Image Delay Question

[David Buren]

My CP5000 takes about 1.2 seconds to capture an image. I set up a tripod and stopwatch to perform this simple experiment. I tried it in fixed focus and auto focus mode. I had read somebody's review several months ago (forgot who), and it was stated that there is a RAM buffer that enables the camera to captures images instantaneously. This was one of the decision factors that steered me to the Nikon. How can I access this mode?

 

[Negative287]

I've never heard of that, but I do have a CP5000 and as long as I don't use the Tiff mode I can capture pictures quite fast!

--
Pete Perry
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http://www.pbase.com/elterrible

My CP5000 takes about 1.2 seconds to capture an image. I set up a
tripod and stopwatch to perform this simple experiment. I tried it
in fixed focus and auto focus mode. I had read somebody's review
several months ago (forgot who), and it was stated that there is a
RAM buffer that enables the camera to captures images
instantaneously. This was one of the decision factors that steered
me to the Nikon. How can I access this mode?

 

[Gerald Poirier]

To my knowledge, there is no way you can instruct the cp5000, or in my case the cp995, to forget about saving the pictures to the CF card until you tell it too. It's like a reflex on its part. One thing you CAN do though, is set the cam in continuous mode. Then it will fill its buffer before beginning to save on the CF card. Once it begins saving, you can still go on in continuous mode at about one shot every 1 1/2 sec, depends on cam and settings I guess...

The time it will take to save the pictures shot in continuous mode depend on wether you filled the buffer in part or totally. The size and compression of the pics are of primary importance here. Max size and min compression take more place, thus take longer to save (and also not as fast image taking rate).

If you don't need max size and accept 'normal' instead of 'fine' jpeg compression, you can get many shots in sequence and they will save fast too.
Ex. with 995:
Max size (2048x1536), Fine, one shot: 2.5 sec approx. to save
UXGA size (1600x1200), Normal, 3 shots: 4.5 sec - 5 shots: 6.5 sec

one has to experiment and choose shooting mode according to circumstances. I would LOVE a bigger buffer and faster shooting rate and bigger image size, but...
Hope this helps.

Gerald

My CP5000 takes about 1.2 seconds to capture an image. I set up a
tripod and stopwatch to perform this simple experiment. I tried it
in fixed focus and auto focus mode. I had read somebody's review
several months ago (forgot who), and it was stated that there is a
RAM buffer that enables the camera to captures images
instantaneously. This was one of the decision factors that steered
me to the Nikon. How can I access this mode?

 

[Lynn Healy]

I noticed a big improvement in speed when I upgraded to a Lexar 16x flash card. Previously I was using a Kodak, which I assume is the usual 4x.

--
-- Lynn

 

[Negative287]

To follow up on that I noticed a big improvement going to 8x but diminishing return going to 12x and 16x. They were faster but not as noticeable as going to the 8x.

--
Pete Perry
---------------------
http://www.pbase.com/elterrible

I noticed a big improvement in speed when I upgraded to a Lexar 16x
flash card. Previously I was using a Kodak, which I assume is the
usual 4x.

--
-- Lynn

 

[Lynn Healy]

To follow up on that I noticed a big improvement going to 8x but
diminishing return going to 12x and 16x. They were faster but not
as noticeable as going to the 8x.

--
Pete Perry

That's because 4x to 8x is a 100% increase. 8x to 12x is only a 50% increase, and therefore not as noticeable.

--
-- Lynn

 

[Negative287]

Yes and going from 8x to 16x is 100% also but it didn't seem to have as noticable a performance increase. You probably noticed it more then I did because you went straight from 4x to 16x.

--
Pete Perry
---------------------
http://www.pbase.com/elterrible

To follow up on that I noticed a big improvement going to 8x but
diminishing return going to 12x and 16x. They were faster but not
as noticeable as going to the 8x.

--
Pete Perry

That's because 4x to 8x is a 100% increase. 8x to 12x is only a
50% increase, and therefore not as noticeable.

--
-- Lynn

 

[Ken.]

My CP5000 takes about 1.2 seconds to capture an image. I set up a
tripod and stopwatch to perform this simple experiment. I tried it
in fixed focus and auto focus mode. I had read somebody's review
several months ago (forgot who), and it was stated that there is a
RAM buffer that enables the camera to captures images
instantaneously. This was one of the decision factors that steered
me to the Nikon. How can I access this mode?

There is a buffer that allows you to take many shots without waiting for the camera to stop writing to the card. All you have to do after a shot is release the shutter and then press it all the way down. You will rattle of shots fairly quick, though when the buffer finally fills up, which is fairly large, it will slow down the process a bit.

I have not played with this much. I do know that the shots fire quickly! Only concern is, and I should test it myself, how this affects focus. In otherwords will that camera just use the focus and exposure of the first shot or will it take new readiings for all. Shots happen so fast I wonder.

Ken

 

[Ken.]

No need to set the camera to continous mode by the way for this to work.