How Shutterlag Ruined My Gene Simmons Photo
Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:56PM EST
See Comments (8)
My camera's delayed flash tricks people into thinking that by the time the first flash goes off, their pictures have been taken. But in reality, it is until after the second flash that the picture is actually captured. Yes, it's as confusing as it sounds, which is why my impromptu shots are always ruined by awkward smiles, closed eyes, or blurry faces. In order to get a decent picture, I have to remind them to stay still until after the second flash. Frustrating.
Case in point: My only photo with Gene Simmons (see above). As upsetting as it was, I can't blame him for thinking my camera had already taken the picture. You'd think that with all the advances in camera technology, such problems would be solved. I mean, cameras today have face recognition, red-eye reduction, and even slimming features that make you look ten pounds lighter, yet the shutter lag (delay between pressing the button and actually taking the picture) combined with a bright flash can ruin a great photo, literally, at the blink of an eye.
Canon is working on yet another feature that will be implemented in next-generation cameras. The feature is called Blink Shot, and it won't take a picture until everyone's eyes are open! David Pogue over at the New York Times says this seems like a daunting task, especially if you're taking a group photo. Imagine how many times those eyes will be blinking during the shutter lag, decreasing your chances of taking a decent group photo.
Blink Shot might solve one problem for some, but what's going to happen to the spontaneity of taking a photo when you have to wait on all these features to kick-in? Guess we'll soon find out.
In the meantime, I'll give some tips I found over at Digicamhelp and around the web to help you decrease the shutter lag effect:
- Always use charged batteries.
- Digital cameras are different from film cameras that only require one press of a button. Learn to use the two-step shutter release by pressing the button half-way down to focus, then all the way when you're ready to take your shot.
- Anticipate your shots by using continuous auto-focus before taking a picture. Once you frame your shot, your camera will constantly focus on the subject until you take the photo increasing your chances of capturing the right moment. Press the button half-way down, then shoot when you're ready. This works great for action photos.
- Pre-focus on an object sitting at the same distance as your subject, then press the shutter button half-way down until you're ready to take the shot.
Got any other tips? Share them below.
Comments on How Shutterlag Ruined My Gene Simmons Photo
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2 Posted by jeffreytinnell on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse
As for me, I'd rather have red eyes than closed eyes! It's so easy now using cheap and readily available software (photoshop elements, et al) to remove red eye, but there's nothing you can do to open someone's eyes. So I always turn off the red-eye reduction feature and deal with red eyes later...
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3 Posted by theozman@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:04PM EDT Report Abuse
My problem is with my Fuji Finepix 3800 not focusing in normal room light! This makes it impossible to take candid photos of kids and animals without turning on bright lights just so the dumb camera will focus. Other than that the camera takes great pictures in bright light and outdoors.
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4 Posted by lulalake_1999 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:00PM EDT Report Abuse
1. Buy an accessory flash (they can be inexpensive) that tilts, point the flash at the ceiling and "bounce" the flash off the ceiling. This eliminates the harsh shadows of direct flash and gives a softer glow instead of the headlight effect. 2. If you absolutely must use the camera's flash use a diffuser. A simple one is a plastic 35mm film can over the flash (You remember film don't you?. This gives much the same effect as a bouncing the flash.
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5 Posted by nascarbaby@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse
Hi there Gina, I really feal for you...I am a big Gene fan,yes that picture would of bummed me out to. SRL is still my way of taking great pictures.Because you can controle the shuter speed. But, The digital is so compack to carry. Thanks for the tips. Nascarbaby.
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6 Posted by richard_aubin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse
First, continuous Auto-Focus would just as likely ruin a shot if used in the manner you described. In that mode, the camera is continually hunting for your subject and readjusting its focus. If your subjects are relatively still, you don't need the continual focusing and you are very likely to lose the shot when the camera focuses on some other object while you are triggering the shutter. Continuous AF should be used when the subject is moving. Second, as others have noted, the double flash is a red-eye reduction feature (although on SLRs it can also be a pre-flash exposure check to ensure accurate flash power for the picture). An offset or bounced flash will also prevent red-eye (as you are not "lighting up" the internals of someone's eye). Unfortunately, most digital snapshooters are not capable of using an external flash. Thus, the options are to warn folks off, or turn off red-eye and alter the image later. I'm not a fan of altering an image for red-eye reduction. Perhaps it would warrant a little label on the back of the camera, reminding the photographer to warn folks to have their eyes open for the first flash (which reduces red-eye by closing the iris) and wait for the second flash.
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7 Posted by jschak@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse
I am glad most people have responded with what the "shutterlag" really is - because they are not prefocusing. I figured that out within a week of using my cam. I also figured out the Red Eye reduction double-flash issue, and I shut it off. Of course, I blame myself for not reading the manual...and on that note, I don't think users need a label on the back of the camera. I think they just need to realize it's their own fault if they don't read the manual! Here's a tip, everyone - yes, anything digital is an advanced piece of technology - so before you say "oh well" and think "that's just the way it is", remind yourself this is the digital age and think to yourself: "there HAS to be a way of making this thing work the way I want to!!??" There almost always is.
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8 Posted by ctkruger@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:32PM EDT Report Abuse
If it's action you are after, anticipate where the action will occur and pre-focus to that spot. For example, the child is going to blow out the candles - move to the side, pre-focus on the candles, and when the child comes forward to blow, you & your camera are ready for that instant.
1 Posted by epepota on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:55PM EDT Report Abuse
In most cameras you can change the way the flash goes off so that you reduce the chances of red-eye flash ruining pictures. Then again if you do that people's eyes are likely to be red in the pic, especially during nighttime or when taking pictures indoor with poor lighting. I guess technology hasn't advanced all that much yet, but sometimes professional cameras have so many features that it's almost impossible to use them and is even more difficult to actually take advantage of them all. Anyway, it's up to you to either chose normal flash and have people's eyes red or have your pictures ruined because of the red-eye reduction flash function. I always go for the first option, especially if I can't remind people to stay still.