High ISO vs slow shutter speed, and click-to-capture delay..

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.dcameras (More info?)

KILOWATT" <kilowatt"nospam typed:

> Hi everyones. Thanks to read.
> I'm new to digital photography. I'm familiar and work easily since 3
> years with graphics apps like PaintShop Pro to restore photos and
> make animated GIFS, but photography itself is not what i'm familiar
> with. In may or june, i plan to buy my first digicam so i started to
> do my homework and checked the specs and infos about many cameras.
> Among the interesting URLs i've found, those are worth mentioning:
> http://www.epinions.com/Digital_Cameras
> http://www.dpreview.com/
>
> Among the features i wanted, an higher than 3x optical zoom was the
> starting point for my search. In the consumer side cameras, there's a
> limited range to choose from. The two models that seems to meet my
> needs and that i've retained on my wishlist yet are the DX6490 from
> Kodak and the coolpix 5700 from Nikon. Ok now to go to the point,
> there's four questions yet that i need to clarify. First, about the
> ISO rating. If i understand correctly what i've read on the subject
> yet, if i have a camera that can shoot at an higher ISO equivalent,
> the shutter speed then don't have to be slower, so photos i take in
> darker areas (like at dusk outside,for example) have a better chance
> of success even if i dont use a tripod and my hands moves a little
> during capture...isn't it? If i'm perfectly stand still...can i make
> also a very good picture in a darker place just by using slower
> shutter speed rather than a high ISO setting? I've read that there's
> an increase in noise in the image on almost all cameras when an
> higher ISO like 800 or even 400 is used. Unfortunately on the Kodak
> web site, the sample photos from the DX6490 where shot with ISO
> settings between 80 and 200 ISO (as seen in the metadata from the
> samples) so of course all the photos looks very good...they want to
> show the best of their products...not the worse! :-) Anyone can point
> me somewhere with a URL toward some high-ISO samples from those
> models. I want to see how bad is the noise at that level.
>
> Second question, what is considered "good" speaking of the click to
> capture delay? In 2003, a friend bought the Pentax Optio 430RS and
> there was a huge delay (1½~2seconds) from the time the button is
> depressed and that the image capture occurs. I dont speak about the
> time that the sample appears on the LCD screen (wich is longer!) but
> really speak about the time from when the button is depressed and
> when the photoflash is triggered. Even in a full daylight scene
> without the flash, the delay seems to be the same. Kodak states that
> the click to capture delay is .65 seconds for the DX6490. Is this
> considered "good" or "standard" for most consumer digicams?
>
>
> Third question is more simple to ask (although maybe not easy to
> answer!). What are the effects of using the camera in the cold
> outside? In mean cold like 5°F (-15°C). Most are equipped with LCD
> screen that bears the description of "Low-temp. polysilicon TFT
> LCD"...but this doesn't tell what is the operating temperature range
> of the whole camera, a thing Kodak and Nikon doesn't specify for this
> model.
>
> Last question is about power. The DC input jack that the DX6490 is
> having on it's side (like many other cameras)...what it's used for
> exactly? It is to power the digicam, to recharge the battery or both?
> I ask because if in a few years from now the battery may becomes rare
> to find like it's the case for many "old" electronic equipment. I
> woul like then to power the camera from an external battery/voltage
> regulator assembly. I did that for a friend for it's camcorder. The
> original Ni-Cad battery pack was rare and very expensive to replace,
> so i designed a system for him consisting of and external inexpensive
> 6 Volts sealed lead-acid battery attached to a belt clip, and a
> charger for the battery. He now have 4 times the amp/hour capacity he
> had before with the original battery pack. If an "old" digicam can be
> powered by an external AC/DC adapter plugged to the DC input jack,
> then the same design could be used.
>
>
> No more questions for now. Still there!! Thanks a lot in advance for
> any useful replies.

See this review of Canon S1 IS - at the bottom you'll se a night shots with
all ISO settings. Normally higher than 200 is not usable. Generally, instead
of increasing ISO, rather slow down shutter speed. However, for this it's
better to use a stand. (or above mentioned canon has digital image
stabilizer - works superb!! I can shoot from hand at 10x optical zoom and
even at combined optical-digital=32x zoom). In cold weather - all i can say
is don't use a camera with Lithium batteries, since they die at -5 degrees
C. You can restore their power by putting them into pocket for a while,
though.
DC input is just what it says - if you buy extra power adapter, you can
shoot without batteries, just with it. However, you're attached to a cord...
And don't use NiCd - use NiMH batteries. Way higher capacity (AA size up to
2300 mAh). Of course, external lead-acid has more capacity, but is also
heavy and clumzy for carrying around, except if you're shooting at one
place. Normally it's best to have two packs of batteries - one you charge,
other you use - fast chargers (1 hour) and car chargers are widely
available.
Oh, the link:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s1-re...