What shutter speed is typically required to freeze a vehicle traveling at 60 mph?

To effectively freeze a vehicle moving at 60 miles per hour, a shutter speed of around 1/1000 of a second is generally adequate. This speed allows the camera to capture a sharp image by minimizing motion blur caused by the rapid movement of the vehicle. At 60 mph, a car travels about 88 feet per second, which means that even a brief exposure could result in a blurred image if the shutter speed isn't fast enough. A 1/1000 second shutter speed strikes a balance between freezing the action and allowing enough light to hit the sensor, ensuring proper exposure and detail in the moving vehicle.

Faster shutter speeds, such as 1/2000 or 1/4000, would certainly also freeze the motion effectively, but they may not be necessary for the speed involved and could lead to underexposure unless compensated with a higher ISO or wider aperture. A shutter speed of 1/500 seconds might not be fast enough, as it might still capture some movement blur. Therefore, 1/1000 is the recommended speed for freezing a vehicle at that speed effectively while maintaining a good exposure level.