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General discussion

need faster shutter trip time for action photos

Sep 26, 2004 7:51AM PDT

Hello. can anyone recommend a digital camera, 3+megapixels, that has a very fast shutter release time? I shoot performances and sports and the time between pressing the button and the actual release is too long for action.

I have the Nikon Coolpic 5700 now, and it's VERY slow. What do photo journalists and sports photographers use?

Discussion is locked

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Re: need faster shutter trip time for action photos
Sep 26, 2004 10:26AM PDT

I have the Kodak 6490 and its burst mode is great for that. Read a review on the 7440 to see what it does.

Bob

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Re: need faster shutter trip time for action photos
Sep 26, 2004 10:37AM PDT

Kodak specifies a click to capture time of 0.2 seconds for their DX-7400 camera.

This is very fast by digital (consumer cameras) standards.

.....

"What do photo journalist and sports photographers use?"

Usually it is a Nikon or Canon DSL (film or digital).
Price range $4,000 and up.

...

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(NT) (NT) Correction - DX-7440
Sep 26, 2004 10:39AM PDT
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Not so, local TV showed interviewed a sports photographer
Sep 26, 2004 12:03PM PDT

who was using a Nikon D70, and was quite pleased with it. It shoots 3 frames per second up to 144 pictures. $1,300 at Bestbuy with a lense. It is an SLR, so other lenses can be used. That may be where the price begins increasing fairly rapidly. It depends on how good you want the lens to be.

The Canon Digital Rebel can shoot a 'continuous' 2.5 frames per second and sells for under $1,000. The new Canon 20D can shoot 5 frames per second up to 23 consecutive frames. It has a startup time of .2 seconds. The D20 goes for about $1,400 with a lense. Again, lenses can get expensive fast.

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Re: Not so, local TV showed interviewed a sports photographe
Sep 26, 2004 8:16PM PDT

You just made my day! That 300 buck 6490 is doing around 2 frames per second and I get to save money.

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(NT) (NT) at what resolution and pixel size? 6-8 megs?
Sep 27, 2004 3:18PM PDT
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Re: (NT) at what resolution and pixel size? 6-8 megs?
Sep 27, 2004 9:24PM PDT

Mine is a Kodak 6490. I'll leave it to you to look up the specs, but I stole it for 300 bucks refurb with dock at compgeeks.com It's without a scratch and all the caps, straps and more were in the Kodak box. Kodak did the refurb.

The 7440 is a good idea too since the first shot off is in the neighborhood of 0.2 seconds.

Bob

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Ummm, its 4 megs, and the burst is up to 6 pictures.
Sep 28, 2004 11:32AM PDT

I think my money would stay on the Nikon or the Canon.

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How much?
Sep 28, 2004 11:44AM PDT

I parted with 300 US clams and am a shooting fool.

How much for that other unit?

Bob

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One thing I've learned. You can't economize on the
Oct 1, 2004 8:30AM PDT

camera. If you do, you'll waste the opportunity to get good photos. You've got to have a top notch camera if you want top notch pictures.

There's a whole lot more to a camera and its lense than how fast it will shoot. It must shoot fast AND take high quality pictures.

The 20D is, as I recall, about $1,500 with a general purpose lense, but the lense adds about $100 to the price. The review I saw said the lense does surprisingly well. High quality lenses can cost as much as the camera.

What they say is true in this case. You get what you pay for.

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Here are the specs.
Oct 1, 2004 12:24PM PDT
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Re: need faster shutter trip time for action photos
Sep 28, 2004 12:15AM PDT

A digital SLR will be faster. With a sports burst mode you'll have to decide the frames per second that will best meet your needs as they vary from camera to camera. Burst allows you to start snapping when the action starts and stop when it is done. This is great for football plays. But you may go from 3 to 8 FPS and that is a big difference. It is head and shoulders above trying to snap that one shot you want.

Many point and shoots do not have a sports mode for a burst. Short of that I learned with my Canon A80 to press the shutter release button half way down to lock the shot and improve the picture. But you really have to be somewhat predictive to get the action you want. So look for that burst mode feature.

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Re: need faster shutter trip time for action photos
Sep 28, 2004 3:21AM PDT

Hey, this list is great. thanks for the input on faster "click to capture" times. I'll look into the Kodaks, even tho I am a Canon fan. Anyone know a Canon with .2 sec click to capture? I do have an older SLR that is quite fast, but heavy. I'm looking for a digital that will do the job in low-light and/or fast action.

I'll also try the burst or multi-frame mode on the Nikon 5700 a bit more, that could solve the problem (if the darn thing will focus).

thanks,
Rixanne

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Yes, it looks like the new Canon 20D can do better than
Sep 28, 2004 11:37AM PDT

.2 seconds (I just read a review today in PC Mag: 5.4 frames per second in burst mode), and works in very low light levels. Again, the issue is camera plus lens cost.

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Re: need faster shutter trip time for action photos
Sep 30, 2004 9:40PM PDT

I use the cannon powershot pro1 digital camera. It takes wonderful pictures in almost any mode. I have pictures posted of the McConnel Air base Air show in Wichita, Ks. on webshots. Here is the url to veiw the photos http://community.webshots.com/user/rmcdaniel21.