Calculate shutter angle

Convert a motion-picture shutter angle and frame rate into exposure time and shutter speed.

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ToolShutter Angle Calculator
Input
Output
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Preview

How it works

Exposure time equals angle ÷ (360 × frame rate), and its reciprocal is displayed as shutter speed. The formula assumes a rotary-shutter interpretation.

  • 180° is the initial conventional angle.
  • Electronic timing and flicker are not modelled.

Worked example

The 180 degree rule at 24fps
The standard cinematic motion blur
Input
											Frame rate fps: 24
Shutter angle deg: 180
Output
												Shutter speed s: 0.02083
Shutter speed fraction: 1/48
Frame rate fps: 24
Shutter angle deg: 180

When to use this

Filmmakers set 180° motion blur, video engineers convert angle to seconds, and high-frame-rate tests compare motion rendition.

Edge cases

  • Changing frame rate changes time at the same angle.
  • Angles above 360° imply more than one frame period.
  • LED flicker and rolling shutter can create artifacts outside this timing equation.