| A common complaint about a low to mid range digital | | | | Unfortunately, users may still have to deal with the |
| camera is the speed at which it captures images. Such | | | | delay between taking one photo and the next which |
| complaints are the result of lag time: both the delay | | | | can result in missing many great shots. This delay is |
| between pressing the shutter button and getting a | | | | due to the fact that a digital camera requires time to |
| single picture and the time between capturing | | | | write the image to memory and not all cameras and |
| consecutive images. | | | | memory cards are as fast at writing as others. |
| Certainly buying a higher end digital camera can | | | | Setting resolution lower can help to speed up a digital |
| significantly reduce either of these two delay issues. | | | | camera as there is less information to record. |
| Recent news reports even indicate that Casio is in the | | | | However, the drawback is clearly a loss in the quality |
| process of developing a digital camera that will be | | | | of the image captured. However, there is another way |
| capable of photographing 300 frames per second but | | | | of reducing the time between pictures without |
| that is obviously in the future at this point and may be | | | | compromising the quality of the resulting photograph. |
| out of the desired price range for many buyers. For | | | | Use of a memory card that has a faster write time |
| the near term, and for the buyer on a budget, there | | | | can result in a significant decrease in the delay. This |
| are a couple of tips to help deal with a sluggish digital | | | | can become particularly important with a camera that |
| camera. | | | | has 5, 6, 8 or more pixels. Because of the increased |
| <b>Reducing Lag</b> | | | | amount of information to be recorded, a 2x or 4x |
| The lag time that occurs between pressing the shutter | | | | memory card will not allow such a digital camera to |
| button and taking the picture is due in large part to the | | | | operate very quickly. |
| focusing functions that are being performed by the | | | | For this technique to be effective in speeding up the |
| camera during this time. | | | | performance of a digital camera however, it is also |
| Many digital camera owners have learned to work | | | | important to remember that the camera being used |
| around this lag time. By simply pressing the button | | | | must support the faster read/write times offered by |
| halfway down and holding it prior to taking the picture, | | | | the memory card. Thus, knowing what the camera |
| the camera is able to complete much of the focusing | | | | can accommodate will allow the user to determine if |
| prior to asking the camera to actual capture an image. | | | | an 8x or 16x memory card would be the better choice. |
| Once the user is ready to take the shot, the button is | | | | A digital camera offers many benefits to users such |
| depressed completely and, viola, the camera responds | | | | as the ability to view shots immediately, edit shots for |
| with almost no delay. This technique obviously works | | | | better quality photos, and to print photographs at home. |
| only when the person taking photographs plans ahead | | | | The drawback of some digital cameras continues to |
| and is prepared to take a shot prior to the proper | | | | be a more sluggish performance but there are |
| moment. | | | | certainly a few steps that users can take to alleviate |
| <b>Reducing Delay Between Shots</b> | | | | any problems this may create. |