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man in mid air on a bmx bike

Using Shutter Priority

Understanding shutter speeds unlocks your creative potential, allowing you to shape the mood and story of every photo you take.

Shutter Speed determines how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light. Fast shutter speeds freeze motion, making moving subjects sharp. Slow shutter speeds capture movement as a blur, adding creative effects like silky water or light trails.

sony camera mode dial showing shutter priority

Using Shutter Priority mode on your Sony Alpha camera is a great way to control your photos while keeping things simple. You choose the shutter speed to capture motion the way you want, and the camera automatically sets the right aperture for a well-exposed image. This lets you focus on your creativity and composition without worrying about all the technical details.

Why use this mode?

eagle spreading its wings

Freeze the action

Quick shutter speed

© Alexandra Surkova

water flowing over rocks

Get the flow of movement

Slow shutter speed

© Albert Dros

What is Shutter Speed?

Shutter speed is how long your camera’s shutter stays open to let light in. A fast shutter speed lets in less light and can freeze motion, while a slow shutter speed lets in more light and can create motion blur. It affects how movement appears in your photos.

2 alpha cameras showing shutter speed examples

What is the effect of Shutter speed?

Even photographing the same subject, very different effects can be achieved by using different shutter speeds.

fast shutter speed example

Quick shutter speed - Freezes the action

slow shutter speed example

Slow shutter speed - Captures movement

How to set Shutter Speed on your Alpha

Set your camera's mode dial to the S setting (Shutter Priority)

Use the dials on the front of the grip, the top of the camera or the back of the camera to change the Shutter Speed.

sony camera mode dial showing shutter priority

alpha 7 shutter setting example

alpha 6700 shutter setting example

alpha 7 aperture display example

Shutter speed examples

Click through to see examples taken at different shutter speeds

swimmer coming up for air during a race

© Bob Martin

golfer hitting a ball out of a bunker

© Bob Martin

bird taking off from a lake

© Chris Schmid

lady in a yellow dress jumping in the air

© Daniel Gossmann

dog running towards the camera

© Kate Kirkman

bride and groom embracing under fireworks

© Brent Kirkman

flock of birds in the sky at sunset

© Burak Barutcu

3 motorbike riders in a race

© Philip Platzer

lady standing at the bottom of a waterfall

© Dennis Schmelz

2 birds in flight

© Floris Smeets

guitarist on stage

© Goncalo Delgado

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