How to reduce shutter lag (shutter delay)
When using the VersaTrigger in camera trigger mode to shoot fast dynamic images it is important that the shutter lag (delay) is optimised to be as short as possible. Looking at some web sites it would appear that each make/model of camera has a definitive shutter lag, some of which are ridiculously optimistic.
Here in the real world we know that some of these figures are not quite true and that shutter lag does not just vary between makes and models of camera but may also vary between models of the same camera.
Nowadays, most (if not all) DSLRs are processor controlled. This processor control provides many useful electronic functions, most are manually selectable but some are automatic dependant upon other settings and it may not be apparent that they are in use. The problem is that some of these functions impact on shutter lag, each one may add just a few milliseconds to the lag but very soon a few milliseconds becomes tens of milliseconds.
So, let’s assume that for a VersaTrigger shoot; we are using a camera mounted tripod, we know the type of lighting (xenon/LED/tungsten) and there probably is not a person/cat/dog in the image.
We can switch off:
Image stabilisation
Red-eye reduction
Automatic white balance - select the appropriate white balance to suit lighting
Automatic depth of field
Automatic exposure bracketing
Any sound effects (shutter etc)
Automatic face recognition
We can also try a half-press of the shutter button and see the effect this has on shutter lag. Ideally we need some method to quantify these results for future use, one way to achieve this would be to repeat the exact same image setup for all configurations (eg. Dropping an object from the same height using the same triggering method for all measurements). Another method would be to actually measure the shutter lag in milliseconds, this is where the VersaTrigger Shutter can assist.
Currently in use by professional studios and amateur photographers alike it will give you a better understanding of what is happening inside your camera.