Video tips: The 180 degree shutter rule

By Tim Robinson | 13 August 2025

When it comes to capturing natural looking motion in video, your shutter speed is an important factor.

To help with this, film makers use a rule called the 180-degree shutter rule. The name comes from the physical angle of the mechanical shutter found in motion picture cameras.

In digital terms this angle equates to a shutter speed that is twice the speed of your frame rate.

The standard frame rate for video is 25fps, so the standard shutter speed would be 50/sec. If you are shooting slow motion at 50fps then you would increase your shutter speed to 100/sec.

Camera settings for the 180 degree shutter rule.

Why is the rule important?

Following this rule will give you a natural looking motion blur. It mimics the way that our eyes perceive motion and will give you the most ‘cinematic’ results.

However, rules are made to be broken and there are creative reasons that you might decide to change your shutter speed from this standard.

For instance, in fast action movie scenes the shutter speed may be increased to give a “choppier” feel, increasing the sense of anxiety or urgency. Alternatively, a slower shutter speed can create a dreamier feel for the viewer.

This windmill in the Flinders Ranges helps to show how different shutter speeds affect motion blur. The shutter in the first image is set to 180 degrees and shows some motion blur in the turning blades. In the second image, the shutter is ‘over cranked’, which means that the shutter is set faster than the 180 degree rule, meaning that there is no visible motion blur. This image in video will not look as natural as the first image. — This windmill in the Flinders Ranges helps to show how different shutter speeds affect motion blur. The shutter in the first image is set to 180 degrees and shows some motion blur in the turning blades. In the second image below, the shutter is ‘over cranked’, which means that the shutter is set faster than the 180 degree rule, meaning that there is no visible motion blur. This image in video will not look as natural as the first image.

Captured with an 'over-cranked' shutter.

Controlling your exposure

As a photographer you might be concerned that you will lose control over your exposure. Having your frame rate and shutter speed pre-set means that your only control over exposure will be with the aperture dial.

If you want to shoot a scene wide open, how do you control your exposure?

The easiest way to do this is by using a variable neutral density filter (VND). This allows you to select your desired f-stop and then dial in the exposure using the filter. I use a magnetic filter system so that I can quickly attach the VND when switching from photo to video mode.

Creating cinematic looking video does not need to be complicated and using the 180-degree shutter rule is a good first step to achieving great results. ❂