Point & Shot and shutter lag

[Heidict]

I was looking into the Sony W370, but read that it has a long shutter lag.

Can anyone recommend a camera that is similar but would enable me to take pictures quickly?

 

[zackiedawg]

Where did you read that? I'd be surprised if any modern P&S camera suffered any different shutter lag than any other...it really isn't much of an issue anymore. There are a few different types of 'lag' that get confused sometimes - full-press shutter lag is different from half-press shutter lag (most P&S cameras don't do spectacularly well when just mashing the shutter, so possibly this is the lag you read about...however it's not good form to shoot that way and best to learn to half-press anyway). Sony cameras, even their worst ones, are usually quite good with AF on half-press.

I don't know much about that camera you mentioned, so I can't say whether it truly is any slower than most others, but my experience with many different P&S cameras is that they all seem to be pretty-near equal on half-press shutter lag.

 

[Heidict]

I read it on a website where people gave their reviews of the camera. It got good reviews, this was just one thing that stood out to me.

Thanks for info.

 

[Bstanley]

full-press shutter lag is different from half-press shutter lag (most P&S cameras don't do spectacularly well when just mashing the shutter)

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have certainly experienced this with my own P&S cameras, and now that I use a DSLR I've really appreciated that it doesn't have a delay.

Does anyone here know why?

Is it because the P&S uses the image sensor for focusing rather than a dedicated focus sensor? Are the motors in the DSLR just that much faster? Both types of camera use the same 'contrast' mechanism, don't they?

 

[Uncle Greg]

Here's a chart I found comparing shutter lag. It doesn't seem to unclude the Sony W370 though.

http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/shutter-lag-comparisons.cfm

 

[zackiedawg]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have certainly experienced this with my own P&S cameras, and now that I use a DSLR I've really appreciated that it doesn't have a delay.

Does anyone here know why?

Is it because the P&S uses the image sensor for focusing rather than a dedicated focus sensor? Are the motors in the DSLR just that much faster? Both types of camera use the same 'contrast' mechanism, don't they?

DSLRs actually use a different focus method, known as phase detection. It is faster and also has greater ability to register and track movement.

However, using the 'full press' shutter method on any camera is not the best technique, and even worse with P&S cameras...when you want to take a photo, and simply mash the shutter button down, the camera has to display, focus, meter, and actuate the shutter all at once. Not only will this give that 'delay' feeling, but also can result in missed focus or poor metering more often because you don't give yourself the chance to check the camera's choices before taking the shot. Generally, the best photo technique is to half-press the shutter button first...allowing the camera to focus and meter, and 'beep' and light up indicators on screen to acknowledge where the focus is and to get the metering right. The camera is now 'primed' and ready to fire the shutter pretty much instantly, as soon as you depress the shutter the rest of the way. Even with cheap P&S cameras, this method eliminates the lag - it isn't any faster, since you still have to perform the half-press process first, before shooting...but it is more accurate, and allows you to trigger the shutter at a more precise moment without any lag after you press.

 

[Bstanley]

Generally, the best photo technique is to half-press the shutter button first...allowing the camera to focus and meter, and 'beep' and light up indicators on screen to acknowledge where the focus is and to get the metering right.

Alrighty.

Ironically now that I think about it, I do tend to half-press the shutter on my DSLR these days - but since I shoot most often in P mode I'm not doing it to focus - I'm cross checking what aperture/speed settings the camera is using and deciding whether to change ISO or even switch to a different mode.

I'm not sure I hold the shutter halfway until I trip the shot though, but I guess as long as I haven't moved very far from the original focus/scene it would be able to handle the small change easily.

I'll need to try to be more careful with that.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

The Sony Nex 3 camera is AMAZINGLY FAST for Autofocus. I was impressed with mine. I haven't measured it, but I think it's even faster than my 70-200 IS f/2.8 on my 50d.