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Everyone who uses a digital point-and-shoot camera knows the feeling. You’re looking at the LCD display, all ready for that decisive moment - toddler about to take his first step, daughter about to blow out her birthday candles. You press the shutter-release button and . . . you get the moment after. This occurs because the camera has a lot to do to capture an image: It has to switch from LCD display to image capture, focus, determine white balance, and set exposure, which can take a quarter second, depending on the camera and settings. Newer models have reduced shutter lag, but until it’s eliminated completely there are a couple of things you can do.
In both shots my son, Cory, was in midair when the shutter-release was pressed. By the time the camera focused, processed, and shot, he was in the water (top right). You can reduce shutter lag greatly by prefocusing and locking exposure on your subject. Depress the shutter-release button halfway just before the action and hold it. Push the rest of the way when the action occurs, to nail the moment (bottom right).
To reduce the time between shots when shooting in continuous mode, overcoming small buffers, try choosing a smaller file size (from large JPEG to medium JPEG, for example). Smaller files take less time to process and write to your card.
From the National Geographic guide to digital photography.
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Comments
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
I'm confused. Is this blog simply a serialization of the NGM book on digital photography? Should I be reading this blog if I already have the book?
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
Great Tip , I´ll try it. It always happens to me when trying to catch a great moment its always late when the camera decides to finally shoot, my camera is a cannon powershot A80, and it seems to be that it always delays to much to so a shoot, I even got me a newer flash card that it said it was faster but .. nop
thanks again
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
@ Bob L: We will be covering a wide range of topics on Digital Photography and it will cover areas outside of the book you're referring to.
Let us know if you have digital photography topics you would like us to discuss here.
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
I've definitely experienced this disappointing result. Intuitively I started pressing the button early which now I realize was locking in on the target as you say.
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
Great information and tips about digital photography, Looking forward to learn more from here
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
Great information and tips about digital photography, Looking forward to learn more from here
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
This is one of the biggest reasons to use a DSLR. With most DSLRs there's little or no shutter lag and the burst shooting mode can usually take as many as 5 shots per second.
Aug 14, 2007 2PM #
very useful and handi tips. I use a Kodak EasyShare Z981 and there was slight shutter lag but with the help os this information i have improved my pics. great help for those crucial and rare moments.
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