Our Sony Cybershot has such a delay that we usually end up with pics of the back of my toddler's head. We need to buy a new camera within the month and are looking for one with as little delay as possible. I'm looking for recommendations, particularly from moms with small kids.
I should also add that our camera is freaking out on us, flipping thru settings automatically as we're trying to take pictures, which is why we're replacing it now. So changing settings to speed up shutter time is no longer an option as the camera is dying a slow painful death. Although I appreciate your suggestions. As always, thanks for your help. =)
i agree with dyreka. hold it down half way to focus then push all the way down. I have a canon and love it!
This was driving us crazy and we just wanted a compact digital camera that took great pictures, had fast shutter speed and was easy to use. After a lot of research, we ended up with the Fuji Fine Pix F72 EXR. We love it!
I also have a Canon Rebel, which I love, but it is bulky. I read last night that Sony has a new camera that is small but has interchangeable lenses and other features more like a bigger DSLR ( like the Rebel). it' s $600-$700.
Actually, it's probably not the camera. It's probably HOW you're using it. Most digital cameras have a focus delay. It all of the features like facial recognition etc... that cause it. What you need to do is hold the button down about half way to let the camera focus and adjust. You'll be able to feel a slight click half way down if you pay close enough attention. Then (while still holding the button half way down) point it at your toddler and push the rest of the way to snap an instant pic. It's a little wearing on the battery sometimes because you can be sitting there with the button half way down waiting for your toddler to turn around or to smile, but some digital cameras are rechargeable now and you can get rechargeable batteries for the others. Just keep the charger or battery charger easily accessible.
Is the red-eye feature on? That always causes a delay on my camera. I usually leave it off and use the fix red-eye feature when I print my pics.
Hi R.,
I also had the same problem with my camera. I loved the camera I had, it took great pictures but was a little too slow to catch the split second movements of my son. I tinkered with all the settings and nothing helped. I bought a Nikon D60. It was pricey but VERY worth it. I have tons of great pictures of my now 19 month old. It looks a little intimidating, but it's really easy to use. I caught it on sale at Wolf Camera and got a free zoom lens with it.
make sure red eye is off(you could always edit it later to fix it). if you dont need your flash, it should be quicker. there are different functions, some have the pet/kid setup.
all that being said, there is a difference from camera to camera. i always like CNETS reviews. it has it broken down pretty good. what you want is to check out how fast the camera can go from one pic to the next and the lag time, and even from the turning on till the first picture. its a fairly common camera function for reviewers to go over. the difference is sometimes a few seconds, but even tenths of a second can make a difference.
Before you buy a new one go into a camera store with yours and explain the problem and have the employees double check the settings and options on yours. As others have said, it may well be how it's set that is causing the difficulty.
I had this problem with my Cybershot and the fix is to set the camera in "P" mode. In Auto and Scene modes, the camera determines the focus and exposure; hence the delay, but it will be a better picture. Try the P mode and made sure the red-eye flash is off.
There should be a setting on it for action shots with a quicker response time. Look for and icon with the picture of someone running, or in the menu it may say kids/pets.
Before you go shopping, try this, or itf you can't locate the setting, look in your manual or their website.
Hope this helps!
I had the same problem with my Sony Cybershot even though I love the camera. Small, point&shoot cameras are not fast enough for the never-sit-still-kiddos, so I got a Canon Rebel EOS camera that takes pics after pics after pics within fractions of a second. I absolutely LOVE it and I never miss a pose :) It is a little more pricey and you can't just throw it in your purse (like the P&S cameras), but it is well worth it IMO.
Good luck!
I had a similar problem with a really nice camera, just because little kids move so fast. Look for a camera with a "burst" mode. This is a mode that often sacrifices flash and a bit of picture quality in order to take picture after picture after picture extremely quickly (you end up with 50 pictures that look like an old-fashioned movie or flip-book, but then you can pick the best one) It's a really helpful feature when you have kids. I LOVE my new camera with burst mode, and I like that I can turn it on and off to use when I need it. Good luck.
gee... thats the camera i have and i thought it was pretty good
Ours did that too, then someone showed us a neat little trick that helped tremendously. I hope it works as well on your camera (it doesn't work on all cameras). You can hold the button halfway down, it will stay in focus and when the time is right pusht he button the rest of the way down. It takes a picture so much quicker! Good Luck!
I need this information as well!!
K. Voigtsberger
www.wholeheartbirth.com
Had two Sony Cybershots over 3 years with those exact same issues along with others. Actually returned the second Sony Cybershot we bought bc I hated everything about it and was fed up. Exchanged for Samsung TL220. LOVE it! Touchscreen, faster, and so many cool features. So many that there's a CD included so you can read up on them. We downloaded a cute moving clown picture that appears in the front of the camera on the right setting which gets the toddlers attention for pictures. We have a 1 year old and it works! :-) Try it! Think you'll love it. Samsung TL220. Best Buy has it.
