Posted on 05/19/2011 1:01:38 PM PDT by R. Scott
Ping
Go into the menu and turn off the sound. You’ll be surprised how much it cuts back on the shutter lag.
cnet.com
hasselblad
You’re going to want something fairly decent for indoor action shots. Definitely go with an SLR.
Get a digital SLR rather than a point and click digital camera. Learn how to use the menu settings and set it for action shots.
There is virtually no lag if the camera is used properly which is different from the old film cameras.
Old file cameras took their picture as soon as the shutter button was depressed with only the servo-mechanical connection lag of 1/100ths of a second. At partial depression of the shutter button, they did a meter reading.
What is slowing your daughter down is that the digital camera focuses and sets its meters at half depression of the button and then she lets off the button and reclicks it when she wants that momentary shot. Have her practice with keeping the button half depressed and finishing the push at the moment she wants to capture the action. The lag will virually dissappear.
Perhaps, as mentioned above, the artificial sound generated to mimic shutter mechanical sounds plays a part, but the issue I suggest is the real crux of her problem.
“no shutter delay” on google turns up some interesting hits (without the ‘no’ you’ll get another set of good hits.)
How much can you spend? An entry level DSLR doesn’t cost much more than a point and shoot but will be far more capable.
ping for gymnastics camera
My child recently participated in a track meet; I set my Nikon 5000 to take multiple shots with each push of the shutter button. 3-4 frames per second.
The time between pictures is also controled by the time set by the camera for a post-shot display of the picture taken. Cut that down to its minimum or none and the camera will have little delay between shots.
A DSLR is really the way to go for your application.
Add in a decent lens that will work well indoors and you’re going to decide it’s not worth the money.
Point and shoot cameras don’t auto focus or meter very fast so you’re kind of stuck there. Did you try holding the button down on your current camera halfway? Once you do, it finishes focus/meter and then there’s very little lag for the shutter. It’s just hard to do consistently.
Could be the flash winding up. Wonder if there is a difference when the flash is not used or turned off?
Canon EOS Rebel
(FWIW - I refuse to buy any Canon product because in Texas, Canon discriminated against Texas CHL [concealed handgun license] holders -- and/or against employees who even APPLIED for a CHL -- until the legislature made the CHL database private information not available for snoopers to go pull and publish lists of CHL holders' information.)
Hope you weren’t looking for a point and shoot. What you’re demanding absolutely necessitates a DSLR, and not the lowest end model from any manufacturer. I normally recomend the Nikon D3000 for those looking to take the plunge into a DSLR, but honestly, no one who is intent on taking action pictures is going to be happy with a $600 camera. That caveat goes double since she’s trying to take action shots indoors. It’s going to take a good body with good glass to fit that bill.
Sorry man, but those are horrible choices for action photography. Just not enough camera.
“The lag will virually dissappear.”
Not enough for action photography. She needs a camera specifically made for action photography.
The newer ones have articulated lcd's and video which is very good. I'd look at Canon first, the Rebel models are cheaper and excellent. I was looking at a Canon 500D myself but decided to wait, had almost all the features of the full dslr series plus video.
The Canon 40D was a really nice model, too, and should be a lot cheaper now, but it doesn't have video or an articulated lcd, does have a large, bright lcd.
The lens you choose is just as important as the camera. If you can afford it, choose one from the L series that has good zoom capabilities and just buy the body.
Nikons are very good, too, just that when I got mine, Canon had a better choice of lenses that were cheaper. But they take great photos in the right hands. Amazon is an authorized Canon dealer, and you can catch them on good price days. Stay away from iffy places. b&h photovideo is reputable. Buying on the internet will save you on sales tax unless you live in a state that collects them, and local camera shops will probably not offer any discounts.
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