4000 vs 8000 shutter speed

I really prefer 1/8000 as an option on my camera..i need it to make what i do easier ,, otherwise i need to carry nd's

Talley wrote in post #18452920
Anytime you want to shoot F1.4 in the full sun. You need 1/8000

thanks everybody for the replies. That pretty much sums it up. Thanks!

James Crockett wrote in post #18452956
thanks everybody for the replies. That pretty much sums it up. Thanks!

No problem. You "can" get away with ISO 50 in full sun at 1.4 with 1/4000 but it'll still be too bright sometimes and you'll have to work on the highlights bring them down. even with 1/8000 you can get bright highlights at 1.4. My buddy shoots the 85 1.2 at 1/8000 and still will get blown skies and such.

Talley wrote in post #18452920
Anytime you want to shoot F1.4 in the full sun. You need 1/8000

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And if this had been shot at 2.0?

Pretty much the same result.

I am not saying it is never needed, btw.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18452969
And if this had been shot at 2.0?

Pretty much the same result.

I am not saying it is never needed, btw.

This is exactly why I said "No." in my first post.

Does it make life a little easier sometimes? Sure. I still think those who say they absolutely "need" it, are kidding themselves. I got by just fine without it for several years.

Interestingly, not everyone shoots the same things the same way in the same light with the same equipment for the same purpose with the same desired end result. This means a single person cannot answer this as fact for everyone else.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18452982
Interestingly, not everyone shoots the same things the same way in the same light with the same equipment for the same purpose with the same desired end result. This means a single person cannot answer this as fact for everyone else.

I'm often over 1/4000 with m 1D IV when out birding. Florida sun is bright. This is at f/7.1 or even f/8. I don't use auto ISO and set the ISO up to shoot in the varied conditions at a given location. I know I could lower the ISO if I had to and would accomplish the same thing. I want my shutter speed at 1/2000 or so for birds in flight. Set it and forget it.

It really depends on what genres you shoot and the conditions in which you shoot them. Like was mentioned above, I do have CPL's for all my lenses so I could resort to that. There are usually work arounds but when I'm taking bird photographs, I don't want to mess around to find them. I want to enjoy the moment as well as come away with nice photographs.

That said, I just bought a used 6Dc. I'll be using it for things other than birding.. or in addition to, perhaps. Anyway, I don't expect to run into limitations from the 1/4000 shutter speed with it. Time will tell.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18452982
Interestingly, not everyone shoots the same things the same way in the same light with the same equipment for the same purpose with the same desired end result. This means a single person cannot answer this as fact for everyone else.

My point is, for the vast majority of uses the difference between 1 stop of DOF is barely even noticeable. I used to obsess over shallow DOF, but I think this is the easiest trap for people to fall into with photography. Also, if you're needing more than 1/4000s at f1.4 it's pretty likely that the light is really harsh, not going to be flattering to your subject in most scenarios... so of course you could make the argument of "sometimes you have no choice", but my counter to that would be "cool, so in those times just stop the lens down..."

As has been stated already before though by someone else, if you have to ask if you need it or not, it's pretty likely that you don't.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18452969
And if this had been shot at 2.0?

Pretty much the same result.

I am not saying it is never needed, btw.

All I said was: anytime you "want" to shoot 1.4 in daytime you need 1/8000.

I stated fact.

Talley wrote in post #18453009
All I said was: anytime you "want" to shoot 1.4 in daytime you need 1/8000.

I stated fact.

Facts tend to be true. The statement above is not. What it is - is (Thanks, Bill!) an oft-repeated internet piece of incorrect wisdom. Much like, "Tomato juice kills skunk spray." Both belong on the list of 101 thing you 'know' that are not true.

It would be a bit more true to say, "Often, in bright, harsh sunlight you will need a faster than 1/4000 shutter speed, or an ND filter to shoot at f/1.4."

I'm not sure about Houston; never been there. But in Indiana, I can pretty much shoot 1/4000 at f/2-2.5, even in the harshest bright sun. I'm not spending big money for a 5D3 just for the 3 shots a year I can't get wide open. F/2.5 is not killing me.

