right will make the shutter speed faster, while turning it to the left will make it slower. 
  4. Press the “ISO” button again to exit the ISO setting. 
  5. Take a test shot and review the image to make sure the shutter speed is to your liking. 

Keep in mind that adjusting the shutter speed will also affect the aperture and ISO settings, as these three factors work together to expose an image correctly. You may need to adjust one or more of the camera’s settings to achieve the desired result. 

Note: The availability of these buttons and dials may vary depending on your specific Canon camera model. If you are unable to find the ISO button or the manual setting on your camera’s main dial, they may be labelled differently. You should consult your camera’s manual for more information. 

Why would you need to change the shutter speed on a camera? 

There are several reasons why you might want to change the shutter speed on your camera, for example… 

  1. To freeze or blur motion 
    A fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/2000th of a second) can be used to freeze fast-moving subjects, while a slow shutter speed (e.g., 1/15th of a second) can be used to intentionally blur movement. By intentionally using slow shutter speeds, you can create unique effects such as light trails or motion blur. 
  2. To control the amount of light 
    Shorter shutter speeds allow less light to reach the camera’s image sensor, while longer shutter speeds allow more light. You might want to adjust the shutter speed to allow more or less light in order to over or under expose the image, especially in low light situations like shooting at night. 
  3. To avoid camera shake 
    If you are using a long lens or shooting in low light, you may need to use a faster shutter speed to avoid the impact of camera shake, which can cause blurry images. 

Ready To Take Better Photos? 

In conclusion, learning how to change the shutter speed on your Canon camera is an important skill for any photographer. By understanding how shutter speed works and how it interacts with the aperture and ISO settings, you can take full control of your camera and create a wide range of artistic effects. Thanks for reading and we hope this tutorial has been helpful! 

 

Apg Scaled

Article by Dave

Hi, I'm Dave, the founder of Amateur Photographer Guide. I created this site to help beginner and hobbyist photographers build their skills and grow their passion. Here, you’ll find easy-to-follow tutorials, gear recommendations, and honest advice to make photography more accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding.