canon powershot sd30 question. what mode allows you to take the FASTEST photos, (like fast action shots)?

Question

does turninf the flash off?? the ai assist off? what are the best settings to take a picture the second the button is pressed!!!! once in a lifetime FAST shot...

Answer 1

SD30? isnt that old? well you should put it in sports mode. That will allow the fastest shutter speed.

Answer 2

To lessen shutter lag (the delay between pressing the shutter button to the time the photo is taken) you should half press the shutter button first to set the focus...then wait for the right moment before pressing the button all the way down.

Also, you should turn off the flash & AIAF and use single focus mode instead.
Normally turning off the LCD and using the viewfinder will help...but your camera does not have a viewfinder.

Your camera doesn't give you the option to select your preferred shutter speed, so you will have to use one of the scene modes instead...and the only one that will probably apply a faster shutter speed...is "kids & pets".
In bright outdoor lighting conditions, the camera should also apply a faster shutter speed.
And you could also use continuous mode to try and capture at least one or two good shots.

Also, make sure you are using a fast SD card, such as the Sandisk Ultra II.

But if you want a camera that can shoot instantly the shutter is pressed...you will need a digital SLR camera.
Good luck.

Answer 3

Really, I can't think of a GOOD way to do that.
Turning the flash off and setting to manual focus (if you already have the camera at a set distance from the subject - and the focus set) would make the camera take a picture nearly as soon as you press the shutter button.
BUT... If the subject is moving, it will be blurry.
Perhaps half-pressing the shutter button (with flash on and using auto-focus) would help. That way it is already focused, the flash is charged and the camera is ready to take a picture.
But you likely won't want to stand around with your finger on the shutter button waiting for something to happen.

You could always use the 'continous drive' (holding down shutter keeps taking pictures until memory is full - 1.8 pics a second). You won't have flash for all the pictures (not 100% sure - but highly doubt it). Auto-focus will be set at whatever distance the first picture focused on.
Then just keep taking pictures till something happens or your memory gets full and you have to format.

None of these sound like good options to me, but perhaps some may be helpful.

Answer 4

With any camera you have three primary modes of operation. The Auto mode, Aperture mode and the Shutter mode. In the shutter mode you should have different shutter speeds from "bulb" to what ever the highest is in fractions of a second. Anything from about a thousands of a sec. or better is well suited for sports events for example. Some even have auto shutter priority as well as auto-aperture priority modes so worrying about the F stop at a given speed and ISO is not a great problem. The rule there is as you speed up the shutter you have to "open" the lens by using a LOWER number F stop. For example: an f stop of 22 at a speed of 100th of a second would go to about an f stop of 2.8 at 1000th of a second. The "once in a life time" shot would get missed UNLESS you plan ahead. At a NASCAR race, set your camera up for speed rather than aperture. Fast taken pics (at high enough ISO setting) will capture those cars but lack a bit of quality on long crowd shots due to the smaller depth of field that you would have compared to slower shutter speeds.