Shutter Lag ...
And Other Maddening Realities
About Your Digital Camera

What is shutter lag?

Are some digital cameras faster than others?

Why does it take a second or two before you can take the next picture?

Because it does, that’s why.

Think of it this way: If you’ve ever used a computer to save a file to a CD or floppy drive, you remember that it didn’t happen instantaneously, did it? There was a slight delay while the computer did its thing.

Or think of it another way: When you punch your personal ID numbers into the ATM machine at the bank there's a delay of a few seconds before the next screen comes up, right? That’s because computers have to record information before they are ready to move on to the next step.

And, yes, your digital camera is a tiny computer.

Of course, none of this is of any help to you when you've just missed another perfect shot because the darn camera wouldn't fire when you wanted it to.

Well, I've got good news ...and I've got bad news.

First, the bad news:

If you have - or are about to buy - a relatively inexpensive, fairly low resolution compact digital camera, you're going to have to accept a certain amount of shutter lag when shooting and a momentary delay after each shot. If you haven't already read my comments on the whys and hows of what we call "shutter lag" please go back to the "Tips for Beginners" page now. (Click Here)

Master those two (actually all three) simple steps and you'll be getting the best possible performance from your camera. But you're still - and always - going to have a certain amount of shutter lag. Sorry ...

And there's also that stubborn delay AFTER you take the shot ... when you have to wait for the camera to record the picture to the media card before it'll be ready to take the next shot.

There's really nothing you can do about this one, although some inexperienced sales people will try to convince you that you can buy a "faster" card (They're usually called "Extreme" or "Ultra" or "High Speed") that'll solve the problem.

It won't.

These cards are great - even necessary - if you have a high-end digital SLR or one of the latest and greatest compact digitals (expect to spend $800-$1000 or more), because the "engine" in these cameras is a lot more powerful, a lot faster, than any compact digital is. Some, probably most, of these cameras can take pictures and write to the card simultaneously.

But a high speed card in your compact digital won't make any difference at all. So save a few buck and buy a "normal" media card.

So, what's the good news? you ask. Master my shooting tips ... and keep a fresh battery in your camera. Sorry I don't have more to offer ... but that's really about all you can do. Back to Home Page