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The shutter

The shutter is one of the two things that controls how much light that hits the film (the other thing is the aperture). The shutter simply regulates exposure time -- for how long the film will be exposed to light. The shutter consists of several "curtains". When you press the shutter release button, one set of curtains will open, letting light in. After a certain time another set of curtains will close, cutting off the light supply. When the film is wound, both sets will be reset to their starting positions. This is called "cocking the shutter".

Creative use of the shutter

With a short (fast) shutter speed, you can freeze an event -- such as a hummingbird flapping its wings, or a sprinter passing the finish line. On the other hand, using a longer (slow) shutter speed, the hummingbird's wings will be allowed to move while the film is exposed, showing the movement. Or you may use panning on the sprinter -- this is the technique of following a moving object with the lens, creating a (hopefully) sharp main subject but a background with motion blur. What you want to do is up to your photographic vision.

Setting different shutter speeds

To adjust the shutter speed on the 9000, use the lever just above the "9000" logotype on the camera. It is conveniently located near your index finger when holding the camera normally. Pressing the lever to the left will decrease the shutter speed, pressing it to the right will increase it. The setting changes rapidly if the button is held in one direction. Note that the shutter speed is expressed as "parts of a second". In other words, the value "2000" in the display means "1/2000 of a second". Speeds one second and longer are indicated with a quotation mark after the number; 15" means fifteen seconds.

Camera shake

With longer shutter speeds, you may experience camera shake. This is when the shutter is open for so long that your own body will affect sharpness by moving the camera slightly during exposure. The effect will be seen more easily with longer lenses. This can partly be avoided with proper technique or some kind of support. To give tips about technique is somewhat beyond the scope of this web site, but there is an old rule: never use a shutter speed slower than 1/F, where F is the focal length of your lens. That means that if you use a 300mm lens, your shutter speed should be shorter than 1/300. This is of course a really rough rule, as camera shake is affected by lots of variables, but you should keep it in mind. If you are approaching shutter speeds which you suspect may lead to camera shake, try to find support somewhere. Hold the camera against a tree or a railing or something stationary.

NOTE
  • Never ever touch the shutter curtains! Not with the film tip, not with your fingers, not with anything. The shutter may get permanently damaged!
  • The 9000 has the ability to set shutter speeds in both "full stops" steps and stepless (one shutter "stop" corresponds to one stop on the aperture scale). Shutter operation depends on the P/A/S/M mode set:
    • P mode: stepless shutter speeds
    • A mode: stepless shutter speeds
    • S mode: full stops
    • M mode: full stops
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Click to see descriptions of the different parts.







The display to the left shows a shutter speed of 1/2000 second. The display to the right shows a long speed of fifteen seconds; "seconds" is indicated by a quotation mark.

The shutter.

A short shutter speed has been chosen to "freeze" motion.

Here a longer shutter speed has been used, showing movement of the hands. The main subject stays reasonably sharp as it isn't moving. This can add a more dynamic feeling to a picture.

On the other hand, a long shutter speed may lead to camera shake. This often results in a linear form of unsharpness, when the slight shaking of your hands moves the camera enough during exposure to create an unwanted motion blur.

The leftmost picture is sharp, the middle picture is unsharp because of camera shake, and the rightmost picture is unsharp because of incorrect focus. Note that the effects are computer simulated and exaggerated to better show what happens.

Mounting index Bayonet mount Aperture stopdown pin Lens lock pin Lens release button Self timer LED Shutter speed up/down control DOF preview switch Lens contacts Aperture up/down control Focus mode switch Remote control terminal (covered) Matte screen Bottom contacts for accessories Battery compartment Rewind release Coupler for motorized film winding Coupler for motorized film rewind Handgrip PC socket Focus drive coupler Mirror Tripod socket Serial number Back release lock Lighting window Diopter adjustment dial Eyepiece shutter lever AEL button Accessory shoe Finder Film window Film advance lever On/off switch Multiple exposure button Strap eyelets Strap eyelets Strap eyelets Exposure mode selector Shutter release button Self timer switch Exposure adjustment button Frame counter Back release/ rewind crank / metering selector ISO adjustment button Film guide rails Film guide rails Back removal lever Take up spool Shutter curtains Film winding sprockets Accessory back contacts Back release latch Rewind prong DX contacts Back/top Front/bottom Film chamber Alphabetical