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3.5 - Shutter Release

Single or Continuous Shutter Release

You can set your camera to take only one photograph when you press the shutter release.

This setting is called S, for single.

If you set your camera to the C setting, which stands for continuous, the camera will take one picture after another as long as the shutter release is held down.

Check your instruction manual for variations of these settings.

Shutter Delay

There is a slight delay between when your brain tells you finger to press the shutter, and when the shutter actually opens.

When photographing movement, you must press the shutter release just before you think you should.

Photograph cyclists or skaters in a park, while trying to take the photograph when they're at a certain place.

You'll quickly get a feel for when to press the shutter release.

Shutter Lag

Point-and-shoot cameras have a longer lag between when you press the shutter and the shutter is opened.

Pre-focus to shorten the shutter lag.

Shutter Release & Slow Shutter Speeds

A slow shutter speed, generally, is a shutter speed slower than 1/60th of a second.

If you're using a slow shutter speed, the camera has to be on a tripod of other support.

Otherwise, you may get camera shake.

The photograph is blurred by the movement of the camera.

Pressing the shutter release by hand may cause camera shake, even when the camera is on a tripod or other support.

If it doesn't matter when the photograph is taken, such as a landscape, use the self-timer to trip the shutter.

When the timing is important, such as an eagle landing on her nest, use a remote release.