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Canon PowerShot G2

Canon updates their very popular G1 with a 4 megapixel CCD and improved color management.

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Page 7:Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests
Review First Posted: 08/16/2001

Shutter Lag/Cycle Times
When you press the shutter release on a digital camera, there's usually a lag time before the shutter actually fires. This time allows the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms to do their work and can amount to a significant delay in some situations. Since this number is rarely reported by manufacturers or reviewers, and can significantly affect the picture-taking experience, Imaging Resource now measures shutter lag and cycle times using a proprietary electronic test setup.

PowerShot G2 Timings

Operation Time (secs) Notes

Power On -> First shot 7.2
Time from power-up to first shot. Somewhat slower than average.

Shutdown 4.1
Time for lens to retract

Play to Record, first shot 3.2
Time until first shot is captured. Somewhat slower than average.

Record to play (max/min res) 8.8/3.1

2.3/1.3
Top times are for max res JPEGs, bottom times for min res. First time in each pair is for immediate switch to play mode after shutter release, second time is for switch after camera has processed the last frame and saved to memory.

Shutter lag, full autofocus 1.30 - 0.88 Longer time is for telephoto, shorter for wide angle. Both figures are a bit slower than average.

Shutter lag, manual focus 0.55 A bit slower than average.

Shutter lag, prefocus 0.095
MUCH faster than average. (Good for sports?)

Cycle Time, max/min resolution 2.3

2.1

3.7 First number is for large/fine files, second for small/economy. Last time is for full res CCD RAW files. (Delay of 5.0 seconds between second and third RAW shots though.) Overall, quite fast.
(NOTE - These times are slower than Canon's specs for this camera, we'll re-test when we receive our production unit.)

Cycle time, continuous mode 1.04/1.36 fps

2.46/2.68 fps Quite fast. First set of numbers are for max/min res in "normal" continuous mode, second set are the same for "high speed" continuous mode.

Overall, the PowerShot G2 is a just a shade slower than many of its contemporaries. It starts up and shuts down a bit slower, and the more critical shutter lag and cycle time numbers are a bit off those of its fastest competitors. Where it really shines though, is in the prefocus shutter delay, which is less than a tenth of a second, blazingly fast by any standard. - Despite its slower than average autofocus speed, the ultrafast prefocus shutter lag could make the G2 a contender for some sports shooting. (Provided that it was such that you could prefocus and let the action come to you.) Not bad overall though, particularly for a four megapixel camera. The 2.3 second cycle time for maximum resolution & quality is very competitive.

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PowerShot G2 Timings
Operation	Time (secs)	Notes
Power On -> First shot	7.2	Time from power-up to first shot. Somewhat slower than average.
Shutdown	4.1	Time for lens to retract
Play to Record, first shot	3.2	Time until first shot is captured. Somewhat slower than average.
Record to play (max/min res)	8.8/3.1 2.3/1.3	Top times are for max res JPEGs, bottom times for min res. First time in each pair is for immediate switch to play mode after shutter release, second time is for switch after camera has processed the last frame and saved to memory.
Shutter lag, full autofocus	1.30 - 0.88	Longer time is for telephoto, shorter for wide angle. Both figures are a bit slower than average.
Shutter lag, manual focus	0.55	A bit slower than average.
Shutter lag, prefocus	0.095	MUCH faster than average. (Good for sports?)
Cycle Time, max/min resolution	2.3 2.1 3.7	First number is for large/fine files, second for small/economy. Last time is for full res CCD RAW files. (Delay of 5.0 seconds between second and third RAW shots though.) Overall, quite fast. (NOTE - These times are slower than Canon's specs for this camera, we'll re-test when we receive our production unit.)
Cycle time, continuous mode	1.04/1.36 fps 2.46/2.68 fps	Quite fast. First set of numbers are for max/min res in "normal" continuous mode, second set are the same for "high speed" continuous mode.