Cheat sheet · Urban

Camera settings for car light trails

Long exposures of 10–30 s turn traffic into rivers of light.

ModeManual
Aperturef/11–f/16
Shutter10–30 s
ISO100
FocusManual
FilterND if still bright
Quick start: Long exposures of 10–30 s turn traffic into rivers of light.

Starting exposures#

Typical scene brightness for this situation is around EV 3. Use these as a first test shot, then check the histogram.

ApertureISO 100ISO 400ISO 1600ISO 6400
f/1.41/4 s1/15 s1/60 s1/250 s
f/2.81 s1/4 s1/15 s1/60 s
f/5.64 s1 s1/4 s1/15 s
f/88 s2 s0.5 s1/8 s
f/1115 s4 s1 s1/4 s

Step by step#

  1. Find a high viewpoint or curving road.
  2. Time the exposure for busy traffic.
  3. Combine several frames in post for denser trails.

Gear checklist#

  • Tripod
  • Remote
  • Optional ND filter

Pro tips#

  • Buses add bright, high trails; trucks add amber marker lights.

Common mistakes#

  • Camera shake from passing heavy vehicles on bridges.
Cityscapes at nightShoot during blue hour on a tripod at f/8 for balanced sky and lights, with sunstars from … Daytime long exposureA 10-stop ND turns 1/60 s into 16 s: smooth seas, streaking clouds and empty streets.…

Frequently asked questions#

What are the best camera settings for car light trails?

Aperture: f/11–f/16 · Shutter: 10–30 s · ISO: 100. Long exposures of 10–30 s turn traffic into rivers of light.

What gear do I need for car light trails?

Tripod, Remote, Optional ND filter.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources