Thread: P&S Cameras: Increasing frame rate

Is it possible to increase the frame rate on relatively higher MP P&S cameras by turning down the quality a little? Here eventually, I'm going to need to replace my 5200 (~2.5fps) and am looking a bit at the A710IS (~1.7fps)…

Also, I think I've looked around pretty good but is there anything else (other than the A710IS) that comes close to fitting this profile:
>4xzoom (prefer 6 or more)
Optical viewfinder (strongly prefer this for action shooting)
IS (I am out in low light conditions a LOT)
Highish frame rate
Compact or ultracompact (jeans pocketable)

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Is it possible to increase the frame rate on relatively higher MP P&S cameras by turning down the quality a little?

Usually not. dpreview tests at different image sizes, though, so you can check there.

it seems that very few cameras (can't recall which ones offhand) offer a faster fps for a drop in image quality but not significantly faster. probably the best thing to do it ensure that you are use a fast (or the fastest) memory card possible.

i too want a compact with high frame rates but there are not a lot of fast options. the best one i have found has been the olympus 770SW (or 720SW). seems the only choice for a fast fps ultracompact camera. add to that waterproof and shockproof. how can there be any other choice?

770s look to be pretty anemic on the fps front though (close to 1) and 3x zoom

I've been looking at the A710 as well. Any idea how shutter lag time is? I have an older digital so maybe this isn't even an issue anymore. My camera makes any action almost impossible. Even the dog standing still can move and I get a shot sans dog. Just an electronic viewfinder on mine is the other part of the problem.

L7- even with prefocusing? Prefocusing generally solves almost anyone's "shutter lag" problems.

A710 is mid-range for shutter lag time on point and shoots. Dpreview has the exact stats.

You don't see more fps for lower-res shots.

I'm using a fast SD card and can shoot a lot of shots before the buffer fills up fwiw ~8 seconds.

Quality of pics with higher ISO is actually not bad for a point and shoot.

Only gripe - i wish the multiple shots options would stay programmed when you turn the camera on and off. You have to reprogram that option every time.

Originally Posted by LeeLau

Only gripe - i wish the multiple shots options would stay programmed when you turn the camera on and off. You have to reprogram that option every time.

GAT.


655321

It's pretty old and prefocusing improves it but not that much it seems.

Thanks Leelau I'll check dpreview for that stat but couldn't find it when I looked before. (still can't find it)

I didn't see other cameras in that range with as much internal memory (21mg) that must speed up fps I would think. edt/ oops that might be the olympus has the 21 meg internal.

my limited understanding is that the internal memory is only the pics the camera itself can store and doesn't really have anything to do with the continuous shooting buffer.

Originally Posted by L7

It's pretty old and prefocusing improves it but not that much it seems.

Thanks Leelau I'll check dpreview for that stat but couldn't find it when I looked before. (still can't find it)

I didn't see other cameras in that range with as much internal memory (21mg) that must speed up fps I would think. edt/ oops that might be the olympus has the 21 meg internal.

L7 - take a look at this page http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona710is/page11.asp

Excellent, thanks. I guess I was just looking at news thinking the info belonged on the spec sheet.

Originally Posted by lemon boy

770s look to be pretty anemic on the fps front though (close to 1) and 3x zoom

harmp? 3.5fps at 3MP. that's pretty sweet for a P&S.

plus i didn't mention - besides being waterproof and shockproof it's also freezeproof.

i rarely use a zoom when skiing. i just tell my friends to ski right up to me!

Originally Posted by Ripzalot

i rarely use a zoom when skiing. i just tell my friends to ski right up to me!

Doh, I didn't see that, CNET said they could only get 1.4 out of it but that may not be @3mp.

As for the zoom...a lot of my ski shots are taken safe zone to safe zone with good close skiing being the exception rather than the rule. A little extra reach would be very welcome.

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Doh, I didn't see that, CNET said they could only get 1.4 out of it but that may not be @3mp.

As for the zoom...a lot of my ski shots are taken safe zone to safe zone with good close skiing being the exception rather than the rule. A little extra reach would be very welcome.

i hear ya. i think i've about convinced myself that i need a G7 for the big shots and a bit more zoom. i can't quite convince myself to go DSLR.

i'd be interested in hearing what you decide on. i'm about to pull the trigger on a 720 or a 770. and a G7 it seems...

