Slow Shots?

[maple]

I went on a shooting spree this afternoon and realised something for the first time. Upon depressing the "shoot" button, it takes the G1 close to 2 seconds before the photo is actually taken. It appears to attempt to aim, focus and then shoot, taking all of 2 seconds. Program AE/RAW was used throughout.

This is a pretty terrible disadvantage since most of my shots requiring speed and precision turned out either off-center or plain awful and simply not as intended. Moreover, one has to not release the button or else the shot will be cancelled (?).

Is it some function that I mistakenly turned on, or is it the norm for the G1? Is there a difference between Single and Continuous mode?

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thankie! :)

PS. I am not referring to shutter speed here

[Eric F.]

Maple,

What you have discovered is "shutter delay". I am not a expert in this but I will try to tell you what I think I know.:)

Basically this is the time it takes the computer to 1. find the range 2. set Av 3. Set Tv 4. set Focus 5. trip shutter.
The more funtions and the more complex the calculations the longer it takes. Compared to the film format camera it takes longer. My last camera (a Kodak) was bad in this area. The G1 is better. The shutter delay time is a item that is compared in most camera reviews and has gotten better as the technology has grown. The D-30 for instance has a very short delay.

If you need quickness for a particular shot like a sport, then you can use the manuel settings and manuel focus or push the button half way then when ready push it the second part and the response will be more quick.

Maybe others can give a better explanation. I know this has been discussed in depth before.

[maple]

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the swift response. I always meant to thank you for your contribution to this forum - I for one am a very grateful recipient of your largesse.

I thought that of the G1 as well, so am pretty disappointed with it since for some strange reason, normal film cameras do not suffer from that "defect".

Just 4 weeks after my G1 purchase, I am considering getting the D30. I realise that having slow shutter speeds of up to 10 minutes (?) as opposed to G1's 8 seconds will produce some pretty astounding night shots. Hmm, it's time to save up again!

Oh, speaking of double "button-depressing" reminds me of yet another defect. I would prefer if the G1 was more sensitive to the mid-point. Pretty often the shot is taken when I was in fact only trying to focus!

Sorry for my awful photography vocabulary and once again, thanks for the tip! ;)

[mpkirby]

I usually use the half button technique. The shutter delay is a difficult problem to solve when you try to take a picture of a 90 mph fastball just before the batter hits it.

I find it works best when I point at the batter, and then press the shutter half-way. THen I recompose the shot, and open both my right eye and left eye. This way, I get a full view of what is going on outside of the range of the camera.

I can usually time it if I shoot when the ball is halfway to the batter, I can get the ball.

Alternatively, you can focus lock (press the button half-way, and then press the mf button on the left side of the camera), and AE lock (press the star on the back of the camera).

Note that the LCD display has to be on in order for MF to work.

Also note that as soon as you press any other button after MF has been set, it turns off.

Mike