Camera selection help for newbie

[OKWMom]

I need help from the photography experts. I am not a good photographer by any stretch of the imagination, so please be gentle. Here is my dilemma. I currently use a Sony digital camera and have found the flash/delay to be a problem. My daughter has autism and doesn’t hold still for a photo long enough for me to get a decent shot with the delay currently on my camera.

I sort of remember from my photography class way, way, way, back in high school that you could you a standard 35mm and set the shutter speed higher and not need a flash. Can someone briefly explain to me if that is the case and if so, could recommend a good camera for a beginner that would fit my needs?

Sorry, I know this is a broad question, but I don’t know enough to narrow the question down I’m afraid. TIA.

 

[Master Mason]

I need help from the photography experts. I am not a good photographer by any stretch of the imagination, so please be gentle. Here is my dilemma. I currently use a Sony digital camera and have found the flash/delay to be a problem. My daughter has autism and doesn’t hold still for a photo long enough for me to get a decent shot with the delay currently on my camera.

I sort of remember from my photography class way, way, way, back in high school that you could you a standard 35mm and set the shutter speed higher and not need a flash. Can someone briefly explain to me if that is the case and if so, could recommend a good camera for a beginner that would fit my needs?

Sorry, I know this is a broad question, but I don’t know enough to narrow the question down I’m afraid. TIA.

actually you slow the shutter speed down so it is open longer if you can't or don't want to use the flash. The problem with that is if the subject moves it creates a blur....

As for the camera, first please tell us what you currently have, you might be able to make that work depending on what it is.

also, what do you use your camera for, what would you like to use it for. Is pocketablity important to you, do you want to deal with multiple lenses? and a budget range would be helpful for those with potential recomendations.

 

[OKWMom]

actually you slow the shutter speed down so it is open longer if you can't or don't want to use the flash. The problem with that is if the subject moves it creates a blur....

As for the camera, first please tell us what you currently have, you might be able to make that work depending on what it is.

also, what do you use your camera for, what would you like to use it for. Is pocketablity important to you, do you want to deal with multiple lenses? and a budget range would be helpful for those with potential recomendations.

Thanks for the quick response. I don't remember which camera I have, but I will find it tonight and let you know. Honestly, the only thing I use the camera for is vacation photos and sometimes photos of the kids in weddings, etc.

I don't need to have a camera that would fit in my pocket, my daughter requires so much "stuff" I am quite used to hauling a bag with me when we go, so a camera bag wouldn't bother me much.

As for my budget, I would like to spend less than $500 on a camera and all the goodies I need to go with it, but I am not sure if that would get me what I need. As you said, it would be nice to make mine workable.

I'll post later with the information. Thank you so very much for your help.

 

[Duckfan]

Okay, I am not an expert by any means but at least I can start you out. I would look for a camera that is basically a point and shoot since you are mainly a casual picture taker. I personally wanted a camera that had more zoom than 3x because I missed the zoom ability of my film camera. I like being able take the smaller detail from farther away. Look for image stablization too. I heard good things about the Sony, the Canon, and consumer reports really likes the Fuji cameras.

 

[OKWMom]

I just checked. I have a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P72 with Smart Zoom. I would like to be able to zoom for my pictures, but I don't think I have the ability to do much focusing, etc. In a perfect world, I would like to be able to point and shoot and get my shot. The zoom on my camera works really well, but it takes the camera too long to focus and by the time the camera has gone through the delay for the flash, my daughter has long moved on. If I have any hopes of getting a picture of her looking my way, I have to be fast.

Once again experts, any and all suggestions are welcome.

Thank you all again.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I am not an expert by any means - but I was wondering if you were of aware of when you go to take a picture, hold the button down 1/2 way to get the auto focus set; then, when you are ready to take the picture, it camera will take it right away. Part of the shutter/flash lag you have may be due to the camera wanting to focus first, then take the picture. Holding the button down 1/2 way first will really help -

 

[Master Mason]

OKWMom,

so I actually owned this camera for about 2 days one time. The reason that I took it back was the exact problem you have. The shutter lag was terrible, and I couldn't get a single shot of my son playing baseball. At the time there was no fix for the problem so there probably isn't one now either.... Sorry, it is just a "feature" of the camera and one of the benifits of newer technology.

I have seen several people in the same dilema as you, infact there is currently another thread which just started this morning. Most have seem to come down recently on trying to decide between the Canon S3 IS and the Sony HSC line... there are a couple of choices that folks seam to be comaparing to the canon..... Check out those threads and then ask some questions would be my recomendation...... Specifically ask some of the folks that just bought the S3 what they think about the shutter lag.

 

[manning]

Here is a Digital Camera Shutter Lag Comparison Table sorted by lag time based on one photo. It may not be all inclusive. Does anyone know what the lag time is for the P72?

http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/shutter-lag-comparisons.cfm?sort=ShutterLag

 

[Groucho]

Like Master Mason says, shutter lag is the issue - NOT the speed of the shutter itself. (Most digital cameras nowadays let you manually set the shutter speed but it won't make any difference in this situation.)

And, like KaitlinsMom writes, pressing the shutter halfway makes a huge difference - shutter lag should be virtually non-existant once you've done that. But it doesn't help if you're trying to take a photo immediately. But if she's sitting there and you're just waiting for the right moment when she looks your way, then that will help tremendously.

The only way to get no lag at all is with a DSLR in manual-focus mode. Auto-focusing DSLRs are just a tad slower. The better point-n-shoots are now getting much closer to DSLRs.

It's probably worth picking how much you want to spend and what style of camera you want (a "normal" size one, an ultracompact, a "big zoom", etc), then you can narrow it down to the cameras that fit those specs. Next comes the research, which can include asking here but should also include reading "professional" reviews, paying particular attention to shutter lag.

If the ones you're considering are available locally, try visiting the store and taking a few test shots to see how they feel. Once you're happy, find the best price, make your purchase, and then don't look at camera information again for a long time, so you won't see all the new cameras coming out or start finding a bad review here or there, otherwise you'll go crazy second-guessing yourself.

 

[OKWMom]

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful advice. I think I will look around online at some of the specs before hitting any local stores. At least now I will be able to put a name on my problem.

I'm sure I will try a couple in the store before purchasing. My current camera was a gift so that wasn't really an option.

Thank you all again. I'm sure I'll be back with another equally inane question after I get closer to buying another camera.