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Canon PowerShot S40

A new shape, sleek design, direct support for a Canon inkjet printer, and four megapixels of resolution!

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Page 7:Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests
Review First Posted: 10/1/2001

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 S40 Timings

Operation Time
(secs) Notes

Power On -> First shot 4.4
Average to a bit faster than average.

Shutdown 2.3
Pretty fast. (This is time to retract lens. Allow longer if file being saved to card, before card can be removed.)

Play to Record, first shot 2.0
Pretty fast.

Record to play 8.7/2.7/1.3
Longer time is for max res JPEG, immediate switch to quick review. Middle time is for quick review, with camera already done saving image to card. Shortest time is for momentary auto preview directly following shutter release.

Shutter lag, full autofocus 0.7/0.78 Faster than average. (Average is 0.8-0.9)

Shutter lag, manual focus 0.41 Faster than average. (Average is about 0.5)

Shutter lag, prefocus 0.07 Blazingly fast. (Average is about 0.3)

Cycle time, large/fine files 2.12 Very fast, max speed maintained for ~5 shots. (Large buffer.) Then slows to ~6.5 seconds between shots.

Cycle time, small/basic files 1.57 Quite fast, buffer never seems to fill.

Cycle time, RAW files 2.3/9 Very fast (!) for RAW files. First time is for first 3 shots, then longer time required for buffer to "drain" between shots.

Continuous mode 1.00/5.8
(1.0 fps) First time is for first five shots, then slower after buffer is full.

Continuous mode, "H" mode 0.48/5.1
(2.1 fps) First time is for first three shots, then slower after buffer is full.

Continuous mode, "H" mode
(Small/Basic file size) 0.41
(2.41 fps)
Slightly faster in small/basic mode, but buffer length extends to 65 frames before you have to wait.

Overall, the S40 is a surprisingly fast camera, particularly so considering its 4 megapixel resolution. Shutter lag is about as good as it gets for consumer-level digicams, and shot to shot times are excellent. What's more, the camera apparently has a large buffer memory, as it can capture as many as 5 large/fine ("Superfine" in Canon's parlance) files at maximum speed without having to wait for the buffer to empty. Very impressive, this would be a great camera for people interested in capturing fast-paced action.

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PowerShot S40 Timings
Operation	Time (secs)	Notes
Power On -> First shot	4.4	Average to a bit faster than average.
Shutdown	2.3	Pretty fast. (This is time to retract lens. Allow longer if file being saved to card, before card can be removed.)
Play to Record, first shot	2.0	Pretty fast.
Record to play	8.7/2.7/1.3	Longer time is for max res JPEG, immediate switch to quick review. Middle time is for quick review, with camera already done saving image to card. Shortest time is for momentary auto preview directly following shutter release.
Shutter lag, full autofocus	0.7/0.78	Faster than average. (Average is 0.8-0.9)
Shutter lag, manual focus	0.41	Faster than average. (Average is about 0.5)
Shutter lag, prefocus	0.07	Blazingly fast. (Average is about 0.3)
Cycle time, large/fine files	2.12	Very fast, max speed maintained for ~5 shots. (Large buffer.) Then slows to ~6.5 seconds between shots.
Cycle time, small/basic files	1.57	Quite fast, buffer never seems to fill.
Cycle time, RAW files	2.3/9	Very fast (!) for RAW files. First time is for first 3 shots, then longer time required for buffer to "drain" between shots.
Continuous mode	1.00/5.8 (1.0 fps)	First time is for first five shots, then slower after buffer is full.
Continuous mode, "H" mode	0.48/5.1 (2.1 fps)	First time is for first three shots, then slower after buffer is full.
Continuous mode, "H" mode (Small/Basic file size)	0.41 (2.41 fps)	Slightly faster in small/basic mode, but buffer length extends to 65 frames before you have to wait.