What is considered the slowest shutter speed generally used in photography?

In photography, the shutter speed determines the duration that the camera's sensor or film is exposed to light. A shutter speed of 1/60 of a second is typically considered the slowest speed that still allows for relatively steady handheld photography. At this speed, the risk of camera shake becomes more pronounced, especially if there is movement from the subject or the photographer.

The reason 1/60 is often highlighted as the threshold for handheld shooting is that it strikes a balance—it's slow enough to allow for creative motion blur in certain situations, but fast enough for everyday use without significant motion blur due to camera shake.

Faster shutter speeds like 1/125 or 1/250 are even less likely to introduce blur, making them preferable when capturing fast-moving subjects or when a higher level of sharpness is required. Conversely, a shutter speed of 1/30 is generally too slow for handheld use, as even slight movements can result in noticeable blur. Thus, while the faster speeds increase the potential for sharp images, 1/60 remains the recognized standard for the slowest speed used effectively while minimizing the risk of camera shake for most photographers.