Advice on a digital camera please.

[peterb26]

I have just purchased a Sony Cybershot DSC W35 camera for photography on the boat out in Portugal. The dolphins are just unbelievable around here - and the birds are wonderful as well. (Feathered variety!)

I chose the Sony because its really compact, I thought it was a good name, and it has a Carl Zeiss lense.

Sadly, to be honest, I am not happy with the results that we are getting. My 5 year old Fuji digital takes better quality pictures by a long way.

The main grumble I have is the delay between clicking the button and the photo actually being taken. The Fuji was instantaneous - the Sony is not and the shots of Dolphins are hopeless as a result.

Does anyone have a compact digital camera that they can recommend please? Especially if they take photos of live subjects and need instant shutter response. Plus if it has automatic camera shake correction then that would also be a bonus.

Thanks very much in advance.

 

[PeteCooper]

I thought that all compacts had a delay?

 

[peterb26]

I have no idea Pete??

 

[stevieee]

Why not try setting the exposure to something very short, and set the camera to take multiple photo's when you depress and hold the shutter. You can throw away the shots which are useless.

 

[Garryt]

I've just checked my Canon IXUS 700 and it takes the picture virtually instantaneous except when I use the flash, when there is a slight delay for the red-eye prevention.

 

[jbridges]

I can highly recommend the Canon 850 IS.
I advised my father to buy this one and will probably buy one myself.

The reaction time is extremely fast and the results amazing.
PM me with your email address if you want some samples sent over.

Here's a review of the camera: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/

By the way, I don't work for or have shares in Canon, just very pleased with their products.

regards
James

 

[rich]

What happened to the good old point and shoot,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
It takes so long to set the camera (if you can remember how to do it)

Technology is great, but it's to easy to foget how to use it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Garryt]

That's one thing I like about the Canon....it's as easy or as complex as you like. Just switch it on and point and shoot. You don't need to operate a complex menu system to switch between taking photo's and viewing them or switching to movie mode, as there is a physical switch which you can operate even in the dark. It's over 7 Mega Pixels, and the image quality is fantastic. To put the images on your PC, you just plug it in to the USB port and the PC sees it as an external memory device which you can just browse and copy or delete the images to anywhere you want!

By the way....I don't work for Canon /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It's the second Canon I've owned with other makes in between and I don't think I would have any other make again!

 

[stevieee]

I've got an IXUS 40, it's done me 9,300 photo's in the last 29 months. My only complaint is that it's as good as new, hasn't gone wrong, which means I can't buy a more up to date one.

 

[Lakesailor]

Virtually all compact digi-cams have a delay of some sort. The only way to take pics of what you see is to use an SLR. I use a an Olympus compact for snapping and sometimes it drives me up the wall, not firing when I tell it to. I've had Fuji and Minolta top-end "prosumer" cams and none has been as good as an SLR in this respect (or any other, for that matter)

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

I have two Sony DSC's - V1 & V3, not made anymore. Both very good. Most of the delay is auto-focus time. Look in the auto-focus menu and experiment with monitoring mode, iirc this may cause the camera to focus continuously rather than just when you depress the button, reducing time to get focus. Also maybe change from area or multi-point focus to centre focus.

Don't actually think there is an enormous amount to choose between mid-range compact digital cameras, so you're unlikely to find much better for similar money.

 

[Channel Ribs]

So near and yet so far... the Sony W50 is the best compact around at the moment in my humble view.

Easy to use, quick, nice big screen for viewing, good video mode and most of all good value.

 

[stevieee]

Looking at the manual for the camera, set yourself up with the Multiburst option. You'll need to anticipate when the action will happen, and hold the shutter button down, but may do what you want.

Also pre-focusing on the area of interest speeds things up, any camera has to focus the optics, not matter whether it's SLR or Compact, and this is a physical movement that takes time.

 

[Solitaire]

Peter - we use the Pentax Optio which is 6m pixels and is waterproof to 1.5 meters. It has a sports mode and surf/snow setting. It is a great little camera and we have no problems capturing moving subjects etc. It has a good buffer. It is on special at local MAKRO at the moment for £75!! It is very compact and slips into the pocket easily. I also have a a Nikon D70 SLR digital and the pictures from the Pentax compare very well with those taken on the Nikon. You can have a look when we meet up next.

 

[oldgit]

My olde Fuji 5400 has a shutter delay compared to my clunk-click clockwork Pentax,would I regress back to dinosaur technology,in 99% of the stuff use my camera for......NO chance.
My old ME Super is gathering dust on the shelf in front of me at this very moment. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Remmington]

Its worth checking out that there is an underwater/weatherproof casing available - not very expensive but good for preserving camera and gives some more options in "wet" conditions

 

[Micky]

I have the Sony Cyber-Shot W100. The photo results and video recording are very good for a low cost pocket camera.

8.1 Effective Megapixel
"Anti-blur" ISO1250 High Sensitivity
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® Lens
3x Optical Zoom, up to 15x Smart Zoom, 6x Precision Digital Zoom
2.5" (6.2cm) LCD Monitor
Stamina Battery Life (approx 360 shots by CIPA standard)
Slim & Compact High Quality Metal Body
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery & Charger included
Quick Operation (Start-up 1.3 sec, Shutter Time Lag 0.3 sec, Shutter Release Lag 0.001sec)
New "Cyber-shot Viewer" Software Supplied
Real Imaging Processor
Macro 6cm
16:9 Mode for Wide Screen TV
Internal Memory 64MB
MPEG VX Fine with Audio
100% LCD Field of view
AF Illuminator
Histogram Indication
USB 2.0 High Speed Transfer
Optical View Finder
Scene Selection Mode
PictBridge Compatible
15 Menu Languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Hungarian, Czech)
PictBridge Compatible

 

[peterb26]

Thanks for all of that chaps.

I have had a look at the manual and there is no multiburst mode for continuous shooting, but I will experiment with some of the other settings and see if that helps.

My daughter's digital camera has just given up the ghost and she said she'd be happy to give it a new home if it continues to disappoint. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Talbot]

I have a sony cybershot - an S70, and have been using it for the last 7 years. It has a longer delay than most, primarily cause when not being used it switches down to very low power consumption, and needs a quick circuit test before being ready for a shot.

Thus longer delay than most, but also much longer battery life.

There is a way to circumvent this, by giving the shutter release a quick tap, just before taking the photo. This wakes it up and does the first range check. I use this mainly when taking moving objects or for underwater shots.

BTW I know that "shutter release" is not exactly the correct term, but you know what I mean.

I reckon the underwater shots work fine:

 

[cataldo]

have fuji finepix e900 for two years and seems quite good,doesnt have anti shakin stevens.there on ebay for about £130 i think