Bassat wrote in post #18453030
Facts tend to be true. The statement above is not. What it is - is (Thanks, Bill!) an oft-repeated internet piece of incorrect wisdom. Much like, "Tomato juice kills skunk spray." Both belong on the list of 101 thing you 'know' that are not true.

It would be a bit more true to say, "Often, in bright, harsh sunlight you will need a faster than 1/4000 shutter speed, or an ND filter to shoot at f/1.4."

I'm not sure about Houston; never been there. But in Indiana, I can pretty much shoot 1/4000 at f/2-2.5, even in the harshest bright sun. I'm not spending big money for a 5D3 just for the 3 shots a year I can't get wide open. F/2.5 is not killing me.

That's the thing I look at, the 6d has 4000 shutter speed but better low light performance then the 5d3. 5d3 costs 1k+ but with 8000 shutter speed.. both big upgrade from 5d2 of course. just seeing if 4000 shutter speed is a big deal or not. Thanks everybody!

James Crockett wrote in post #18453038
That's the thing I look at, the 6d has 4000 shutter speed but better low light performance then the 5d3. 5d3 costs 1k+ but with 8000 shutter speed.. both big upgrade from 5d2 of course. just seeing if 4000 shutter speed is a big deal or not. Thanks everybody!

Not for me. 400 images at 1/8000 but over 1500 above 4000.... this is out of 87,000 photos. Do the math.

You will survive. 5D3 is a much better body though. But if lowlight is your thing then 6D. Likewise analyze your high iso. For me I have only 300ish that are at or above 12,800. I realized that my sweet spot is somewhere between 1/125-1/2000 and F1.4-4 and ISO 100-3200. For me anything outside of that is not too typical to have major keepers. Just a hand few.

James Crockett wrote in post #18453038
That's the thing I look at, the 6d has 4000 shutter speed but better low light performance then the 5d3. 5d3 costs 1k+ but with 8000 shutter speed.. both big upgrade from 5d2 of course. just seeing if 4000 shutter speed is a big deal or not. Thanks everybody!

If I need 1/8000, I can always use my 80D. But that defeats the idea of shooting wide open for DOF control. Just because 1/4000 does not bother me, does not mean it won't bother you, at least once in a while. Choose... wisely. You don't want to be disappointed in such a large purchase.

Or you could just keep the 5D2 for those 1/8000 days. Even the 5D2 can focus in bright light.

Bassat wrote in post #18453042
If I need 1/8000, I can always use my 80D. But that defeats the idea of shooting wide open for DOF control. Just because 1/4000 does not bother me, does not mean it won't bother you, at least once in a while. Choose... wisely. You don't want to be disappointed in such a large purchase.

Or you could just keep the 5D2 for those 1/8000 days. Even the 5D2 can focus in bright light.

true. I just hate the low light performance isn't that great but it's an older camera though. thanks!

Talley wrote in post #18453009
All I said was: anytime you "want" to shoot 1.4 in daytime you need 1/8000.

I stated fact.

don't make me bust out my CPL and shoot at 1/4000 1.4!!!

James Crockett wrote in post #18453038
That's the thing I look at, the 6d has 4000 shutter speed but better low light performance then the 5d3. 5d3 costs 1k+ but with 8000 shutter speed.. both big upgrade from 5d2 of course. just seeing if 4000 shutter speed is a big deal or not. Thanks everybody!

So lets look at your original question

James Crockett wrote in post #18452313
Do you really need 8000 shutter speed? Thanks and take care.

some are answering whether they themselves NEED it. Some are answering in more broad terms as if it is EVER needed.

Yes, the 6D is slightly better at low light than the 5DIII. My FF body is the 6D, btw. I also have a SL1.

typically I am much more interested in getting a little better low light performance than I am at shooting wide open in full sun. In fact, I really avoid shooting in full sun, to the point I would usually just rather not take the shot. However, when I do need to shoot in full sun with wide apertures, even a modest polarizer does the trick.

Outside of a controlled studio environment, and absent shooting tripod/bracketing pics, I bet I shoot 1000 to 1 wide open in low light compared to wide open in full sun.


edit: and for what I do, flash photographer may or may not be allowed, but a quality ND or polarizing filter is not even noticed.