NO Digital Shutter Lag-Any suggestions?

[GrtDay 1]

We know that a DSLR will minimize lens lag...but I can't justify another $3000+ in UW housing and flash to take my DSLR underwater for 2 weeks annual usage.

I need your recommendations for a FAST shutter on a Consumer Digicam. Optical zooms are my #2 priority with macro being #3.

I'll buy an Ikelite housing and DS-51/52 or DS-160 series as needed but I need your experienced recommendations on what works.

Thanks to all in advance.

Dive cheerfully!

[derway 2]

panasonic lx5, no question.

 

See timings at imaging resources:

 

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/LX5/LX5A.HTM

 

.35 - .36 seconds.

 

Also, easily compare to all the other p&s cams with their compare tool.

 

It has great raw image quality. On a par with the canon g12 or s95, but half the shutter lag.

 

Nice wide angle lens, 24mm.

 

Here are some images:

 

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=lx5+underw...ferer_searched=

[crawdad 0]

The S90 shutter lag is .44sec in full auto focus and only .088 in pre-focus mode.

 

A 24mm lens like the LX5 behind a flat port is hardly wide and shows considerable edge distortion and even color fringing. As well, the S90/S95 can utilize a wide variety of accessory lenses depending upon housing chosen, the LX, not so much.

 

JR

Edited March 4, 2011 by crawdad

[derway 2]

Unfortunately, the s95 got slow again. Canon made the one good quality, almost fast camera, with the s90, and then put a stop to that!

 

There are all kinds of folks using the lx3 with wide angle wet lenses, and they work at least as well as an s90. Reports are that they do not have to zoom in completely to 28mm to get the vignetting to stop.

 

Of course, an actual dome port would be ideal, and a great IQ way to use the 24mm!!

[M4rauder 0]

We know that a DSLR will minimize lens lag...but I can't justify another $3000+ in UW housing and flash to take my DSLR underwater for 2 weeks annual usage.

I need your recommendations for a FAST shutter on a Consumer Digicam. Optical zooms are my #2 priority with macro being #3.

I'll buy an Ikelite housing and DS-51/52 or DS-160 series as needed but I need your experienced recommendations on what works.

Thanks to all in advance.

Dive cheerfully!

 

An E-PL1 or E-PL2 with Olympus housing might fit your budget, and you're not really compromising much from entry-level DSLRs.

[derway 2]

An E-PL1 or E-PL2 with Olympus housing might fit your budget, and you're not really compromising much from entry-level DSLRs.

 

You get good image quality, but the shutter lag for these PENs has been nearer 1 second. Oly's implementation of contrast detect auto focus has always been class lagging.

 

But fresh data over at Imaging resources! The review of the epl-2 is complete.

 

Finally, they are moving in the right direction. The EPL-2 full shutter lag time is down to .43! But it moves up to .62 using flash:

 

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EPL2/EPL2A6.HTM

[tripntx 0]

You get good image quality, but the shutter lag for these PENs has been nearer 1 second. Oly's implementation of contrast detect auto focus has always been class lagging.

 

But fresh data over at Imaging resources! The review of the epl-2 is complete.

 

Finally, they are moving in the right direction. The EPL-2 full shutter lag time is down to .43! But it moves up to .62 using flash:

 

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EPL2/EPL2A6.HTM

 

I own and use an E-PL1, no problems here with shutter lag. It auto focus's much faster and than my previous camera's (Oly C-7070, Oly C-8080, Cannon A720IS) and with non existent shutter lag. Imaging Resources never updated the data after the version 1.1 firmware update for the E-PL1. It's simple bench racing without real word use. I'm currently taking an "intro to photo" class at the local community college, and my PEN is doing very good. No one in the class knew what M4/3 was, not even the instructor. Real world owners of PEN camera's do not experience "shutter lag for these PENs has been nearer 1 second", mine is non existent. I dive in Mammoth Lake TX mostly, which has 20' or less vis, and have fun with this camera. The beauty of PEN is the ability to purchase lens and ports to meet your daily needs at a very reasonable cost compared to outfitting a DSLR.

