Fast Small Digitals?

[tmclanton]

I currently have a Canon EOS XT Digital. I love the camera, especially the speed of taking pictures, but I do not want to carry it around the parks all day. I am looking to buy another camera that is smaller that is easier to carry, but it HAS to have the speed of taking pictures quickly! My son does not wait around to get his picture taken!
What is it that I need to look for in a digital camera that makes it fast? Is it the Canon Digic III processor that makes it fast, or does that do something else?
Any recommendations on a fast, small camera? Price is not really an issue (don't tell my husband I said that). I am just more concerned about being able to carry it around and get the shots!
Thanks,
Tammy

 

[Groucho]

A good part of the speed is because it's a DSLR. Small cameras are getting faster and faster but will probably always be slower than a DSLR.

The big issue is that you'll see a marked drop in image quality going from the XT to a point-n-shoot, especially in low light. This is pretty much unavoidable due to the point-n-shoots having a much smaller sensor.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Is an "ultrazoom" too big for you?

If not, the Canon S3 is pretty fast; it's worst shutter lag (including AF) is only .2 seconds slower than a Rebel XT (0.46 sec. vs 0.24 sec.) and it's pre-focused speed is actually faster (.088 sec. vs .095 sec.).

It also takes Continuous pics at 2.3fps (vs. 2.8fps for XT), and can can keep taking pics at this speed until your SD card fills....

Most of the Canon "pocketables" (SD850, etc.) have max. lag times in the .5 sec range and max. Continuous modes about 2fps....

The Imaging Resource website is a great camera review site for making speed comparisons....

 

[ukcatfan]

Is an "ultrazoom" too big for you?

If not, the Canon S3 is pretty fast; it's worst shutter lag (including AF) is only .2 seconds slower than a Rebel XT (0.46 sec. vs 0.24 sec.) and it's pre-focused speed is actually faster (.088 sec. vs .095 sec.).

It also takes Continuous pics at 2.3fps (vs. 2.8fps for XT), and can can keep taking pics at this speed until your SD card fills....

Most of the Canon "pocketables" (SD850, etc.) have max. lag times in the .5 sec range and max. Continuous modes about 2fps....

The Imaging Resource website is a great camera review site for making speed comparisons....

Coming from a S1 and now having an S2, I can tell you the biggest difference of them compared to my DSLR. The S series (and other newer p&s cams) will AF and fire off a shot fast, but only when it is able to lock the focus well. When lighting is tougher, the DSLRs are much faster and almost never give up on the focus like a p&s seems to do fairly often.

Kevin

 

[My2Girls66]

I use a Canon A540 when I don't want to carry my D50- its pretty fast for a p&s.

 

[tmclanton]

A good part of the speed is because it's a DSLR. Small cameras are getting faster and faster but will probably always be slower than a DSLR.
QUOTE]

That is what I was afraid of. I will look at some of the suggestions and see how fast they are. I do not know about the ultrazooms... I have not looked at cameras in years since my DH does very good surprises at Christmas!

 

[jdpopp]

I too have a Canon XTi and was looking around for a camera just like you. It need to be small and inexpensive. I ended up getting a Canon PowerShot SD1000. I like it alot and its seems to be pretty quick and, it also gets many good reviews:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2105461,00.asp
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3079&review=canon+powershot+sd1000
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd1000-review/index.shtml

A couple of pics from my SF Great Adventure trip

It was my first time using the camera so they are not the greatest but, you get the idea.

Good luck in your search.