how does shutter lag compare with an SLR?

[WildWolf]

A friend of mine is thinking about buying a G9 but is concerned about the shutter lag with a P&S camera. How does the G9 compare with a digital SLR?

Thanks in advance

[GordonSBuck]

Noticably longer, to some objectionably longer, to anyone that has used a DSLR. At the same time, the G9 is noticebly quicker than many other digicams.

[WildWolf]

thanks for the reply.

[basroil]

Actually, shutter lag is almost 0 with the G9 and most other P&S. Sometimes faster than a DSLR.

The issue is pre shot focusing and metering. Compared with a low end camera like the XS, there isn't that much difference, though slightly noticeable.

[tdodd]

Maybe this will help....

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

[codearachnid]

since I shoot with both the g9 (rapidly becoming my favorite camera ever) - and a 20D the focusing/shoot time is a bit longer - I've found changing up AI and IS settings tends to help with the time as well. I've found that my only complaint about the g9 is that I have to think about the shutter time and be more aware of when I want to capture more than I do with my SLR

[DC9]

Can be madding long compared to my 30D.

[basroil]

Maybe this will help....

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

that's not shutter lag, that's time to first shot. that includes focusing metering and flash pre-fire. shutter lag is the time between pressing the button and shutter going off, which a) doesn't include focusing, metering, or pre-flash b) doesn't even work for p&s as they don't actually have a shutter mechanism at all.

what OP asked specifically is for shutter lag, which, by the strictest definition (a+b), is a null question as there is no shutter. by the less strict definition (a only), the shutter lag is actually less than an SLR in some cameras, and equivalent to an SLR in others.

what OP might have meant is how the first shot times compare. this is a much trickier question, that highly depends on the modes of both cameras, the model of slr, and model of lens. at best, they will be about the same, at worst, the p&s may take 5 times as long, on some circumstances, the p&s will kick the crap out of the slr (5d in pure darkness w/o flash on one shot with a 85 1.2L, it won't be able to focus while the p&s would have the focus assist and focus quickly)

[Gnasher]

I have previously had a G5, the shutter lag withe the G9 is a major improvement. It is nowhere near my EOS350D, but for a compact the shutter lag is pretty impressive.

[tinfire]

The lag is enough to stop those action shots where you must get timing right.
To some extent you can reduce lag by half pressing the shutter button in anticipation of the "moment" but it's no DSLR.

No problem taking follow though shots ( panning ) like horse or car racing where the moment isn't so critical.
The G9 is still a lovely camera.

[Jannie]

Call it what you will, it does take a lot of time to get the shot compared to a DSLR, it doesn't mean I don't love the camera but it does mean the way I approach shooting is way different. I'm not inclined to "grab" snap shots much anymore with the G9 like I am with the DSLR, but I do take more time sometimes to compose certain types of shots and that's very satisfying. Yes I do that on the DSLR but with the G9 I almost always use Manual Exposure and use it more like a small scenic camera.

It was that delayed time on my G7 when trying to cover an event that caused me to go looking at the current DSLR's.