looking for a new dig that i can snap away with

[eeyorelori]

Ok i no there are tons of dig questions but i got an odd one //I have a nikon coolpix4600 ..Nice camers takes great close up portrait but i hate when i take a pic it takes forever to snap again for the next one i miss alot of my cats and dogs .(move to quick) Other then that i cant take good action either..$ no more then maybe 250 bucks ..And i want sd cards since thats what i already have ...Ive looked on the web but they dont say if you can go snap happy...Lol thanks in advance ...

 

[donaldduck1967]

Your current camera only uses 2 AA batteries. That's the problem, 2 batteries is not enough power to recharge the flash quick enough between those quick shots. Look for something that uses 4AA batteries and the flash recharge time will be quicker.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Ok i no there are tons of dig questions but i got an odd one //I have a nikon coolpix4600 ..Nice camers takes great close up portrait but i hate when i take a pic it takes forever to snap again for the next one i miss alot of my cats and dogs .(move to quick) Other then that i cant take good action either..$ no more then maybe 250 bucks ..And i want sd cards since thats what i already have ...Ive looked on the web but they dont say if you can go snap happy...Lol thanks in advance ...

Is it slow only when taking photos with the flash? Then it may be the recharge time for the flash. If is is slow everytime then it is probably the write speed of the camera sending the data to the memory card.

THe canon S2 should be close to that price range. $269 is the best price I found (for a new camera) at www.pricegrabber.com
Among other things, it has a continuous mode:
• 1.5 fps (large/fine mode)
• 2.4 fps (high speed continuous shooting, large/fine mode)

How does 1.5 pics per second sound? or 2.4?
that may be reduced when trying to use the flash each shot...

here is a review on www.dpreview.com
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons2is/

and it takes SD cards!

Mikeeee

 

[eeyorelori]

Ok i asked this guy at the ritz store ..He told me i need to get this really expensive card for it, like 80 bucks and itll snap faster...Was he just trying to sell me the most expensive card or what ???

 

[mmessler]

On the topic of 2 batteries versus 4, is flash recharge the only thing that's typically slower? I'm trying to decide between two cameras, with very similar specs, but the # of batteries. I am not TOO concerned with flash recharge time (as long as it's not ridiculous), so if this is the only function that is affected by the # of AA batteries, then I'm ok with it. Does # of batteries affect the speed of images being written to the card, or would that be something remedied by a faster card? Thanks.

 

[DueyDooDah]

Ok i asked this guy at the ritz store ..He told me i need to get this really expensive card for it, like 80 bucks and itll snap faster...Was he just trying to sell me the most expensive card or what ???

It may help but I would not expect a miracle. Ask him to let you try it out and see how much improves your ability to take shots quickly. Personally, I think he may be pulling your leg. You might see some improvement, but I believe it will be barely noticable.

 

[DueyDooDah]

On the topic of 2 batteries versus 4, is flash recharge the only thing that's typically slower?

There are a number of factors to consider. How long does it take to recharge the flash? How long until the time you press the button until the picture is taken? How long does it take to write that image to the card? If there is a continuous mode, how many frames per second can be shot?

I don't use flash so my concerns are the others. Recently, I took my P&S to the aquarium at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. While attempting to snap some images of batrays in the petting pool, I found myself missing my dSLR. Not because I get better pictures with it (they are both Canon 8M pixel cameras that produce great shots), but because of the time it took the camera to actually take the shot, and because it took so long to take another. Once I press the button on the P&S, there is a delay before the camera actually takes the image. It's not a large delay mind you, but when you are snapping actions shots, any delay is noticable - missing the shot most of the time. You must learn to anticipate when to snap to account for the delay. Also, because the rays were so active and doing so much, I wanted the ability to snap many images continuously. There was a HUGE difference between my P&S and my 30D. One I had forgotten about. Waiting for the camera to ready itself between shots was agonizing and I missed many shots that are not readily repeatable.

If you are concerned with delay, then consider something like the S2 or S3 at a minimum. Otherwise you may be dissatisfied with your purchase. See a dealer and try out some cameras.

 

[eeyorelori]

I was at sams yestarday and i played with 3 dig that sparked my interest..No idea of how many batts though ...Anyway they snapped and i snapped again to see if itll take and it did.My nikon takes a pic but the screen goes black then i have to wait 6 seconds or so ... like i asked the guy at ritz and he said it i s the speed of the card ..And even if i turn on the muesum setting or no flash it still takes forever..Thanks for the help ..But i still dont no which dig to get yet..lol

 

[seashoreCM]

Usually putting in a more expensive card will not make it snap faster for the next shot, unless we are talking about taking multiple pictures less than half a second apart.

Some cameras let you adjust how long the picture you just took shows on the LCD viewfinder (before the view changes back to viewfinding). This may or may not delay your ability to take the next shot.

