Delay when pressing shutter button

[maryosmanski]

I have an Olympus D540-Zoom which I have been using to take pictures for three or four years now. I am not a frequent photographer, and tend to take pictures in batches (such as when on vacation) and then go for several months without taking any pictures at all.

Recently I have noticed that there is a delay of a full second or more between the time I press the button to take the picture and the time the picture is actually taken. This is true whether I have the flash on or not. Since we recently acquired two kittens who are quite active, I've found it almost impossible to take decent pictures of them except when they are asleep. They invariably move between the time I press the button and the time the pictures actually gets taken.

What does anyone have to recommendations of what to do about this problem of the delay in the picture taking?

[SusanH1970]

Shutter lag is unfortunately quite common and normal with a point and shoot. I'm sure someone with more tech knowledge can further explain the whys and wherefores. Inkista, where are you?

Edited to add: Found this interesting info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_lag

[sk66]

The more features you have turned on the longer it will take...i.e. anti shake. Also, if you are not focusing first (half press) you are also waiting for the camera to find focus, then do whatever else you've told it to do, then fire.

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by sk66

Also, if you are not focusing first (half press) you are also waiting for the camera to find focus, then do whatever else you've told it to do, then fire.

This is the source of the vast majority of "shutter lag". Always half-press the shutter while you compose, to make sure the camera has focused where you want it. Then full-press when you want to take the image. Much time is lost when the camera has to try to focus AND take the image all in the span of one finger press!

[autofocus]

Is it possible that someone was playing around with the different settings?You might want to see if there's a reset button on it somewhere to bring it back to the original factory specs...does it do it in all your setting modes including full auto mode? This may not solve the problem, but could be worth a try

[maryosmanski]

I nearly always remember to do the half press action for focussing first. The delay I described happens after I have done the focus half press and am doing the full press.

I do not recall changing any settings on the camera recently, as it sat for well over a year not even being used, and there is no one else here who uses it (and no children in the house). But I have may have reset something without realizing it.

[OsmosisStudios]

P&S cameras have shutter lag no matter what you do.

[maryosmanski]

Never mind, everybody.

I just tried taking some pictures where I deliberately paid attention to what my fingers were doing and what icons showed up on the monitor. I discovered that after I do the half press to focus, I am completely releasing the pressure of my finger on the button i(nstead of holding pressure at the half position), and then taking the picture. Obviously, the focus process has to start all over again, and that is causing at least half of the delay period I have been experiencing.

Just careless technique after a lengthy time of not taking any pictures with this camera.