Digital cameras 101

[sm]

I want to buy a new digital camera with the LEAST amount of lag time between shots. I want to pay under $150 if possible. It will be used to take indoors-only photos with flash primarily of cats and dogs resting, not running. Any suggestions about which cameras best fit this need? Thanks.

[bdery]

Hi,

your question has no quick and easy answer. The one thing that will cause you lots of trouble is the fact that you want to use your flash. Nowadays, when NOT using the flash and not using burst mode, most cameras will offer you excellent shot-to-shot delays (especially if you turn of -when possible- the quick review of the last picture taken).

However, flashes need time to recycle. The required flash power will affect this : light fill flash will drain less power than full power bursts (in semi-darkness, for instance). Depending on the camera, this flash recycle delay can last betwen 2-3 and up tp 10 seconds.

The solution, such as it is, is to choose a camera that has a higher voltage batery pack. That often means selecting a camera that uses 4 AA batteries (2 AAs will take longer to recharge the flash).

The expensive solution would be to get a camera with a flash hotshoe, and then purchase a dedicated external flash with its own battery pack. But that will blow your budget by a lot.

Many cameras will be able to take the pictures you have in mind, but sadly not at the speed you seem to wish for.

[ShutterbugGail]

In addition to what bdrey pointed out, you may want to consider a camera that you can use inside without a flash.  The ones that excel in that area are made by FujiFilm and have a sensor called a Super CCD, and are clearly marked Super CCD (not all Fujifilm digital cameras have these sensors).

I own a FujiFilm F20 and have written about here:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/10/

It is generally not available in stores but you may be able to purchase it online. You can by a used or refurbished one for around $100. Only a few months ago you could get a new one for about $130, but the older FujiFilm Super CCD cameras are in such demand that the prices for new ones have gone up considerably. Shop around.

The better buy today is the FujiFilm F40fd:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/store.php?content=http://astore.amazon.com/digicamhelp-20/detail/B000MCZFQ0

Like all cameras, it has it's limitations but if you shoot mostly inside photos it is worthy of your consideration. When using high ISO, most agree that, as far as compact digital cameras go, few can match the low-light performance of a FujiFilm camera with a Super CCD.

Related reading:

Super CCD

http://dev.digicamhelp.coms/cool-stuff/superccd.php

ISO

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-features/advanced-settings/iso.php

[ShutterbugGail]

Other "older" FujiFilm cameras with Super CCDs are:

FujiFilm F50fd

FujiFilm F31

FujiFilm F30

[sm]

Thanks to all of you. Your suggestions are great and I'm going to look into your recommendations. I was all set to buy a camera this weekend until I saw on a users forum that the one the salesperson recommeded to me takes 12 seconds between shots. I have a marvelous Kodak DX6490 that is too complicated for me, but it takes only
To bdery I have 2 questions about your posting: 1) what is a "hotshoe"? and, 2) re "higher voltage battery pack": do you know of any brand that has a rechargeable battery system that I can get instead of constantly changing the batteries?

Thanks again for your help. SARA

[ShutterbugGail]

I'll answer about the Hot Shoe. Here's a description:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-features/camera-parts/hot-shoe.php

Unless you buy a used camera, it's near-impossible to find a hot shoe on an inexpensive digital camera. Those that have hot shoes are generally more complicated to use, with advanced camera features. A decent external flash can be quite expensive too!

[bdery]

Hi again SM,

Gail hopefully ansswered about the hotshoe to your your satisfaction

About battery packs, there are two types of power sources for most cameras:

1-AA batteries

2-Lithium-ion packs.

The AAs are convenient, easy to find, and you can get rechargeable ones easily (I would suggest Sanyo Eneloops or Ray-o-Vac Hybrids, as those keep their charge M longeer than otherr rechargeables). On the long run, you're better off with rechargeables instead of disposable, but Lithium disposable AAs can lat for much longer than any other type of battery. Cameras that use AAs usually only cme with cheap disposables, so you have to purchase other batteries before long.

The lithium-ions are proprietary, meaning that they fit one specific camera (or a few different cameras from one brand, sometimes). they are lighter than AAs for simiar performances, but they are more expensive and harder to find. Cameras using these batteries usually come with a charger and rechargeable battery.

So, in short, any camera can use rechargeable batteries, either proprietary or AAs. A higher number of AAs in the camera will mean a heavierr camera, but a faster flash recycle time. Regarding Li-Ion batteries, the higher the voltage the faster the recycle time, usually. You can find good databases for various cameras at www.dpreview.com.

I hope this clarifies things.