[Norman Tracy]

The review of the Canon G9 and G10 in Tone issue 18 has me considering one of these for my new camera. The form factor appeals to my Leica lust and nostalgia for learning to photograph on my father's Argus rangefinder. After years with film based SLRs I have had a couple of point and shoot digitals that latest being a Fuji. Poor Fuji the dog didn't eat my homework, she ate my camera! In the soft case I guess it looked like a puppy toy only when she chompted it went 'crunch' instead of 'squeek'.

Excessive back story brings us to my question. One aspect of digital photography by my point and shoot cameras I did not care for is the lag between pushing the shutter and taking a picture. Even using the half depress to get the auto focus to the ready the delay ruined many pictures. Sports photography was the worst, even trying to anticipate the delay so many pictures were deleted with nothing but the back wheel of a motorcycle still in the frame. Do higher end digital cameras like the G9/10 and DSLRs react more like film cameras i.e. take the picture when I press the dang shutter button!?!? Or is this the nature of the digital beast?

Looking at the specifications "Shooting speed" for the G9/10 is listed as 0.7 to 1.5 fps depending on mode. For comparison the Canon A470 point and shoot is specified at 1.9 fps. Does this mean the G9/10 takes a picture 20-50% faster OR that it is ready to take the next picture that much faster?

Thanks for the education guys, any comments and information on this difference between chemical and digital photography welcomed.

[JohnR]

I don't have time to look it up right now, but if you can find a review of this camera on dpreview.com they will list shutter lag time.

[BradJudy]

Looking at the specifications "Shooting speed" for the G9/10 is listed as 0.7 to 1.5 fps depending on mode. For comparison the Canon A470 point and shoot is specified at 1.9 fps. Does this mean the G9/10 takes a picture 20-50% faster OR that it is ready to take the next picture that much faster?

These numbers are the frames per second that each camera can shoot in continuous mode.  In this case, the G9/10 is actually slower than the A470.

As JohnR said, check the reviews.  This page lists the delay times for the G10 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong10/page6.asp

[Norman Tracy]

Thanks guys! I know it can be mildly (or more) annoying when a newbie drops in to ask a clueless question. Pointing in the right direction much appreciated.

[TONEPUB]

Just so you know, our camera reviews are not super hardcore
photo reviews, even though that's my background.  We just know
our readers are pretty heavily into photography, so when I come
across something I think is cool, we will be including it in the
middle section of the magazine.

These days, there still isn't a compact that will give you the
shutter response you get from a film camera and the Canon's
are no different.

But both of these cameras are great for the serious amateur
photographer that wants high quality images in a small form factor
and would like the option to capture in RAW.

If you are trying to shoot sports or live events, the real limiting
factor of these cameras is their inability to lock focus quickly
(as a good DSLR would) much more so than the shutter lag
in my opinion.  I've used the G9 to shoot concerts with mixed
results because of this.

Unfortunately handling speed is what you pay the money
and buy a DSLR for, but the good news is they keep getting faster
and cheaper all the time!