Sometimes turning the flash all the way off (zigzag with a circle around it and a line through the circle) will make it snap faster for the next shot.

A delay is always needed between flash shots to recharge the flash. The required delay is almost always three or more seconds and sometimes the camera does not enforce it.

Sometimes selecting manual focus (if available) will make it snap faster after pushing the button.

Generally digital SLR's give better low light pictures and also sharper pictures overall for the same megapixels caompared with a small point and shoot camera. This is because the actual sensor inside is bigger and for a smaller sensor there really is more bleed over from one pixel to the next.

Some camera hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[JR6ooo4]

I don't think a faster card will cut the write time in half or even more.

the review at steves digicams did not seem to have a problem with shot to shot time

here is a link to a 1 gig ultra II SD card. $24.95 plus shipping I'm sure. That should be fast enough and I think it is what your cam takes. and if it does not fix the problem SDd is a popular memory type for when you upgrade the camera.

http://www.adorama.com/IDSUSD1G.html?sid=11723727382398411

Mikeeee

 

[wdwmom2]

Lori,

I feel your pain!! I had a Nikon Coolpix 4300 that took really great pics, no complaints there. But the shutter lag was horrible. The straw that broke the camels back was last fall taking pics of my DD and her friends before the homecoming dance. The other parents and I would take a picture and then we would have to wait for my camera to be ready to take another picture. It was quite embarrassing. I made up my mind right then and there that it was time for a new camera. Within a few weeks I purchased a Canon S3 and have never looked back!!!!

 

[jann1033]

Ok i asked this guy at the ritz store ..He told me i need to get this really expensive card for it, like 80 bucks and itll snap faster...Was he just trying to sell me the most expensive card or what ???

depending on fast it is , it may not work in your camera anyway. iknow my rebel xt can't use "pro speed" cards so i kind of doubt most point and shoots will...it will take the photo but not at the speed the card can do, just at the speed the camera will take it at so basically a waste of money..there was a review link posted on here long ago but can't remember where it was so maybe if you google memory card reviews you'll find one. interestingly in that review at least money didn't = speed in all cases.

 

[handicap18]

Ok i asked this guy at the ritz store ..He told me i need to get this really expensive card for it, like 80 bucks and itll snap faster...Was he just trying to sell me the most expensive card or what ???

Was he also trying to get you a super deal on a bridge in Brooklyn. The faster card wont make a difference when you dealing with shutter lag. The vast majority of small PnS camera's are going to have a noticable shutter lag. Its the nature of the beast. The "bridge" camera's like the Canon S2/S3 IS, Sony H5, etc... will give a faster lag, but still have one, especially compared to an SLR camera. Also those "bridge" type camera's are a lot larger. So what you gain in some features you lose in size, compact size that is. An S3 IS wont fit in your pocket.

I don't know of specific models of compact size PnS camera's that offer better performance in the shutter lag department, however, the newer models coming out are more advanced and improvements are being made.

Take a look at the various on-line review sites for your price range. Make note of 3-5 models, then go to the store with a media card and try them out. This way not only can you compare the performance in the store, but you can bring the pictures home with you and view the quality on your computer. I've been reading great things about the Fuji FinePix series (F30 was the most recent one I read about), especially for low light stuff. Though I've never used one and don't know about its shutter lag. dpreview.com does have a chart for their reviews about shutter lag.

Good luck.

 

[ndelaware]

Ok i asked this guy at the ritz store ..He told me i need to get this really expensive card for it, like 80 bucks and itll snap faster...Was he just trying to sell me the most expensive card or what ???

The guy at Ritz was lying to you, either through ignorance or deciept.

 

[eeyorelori]

Handicap18 ,you mean i can take my own sd card with and try it??

I was also thinking about taking batts with since every dang time i go somewhere to try one out the darn batts dead ..I did try online and look but thats worse.. Tooo many to chose from ... I think i want auto and manual like my other nikon ..So when i am lazy i can do it auto and when i want to play i can do both ..I orginaly bought the nikon cool pix for taking our family pics and wasteing 2 rolls and then maybe not get the right pic ..Now everyone wants me to do there family pic and i LOVE my dig now...

I used to be dead set against dig ..I helped take pics at a wedding ..The mom is a freind and asked if id take some for her she didnt want to pay high price for the photographer...I said ok ..Well till it was said and done thank god i took 20 rolls ,the dig ladys sucked and she did not have a back up camera ..My freinds daughter had to take her to court ..She said in the contract 2 people were gonna do the pics and only one took and they didnt turn out...I got paid nisely for doing it since she would of had nothing....
Now i love my dig but i always have a back up camera and when i do weddings i use 2or3 cameras ...It wont happen to me ..lol