Why does my digital camera have a delay between the time I push the button and the time it takes the photo?

Question

It is a Sony digital camera. I notice my cell phone does the same thing. How can I fix this (particularly on the Sony)? If it is not fixable, is there a digital camera that does not have this type of delay? I am sick of waiting for the perfect moment for a snapshot of my kids that is then missed because of the delay.

I've noticed that the problem is less pronounced with outside shots in bright sunlight. Also, I'm not talking about the lag between pictures - I'm talking about the lag between the time I push the button and the time the photo is actually taken.

Answer 1

For what it's worth, my daughter just discovered that if she turns OFF the LCD monitor on her Canon Powershot S2 IS, there is no delay. How 'bout that. There's another argument in favor of optical viewfinders.

Answer 2

Almost all digital cameras do this to some extent. The shutter release button has two positions. A half way down position where it focuses, and measures exposure etc, and a fully depressed position where it actually takes the picture. If you just press the button all the way down immediately, it still has to focus and measure exposure, so there is a delay while it does this. You have to learn the technique of pressing the button half way down, and holding it there while you compose your photo, and then press it fully down to take the picture. It takes a little practice, and you have to anticipate your shots some, you also have to learn how your camera's exposure meter, meters the shot, so you can get the proper exposure, but you'll get the hang of it.

Answer 3

In relatively low cost cameras the electronic circuitry is marginal, and the sensors are low cost so it takes time to focus and therefore you have this delay. The cameras that cost $700 and above you do not have this problem. The more you pay the faster the time between shots.

Answer 4

It's called shutter lag...for a detailed explanation, see here:
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Camera_System/lag_time_01.htm

You can shorten the delay if you learn to pre-focus - hold down the shutter button half way so that the camera can preset the focus and exposure, etc. Then when you fully press the shutter button, the photo is taken almost instantaneously.

Answer 5

My Sony Cybershot does the same thing. I cant find any way of changing this. Its very annoying, you have to stand perfectly still for a second or two after pushing the button.

Answer 6

1 get a sports camera.
2 sony is a terrible camera brand. they focus too much on making their cameras look good and focusing nothing on performance. get a company that makes ONLY cameras. Nikon and Cannon are great companies.
3 fix your settings
4 click the button early

Answer 7

All digital cameras do this.

You either miss your action photo, or posers look stiff and unnatural.

I never use mine for this reason.

Good ole' 35 mm.

Answer 8

Electricity flows slow in them there cameras.

Answer 9

most of the time its because of the autofocus feature

Answer 10

you can`t, its checking light and such first, I have the new Samsung, its fast.