shutter speed = 1/f for wide angle.

[gingerneil]

This is a tried and tested rule of thumb, and it works well. I have just bought a 17-40L and am wondering if this rule holds all the way down to 17mm (and lower) ?? Shooting at 1/17s (or nearest on my 20D) seems very slow... can I expect camera shake problems, does this 'rule' only hold until, say, 50mm ?

[Scottes]

It all depends on the person holding it, I'd say. But I'm *very* steady, and I'd still try for faster than 1/20th on any shot, even at 17mm.

[shrugs*]

Try it out :-)

[Mark_Cohran]

It's all about technique. Use the thumbrule as a basis and then deviate based on your actually capability and results.

Mark

[red hot sheep]

It all depends on person. Sometimes I can get down to 1/5 at 18mm unsupported. So experiment and have a go!

[Nick_C]

I tried this with my 17-70, I found 1/20th too slow for handheld, 1/40th was better, but it does depend on how steady you are.

Nick :-)

[chris clements]

Try.
It's just a rule of thumb, so it doesn't really 'hold' for anyone/anything.

[3Honu]

I am very steady and have always prided myself on this. I recently took some pictures with my newly purchased 10-20 Sigma. I was having difficulty at 1/20. Maybe I am just getting old.

[Hellashot]

It does hold true for wide angle, but you must remember what your subject is. People will move some in 1/20 of a second and if you're shooting landscape/nature that might have wind the vegetation will show movement at slow shutter speeds.

[KevC]

I'd avoid shooting anything slower than 1/30th. But when you need it, you need it... I've shot 0.5" on a tripod before... got "acceptably" sharp images. Heh. Not that I'd use them for anything though. eheheh.

You got a 20D. It deals quite well with high ISO, so don't be afraid to bumpbumpbump! But then again, there's only so far you can bump...heh.

[SkipD]

The 1/focal length rule-of-thumb is really intended to overcome camera/lens motion issues. The 1/focal length formula is, to the best of my knowledge, geared towards 35mm film cameras (and works as-is for "full-frame" digitals as well). If you are using an APS-C camera such as the 20D, you need to multiply the focal length by 1.6 in the formula to provide the same effect.

When your focal lengths get very short (wide-angle), the rule of thumb starts to give you very slow minimum shutter speed values. These shutter speeds will generally be fine for purely motionless subjects. However, at the slow end of the shutter speed range you start to have as much effect with subject motion as with camera/lens motion and you could get more blur from the subject moving than the camera/lens.

[liza]

I don't shoot less that 1/60, regardless of the lens. And I don't see any camera shake, either. :)