Jamie wrote:
>I bought my wife an SP-500UZ for Christmas - great camera. The only problem I
>have with it is something noticeable in all of the small digital cameras I
>tried - shutter lag. Is it the auto-focus? Are there any models that you all
>can think of that don't have significant shutter lag?
>
Yes, quite a few, I think. dpreview tests several aspects of operation
speed, including AF speed, shutter lag, write speed, etc. I know other
test sites address it in some manner too.
The F*ji F10 I have is essentially instantaneous in normal use. Turrn-on
to first shot is just over a second, but after that shutter lag is
almost imperceptable. That includes AF in normal mode. In Macro mode AF
is slower.
Of the F10, dpreview says "Our measurements certainly show the camera to
be very fast, and in some aspects class-leading. Startup is very fast
for a camera with an extending lens - it's ready to shoot in around a
second. The focus speed is excellent (especially when you turn on the
High Speed mode), and the shutter lag (S1>S2) superb - the F10 is one of
the few compact zoom cameras on the market that actually feels as though
when you press the button the picture is taken instantaneously. Focus is
also very reliable, meaning hunting is rare except in low light at the
long end of the zoom outside the range of the AF illuminator. This all
means the camera feels very 'snappy' indeed in use."
If you would do a bit of research before buying, you could avoid such
surprises. dpreview says of the SP-310
...the SP-310 is by no means the fastest camera in its class. That said,
there are only one or two areas where this really shows itself; focusing
and shutter lag aren't great, meaning the SP-310 isn't the best camera
in the world for rapid shooting, and focusing in low light can be very
slow indeed outside the 1.0m or so reach of the AF illuminator. Flash
recycle is also on the long side..." and so on.
Considering that the SP-500 is much like the 310, but with a much longer
zoom, and that Oly digicamer zooms aren't at the top of the class in
zoom speed, one would expect the 500 to be even a bit slower than the 310.
One thing to remember with a slow camera is to try it in fixed infinity
focus for shots where that's appropriate. Not having to AF speeds some
up quite a bit.
>Are the digital SLRs any better?
>
Yes. most, if not all, contemporary DSLRs have very tiny shutter lag, on
a par with MF SLRs like the OMs. Some, like the latest Can*ns, have
virtually instant on/wake-up times as well. Let the camera time out and
shut down and you can simply press the shutter and it will turn on and
take the first pic in less than two tenths of a second. Much like the
OM-2 and 4 series OMs, they are ready to take a picture at any time
The problem is that you have, unfortunately, picked a slow camera, not
that all digicams are slow. Issues like this are why some of us,
although Oly users for decades, have other brands of Digicams. My film
compact is an XA. You really need to take a look at the reviews and try
the cameras out before buying to avoid the risk of disappointment. I
don't know that all Oly digis are slow, but I would sure know before
buying one.
Moose
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