Of course the G7 appears to have hardly more features than an A710IS few enough that it is hard to believe they're worth twice as much. Well other than the 3mp's extra My step brother has one and they're surprisingly big and heavy too. I'd be more tempted by a rebel than a G7 but then I'm back to having a fullsize camera which for me doesn't work b/c it'll always stay at home or in a pack instead of out adventuring

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Of course the G7 appears to have hardly more features than an A710IS few enough that it is hard to believe they're worth twice as much. Well other than the 3mp's extra My step brother has one and they're surprisingly big and heavy too. I'd be more tempted by a rebel than a G7 but then I'm back to having a fullsize camera which for me doesn't work b/c it'll always stay at home or in a pack instead of out adventuring

You need to look closer... the three extra MP is trivial. What does the G7 offer over the 710IS? 3 major categories:

1. Larger CCD sensor AND DIGIC III = lower noise and higher image quality especially in lower light and higher ISO

2. DIGIC III = lower shutter lag, more responsive operations and a 20% increase in framerate

3. Better user interface and controls and more custom functions

Of course the other things are more trivial like 3 extra MP, more powerfull internal flash, external flash mount, and various other minor points.

Originally Posted by Ripzalot

i too want a compact with high frame rates but there are not a lot of fast options. the best one i have found has been the olympus 770SW (or 720SW). seems the only choice for a fast fps ultracompact camera. add to that waterproof and shockproof. how can there be any other choice?

excellent cameras... their only shortcomings are lack of manual controls (or even aperture or shutter priority) and their small sensor sizes

I guess it seems to me like it doesn’t differentiate itself enough for ripz to buy that and a 770 instead of splitting the difference (A710) and then getting a DSLR if he really wanted to go big.

for ripz- did you see this: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=85451
?

Might make the trip to DSLR easier for you.

hey guys, thanks for the back and forth. you just hashed out some good stuff!

i was thinking an olympus 720/770 for my everyday ski camera, for the days i'd rather ski than take pics. something small that i can whip out and snap some turns and stow back in my pocket quickly. i rarely use the manual controls on my current S500 anyways. i would be curious to see some actual ski pics form anyone using one of these olympus cameras. are there any mags with a 720/770?

G7 vs DSLR - i like the idea of the G7 coz you get DSLR quality shots for a non-DSLR price. it's also more packable, almost pocketable. i just think i would take it and use it more often than a DSLR. that link does have a nice deal on a 350D, but i still dont think i would use it as much. and i would probably spend another grand on lenses.

Originally Posted by Ripzalot

i too want a compact with high frame rates but there are not a lot of fast options. the best one i have found has been the olympus 770SW (or 720SW). seems the only choice for a fast fps ultracompact camera. add to that waterproof and shockproof. how can there be any other choice?

Because the pictures look like a grainy, crunchy, washed-out bag of ass?

Seriously: that's why I always end up back with Canon. Even the cheapest Powershot has great automatic exposure, excellent color rendition, and is free of noise reduction artifacts. Plus they don't horribly oversharpen their images or overexpose their highlights like almost every other P&S.

Now if Canon could only build cameras that were as physically robust as my Fuji...I've had to warrant every Canon I've owned for E13/"Lens Error". Factory service has been wonderful and fixed or replaced my camera every time, so I buy them anyway...but it would be a lot easier for both of us if they could make a more robust lens mechanism.

spats, is that a broad swipe at all non-canon cams or are you specifically talking about the 770? or olympus even? got any samples?

i'm actually leaning towards a G7 only now. its not that big and the idea of two cams is wearing thin. i've still got two older powershots that are still quite usable. my s500 does get the intermittent e18 error tho.

Originally Posted by Ripzalot

spats, is that a broad swipe at all non-canon cams or are you specifically talking about the 770? or olympus even? got any samples?

i'm actually leaning towards a G7 only now. its not that big and the idea of two cams is wearing thin. i've still got two older powershots that are still quite usable. my s500 does get the intermittent e18 error tho.

I love my G7.

I stuff it into the smallest little neoprene case I could find and sling it across my chest with the camera resting in my armpit for skiing. Simply unzip the jacket and pop the camera out.

Shoting in manual with the thumb dial and one button to set shutter and apreture is amazing. The in camera meter seems to work pretty good for me in getting the right exposure. The dial for flicking between iso is nice. It's wonderful not having to use menus to get things dialed for a shot. the faster you can be set up and shooting the more pictures you'll take. The only time I find it "bulky" is if I want to bring it to dinner or the pub or something like that. Someone else had asked in another thread and I posted some shots from it. Check out shirk.smugmug.com for my pictures. Anything since mid december is shot on the G7.