PowerShot A85 Delay

[twistymcgee]

I have a Canon PowerShot A85 that I've had for a few years now. I have never been able to take good pictures with it if there was any motion because there's a delay between pressing the button to take the picture and the camera actually taking the picture. It's a bit annoying. I'd like to get rid of the delay. Does anyone know if it's possible to get rid this delay?

Thanks

[skeuos]

I think you're probably running into trouble with the autofocus - the camera has to take time to focus before it will shoot. You don't necessarily want to fix this, per se, but the way to overcome it is to focus ahead of time, and then be ready for the shot.

In order to do this, choose something that is very close to the same distance from you that your moving subject will be. Press the shutter button halfway, so the camera will focus on that. Don't press all the way, or you'll take a picture of that object - which might be interesting, but that's another topic for another day. Then - and here's the key - do not release the button. The camera will maintain that focal distance, and those exposure settings, as long as you hold the button down halfway. Continue to hold it down halfway until your moving subject comes by. Once the timing is right, press the button all the way down. The camera should take the shot almost instantly.

It'll take a few tries to get it to work, but it will work. I've had an A70, and currently have an A540. They both work the same way. Have fun!

[twistymcgee]

Thanks. That does help me out.

Can anyone point me to any good tutorials on how to take better pictures? I want to buy a new camera in the near future and would like to know how to properly take decent pictures before making a decision on an actual camera.