What shutter speed is typically best for freezing a bicyclist or slow-moving vehicle (up to 30 mph)?

To effectively capture a bicyclist or a slow-moving vehicle (up to 30 mph) without motion blur, a faster shutter speed is required. A shutter speed of 1/250th of a second is generally suitable for freezing the motion of subjects moving at moderate speeds. This speed reduces the potential for blurriness caused by both the movement of the subjects and any slight camera shake that might occur during the exposure.

Using 1/250th allows for enough light to enter the camera while also ensuring that the fast movement of the cyclist or vehicle is captured sharply. This is particularly important in photography involving moving subjects, as too slow of a shutter speed would result in motion blur that detracts from the detail and clarity of the subject.

In contrast, slower shutter speeds, such as 1/60th or 1/125th, may not adequately freeze the subject, leading to noticeable blurriness. A shutter speed of 1/500th can also work well, but may be unnecessarily fast for a subject moving at only 30 mph under most lighting conditions, potentially leading to underexposure if adequate light is not available. Thus, 1/250th strikes a good balance between speed and exposure for freezing the action while