 

I do have a question for DSLR users who use focus lights which cost more than my E-PL1 with kit lens. If DSLR is so great, why do they require such expensive focus lights?

[Steve Williams 0]

If DSLR is so great, why do they require such expensive focus lights?

 

To shoot at night, and because we're suckers for new expensive stuff. ;-)

 

Cheers,

Steve

[Deep6 7]

... and because we're suckers for new expensive stuff. ;-)

 

Cheers,

Steve

Right on Steve!

Bob

[tripntx 0]

If money was no object I'd have a Sola 600 on my E-PL1 setup, but they cost more than I'm willing to spend at this time for a light, so I have a Bossk BigBlue FF 1-5w on order from Reefphoto (along with Zen Dome for Panny 7-14mm, and a 2nd INON strobe). Wish the boat with my Zen Dome and S-2000 would hurry up and arrive, been on backorder.

[chris_l 6]

Unfortunately, the s95 got slow again. Canon made the one good quality, almost fast camera, with the s90, and then put a stop to that!

 

Is this statement backed up by any facts?

All the results I've seen show the S95 to be almost identical to the S90 in timing performance.

[derway 2]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/PS90/PS90A6.HTM

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/PS95/PS95A6.HTM

 

It went from .4 seconds, full AF shutter lag, to .66 seconds.

 

I don't make this stuff up.

 

Of course, the total lag time with flash enabled is much worse, and actually got slightly better.

 

It went from 1.1 seconds, on the s90 to .9 seconds, on the s95.

 

 

As long as you half press, compose, and shoot, it should be fine with either camera.

Edited March 16, 2011 by derway

[chris_l 6]

Thanks for those links. Hadn't seen that info.

The info on Steve's digicams is very different.

The info you provided looks more definitive.

[derway 2]

I've always found steves to be close to useless, other than the photos. Their reviews are more like product tours...

[divergeorge 0]

To shoot at night, and because we're suckers for new expensive stuff. ;-)

 

Cheers,

Steve

 

Steve:

 

I shoot at night (day too) with a G9 and Ikelite housing and Ikelite Flash. The shutter lag is terrible. I have lots of photos of fish tails.

 

In addition to shutter lag issues, the weight of the camera, housing, flash, spare batteries, adds to an already heavy peice of luggage.

 

Any thoughts of a simple camera/housing/flash(perhaps built-in flash) that would have low shutter lag and also be very lightweight from an airline/luggage standpoint?

 

Thanks

 

George

Vestal, NY

[Deep6 7]

Steve:

 

I shoot at night (day too) with a G9 and Ikelite housing and Ikelite Flash. The shutter lag is terrible. I have lots of photos of fish tails.

 

In addition to shutter lag issues, the weight of the camera, housing, flash, spare batteries, adds to an already heavy peice of luggage.

 

Any thoughts of a simple camera/housing/flash(perhaps built-in flash) that would have low shutter lag and also be very lightweight from an airline/luggage standpoint?

 

Thanks

 

George

Vestal, NY

IMHO, the only way to reduce shutter lag on your rig is manual pre-focus. With the small sensor, the depth of field will yield acceptable focus.

Bob

[derway 2]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

 

The panasonic lx5 is best in class, for shutter lag. About $460.

 

The oly xz-1 might be acceptable auto focus lag, but not enough reviews in yet. $499.

 

If you want to spend a bit more, the pany gf1, or oly epl-2 or sony nex-5 have good auto focus performance, and much better image quality than any compact!

 

They'll run you $6-800, plus more for lenses.

[Cp 29]

Another vote for LX5. I normally shoot SLR but have been using LX5 a bit lately doing some testing. Cool little camera no doubt. Am trying to get some pics out in a press release - hopefully this week.

 

Cheers,

Cp