k1dude
07-05-2006, 11:53 PM
I'm interested in a fast camera for sports photography. Unfortunately, no point-and-shoot is fast enough. So I began looking at DSLR's. Specifically the Canon 20D and 30D, as well as the Nikon D200. But, I noticed in the various review websites, the measured times vary for the exact same variable.
Like when measuring "Power On to First Shot", dpreview says the 20D takes 0.3 seconds. Yet imaging-resource says it takes 0.25 seconds. That I could chalk up to rounding up. But then stevesdigicams says it takes 0.6 seconds.
The same measurement on the 30D is also highly variable. Dpreview says its less than 0.2 seconds. Imaging-resource says its 0.1 seconds. Stevesdigicams says its 0.4 seconds.
Then when I try to compare "Full AF" timing, I get the same variability in measurements. Imaging-resource states the 20D takes 0.16 seconds whereas stevesdigicams states it takes 0.3 seconds.
The 30D measurements for "Full AF" timing is 0.245 seconds from imaging-resource and 0.3 seconds from stevesdigicams.
I realize that "Full AF" will depend on the lens being used as well as how far it is extended, but the numbers are probably the best times they measured. There is still tremendous variability.
Since the numbers seem to be all over the map, it makes it very difficult for me to make an educated decision as to which is fastest.
They all seem to perform admirably in continuous mode, so that isn't a problem. But when you need to get a single shot off fast, it really matters. A quarter second later is too late. There are point-and-shoots that fast.
So which is the fastest and why do the reviews have such variability?
Like when measuring "Power On to First Shot", dpreview says the 20D takes 0.3 seconds. Yet imaging-resource says it takes 0.25 seconds. That I could chalk up to rounding up. But then stevesdigicams says it takes 0.6 seconds.
The same measurement on the 30D is also highly variable. Dpreview says its less than 0.2 seconds. Imaging-resource says its 0.1 seconds. Stevesdigicams says its 0.4 seconds.
Then when I try to compare "Full AF" timing, I get the same variability in measurements. Imaging-resource states the 20D takes 0.16 seconds whereas stevesdigicams states it takes 0.3 seconds.
The 30D measurements for "Full AF" timing is 0.245 seconds from imaging-resource and 0.3 seconds from stevesdigicams.
I realize that "Full AF" will depend on the lens being used as well as how far it is extended, but the numbers are probably the best times they measured. There is still tremendous variability.
Since the numbers seem to be all over the map, it makes it very difficult for me to make an educated decision as to which is fastest.
They all seem to perform admirably in continuous mode, so that isn't a problem. But when you need to get a single shot off fast, it really matters. A quarter second later is too late. There are point-and-shoots that fast.
So which is the fastest and why do the reviews have such variability?