Does shutter speed affect detail?

[Jeff_Green]

Okay, I am probably wrong and I will be more than happy to sit corrected (to lazy to stand).

I have been debating with others over the shutter speeds ability to acquire detail. My argument is that a longer shutter speed is able to obtain more detail than a slower shutter speed. A skyline image shot at 2 seconds will have more detail in it than a skyline image shot at 1/120th.

The opposing side says that the shutter speed will have absolutely no affect on the detail obtained.

Anyone care to clear this up for me??

Jeff

[Jake]

With those two exposures, one shot would probably be either solid black or solid white

[The Loft Studios]

Shutter speed has nothing to do with image detail, but rather has to do with the exposure of an image. In your example a 2 sec. shutter speed can have the same exposure of a 1/120 shutter speed..... dependent on aperture setting and ISO.

P.S. Also, if you are calling Depth of Field as more detail, then from your perspective, that could be true. But what it actually is, is that more of the image (Foreground to Background) is in focus, thus resulting in a perspective of an image having more detail, when actually it just has more sharp focus from Foreground to Background.

[alamoshutterbug]

I am siding on the no difference end as well, but just want to hear why you think it is different.

[Dobick]

I would say no difference, but I would like to hear from those more versed in the physics to answer definitively. Science (or even some big sounding words said with authority) could easily sway me otherwise.

[Jeff_Green]

My experience has shown that when photographing a skyline, when I slow down the shutter speed I end up having a clearer, more detailed image than when I shoot with a faster shutter speed. Maybe it is variables that I don't take into account, but I guess I am just wrong! lol

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

My experience has shown that when photographing a skyline, when I slow down the shutter speed I end up having a clearer, more detailed image than when I shoot with a faster shutter speed. Maybe it is variables that I don't take into account, but I guess I am just wrong! lol

Well correct me if im wrong but in this instance when your shooting the higher shutter speed, you are going to have to open up your lens lets say f/4 just for the sake of it resulting in a shallow depth of field but when you slow down the shutter speed your allowing the light to strike the sensor longer, resulting in closing down the lens lets say to f/22.

At f/22 your image should be clearer because you have more broad depth of field. When I shoot skylines or landscapes I try to use f/16 or higher to make sure as much as possible is in focus, whereas a portrait use f/4 or higher to throw the background out of focus.

I could be wrong too tho :) Hope that helps.


Edit: Now that I am thinking about it though, I may be reversing my math, its late!! Im thinking faster shutter speed, less light, open the lens.. Heh now Im questioning myself.

[Dobick]

Another reason for more detail, could be a function of the lens -- if stopping down to f/8 finds the sweetspot on a lens vs wide open, even if you get the focus dead on in both images, the one closest to the sweet spot will win every time.

[Jeff_Green]

There are some great responses and apparently I am wrong! I guess what I don't take into account is the better detail may be a result of the f/stop moreso than the shutter speed. I'll put it to the test tonight as I am going to do some shooting in downtown fort worth.

Thanks for all the input and if you have any more to add, feel free!

[SCone]

They all work together, f-stop, shutter speed & ISO. A slower shutter will enable a higher f-stop, higher f-stop can allow a lower ISO. Change any one of them and the other two CAN be too high or too low.

But since photography is art, it all depends on what you, the photographer, is trying to achieve.

[KJ Smith]

Jeff,

Try to avoid shutter speeds in the 1/8 -1/15 sec range. I have been told that the vibrations from the mirror slap can cause a lack of sharpness.

If you have/use mirror lock up it will resolve that issue.

As others have said, shutter speed helps in that it allows a smaller aperture for more depth of field.

But remember, there are three things that affect DOF.

Angle of view (lens)

Aperture

Distance from subject.

As a general rule, you are far enough away from the skyline and using a wide enough lens that it won't take a lot of aperture to get the depth of field you want.

Kevin

[CaptainTom]

Interesting responses all.
I think that all the responses are being made intuitivally and not scientifically.
I think there is a possibility that a longer shutter speed could give more detail in a skyline shot. Somehow when I blink my eyes quickly I don't get a very clear image in my brain, but when I keep my eyes open, I get a better image. Yeah, I know that the Sensor isn't organic, or wired to my brain, but there might be some optical reason why it seems that a longer shutter speed renders more detail.

I don't disagree with those who think this is crap. I just don't have enough information to establish a solid opinion.

I'd love to here from an optical engineer about this.

P.S. I also believe in Voodoo, Astrology, UFO's, and Global Warming

EDIT: I just read Venchka's post.... never mind !!

[jgooding]

I think it's true that, all else equal, shutter speed has no effect on detail. As Kevin mentioned, though, you have to watch out for mirror slap. So, in that sense, a longer shutter speed might give the impression of yielding more detail. As others have mentioned, DOF (whether you equate it with "more detail" or not) is an important issue.

I'm not an optical engineer, but one point I want to mention is the issue of diffraction. The upshot is that even stopping down has its limits, and often times a smaller aperture can actually degrade image quality. You can see a nice overview of lens diffraction at the Luminous Landscape.

When shooting skylines or nature scenes, you have to judge which aperture will actually yield the best DOF and IQ in light of the subject matter, your distance to it, the lens you're using, etc. I've shot some skylines (with a constant 2.8 lens) that required only f/5.6. The smallest I can actually remember going for a skyline shot was f/11, and infrequently at that. On occasion, I've needed to stop down to f/22 for some deep landscape shots.

EDIT: Corrected the link.

[SaSha]

I consulted with my eyes for a bit and its all about the sweet spot in one's eye or lense...DOHUPI.

[LanceHaynie]

Well I guess theoretically if I can remember all the stupid proportionality stuff, Shutter Speed and Aperture are inversely proportionate. So technically shutter speed does in fact effect detail.

This has been a fun discussion!