Rookie Question

[stephanie618]

I would like a digital camera that will take the picture when I push the button more specifically no delay from the time the button is pushed to the time the image is captured. What is this called?

[coldrain]

It is called shutter lag.

The camera needs to start focussing when you press the button. That will take time, especially with compact digital cameras.

With DSLRs the AF sensors make the shutter lag a lot shorter as the AF can be a lot faster. It of course also depends on the lens you use with the DSLR.

A camera like the Canon Digital Rebel XTi/EOS 400D with 18-55 kit lens will have almost no shutter lag. It may be beyongd your intended budget and size, though.

[David Metsky]

Unless you go to a dSLR, you will have some shutter lag with any P&S digital camera. It's simply the nature of the beast. Cameras have gotten a lot better, but it's still there to some degree.

There are some things you can do to shorten the shutter lag, like prefocusing on the subject by pushing down the button halfway until you're ready to take the shot, then pushing down the rest of the way. But if you can't prepare like that, just pushing the button will have some delay.

Are you looking for a compact camera? Or are size and cost not the driving factor?

[stephanie618]

Thank you for your responses.

I will be looking for a compact and not overly expensive. I have a compact "film" camera for traveling, events that you do not want to carry a bulky camera to. The compact has shutter lag so trying to get shots at a concert or the racetrack, where you are trying to capture a specific moving target quickly, is frustrating and difficult and being film you have no idea if you have the shot. :(

I have a nice "film" camera with lens, so for now I'm looking for a compact digital.

Thank you again for responding to my question.
Stephanie

[David Metsky]

For a compact digital, something like a Canon A570 IS or the A720 IS would be a nice choice. They are small but full featured, and will have excellent image quality for the price.

The biggest problem will be in low light, where most compact cameras will show poorer image quality and more shutter lag, such as at a concert.

[Pixelwhip]

Hi Stephanie,
Different individuals like different cameras and I'm very partial to the Fuji brand.

I'm not sure what your budget is for a compact digital but I would highly suggest you take a close look at the Fuji S700/S5700 a 7.1Mp ccd sensor. Abes of Maine lists them for $204.95 and free ground shipping! It has a hand hold very similiar to most of the DSLR's and offers a 38 to 380mm lens within it's compact design plus Macro & Super Macro. You can view some shots taken by actual users under S700 on the forum here. Some of the shots shown are fantastic.

This camera also offers two very nice features, at least IMHO and they are dual media, SD/HD as well as xd card slots for image storage and it uses 4 AA batteries for convience, and with the new Rayovac NiMh Hybrid rechargeables they'll hold their charge for 6 months! :D

As far as shutter lag you need to remember that whatever camera your going to use you'll need to press the shutter release button down half way to focus anyway, unless you want to manually focus your shots, so once the image is in focus it only a slight press more to trip the shutter so lag is basically non- existant, it's all in getting use to becomming familiar as to where/at what point the shutter release button trips the shutter release. So holding the camera the same and pressing the release about the same each time, slow & precisley will give you suprising results! ;)

HTH!

Thank you for your responses.

I will be looking for a compact and not overly expensive. I have a compact "film" camera for traveling, events that you do not want to carry a bulky camera to. The compact has shutter lag so trying to get shots at a concert or the racetrack, where you are trying to capture a specific moving target quickly, is frustrating and difficult and being film you have no idea if you have the shot. :(

I have a nice "film" camera with lens, so for now I'm looking for a compact digital.

Thank you again for responding to my question.
Stephanie