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Shutter lag is the delay on cameras from when a photographer presses the shutter-release button to when the photo is taken. The concept is further complicated by two-stage shutter releases, where pressing the button down halfway (first-stage) focuses the camera and pressing it all the way down (second-stage) releases the shutter.
Shutter lag generally changes from camera to camera. Typically, the more expensive cameras have shorter shutter lags than their less expensive peers. High-end cameras for professionals may not have a noticeable shutter lag at all. For most camera users it helps to know and remember what the shutter lag is for each camera, so that, during operation, the shutter lag can be compensated effectively.
I learned a lesson several years ago while attending a Shelby open track event at the Streets of Willow race track. While I was off the track, I shot pictures of fellow racers and their cars. At this track event, I had brought a Canon EOS Rebel X, instead of my Canon EOS Elan IIe. (Why did I bring a lower-end camera? See my "Virtues of Cheap Equipment" article.)
I had been so used to the shutter lag on my primary camera, the Elan IIe, that I forgot the shutter lag on the Rebel X camera is a lot slower than the Elan IIe. This effect is demonstrated in the picture above. The front section of the red Audi TT is cut off due to the fact that I was using the shutter lag timing from my Elan IIe body. In other words, I pre-focused the lens to the distance you see in the image frame. I know that the vehicle is going to pass through that frame. And since all camera bodies have a certain shutter lag, I have to release the shutter before the vehicle enters the frame in order to capture the vehicle in the frame. Lesson learned here is to remember the different shutter lags on different cameras and compensate for them when switching between cameras.
The following chart shows lag specification for various cameras based on manufacturer specifications, or published sources with reliable credential. Reliable credential source: a source that publishes results closely matched to manufacturer specifications historically, without large deviation from manufacturer results. You may edit this table to update it with cameras that you know about.
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Canon EOS 10D | 80 ms |
180 ms |
150 ms |
> 2000 ms |
EOS Magazine
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
|
Canon EOS 1D | 55 ms |
300 ms |
87 ms |
EOS Magazine
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
||
Canon EOS 1D Mark II | 40 ms |
87 ms |
500 ms |
Canon Europe
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
||
Canon EOS 1Ds | 55 ms |
191 ms |
87 ms |
Between the maximum aperture and closing down three stops (excluding AF operation time). |
EOS Magazine
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
|
Canon EOS 1V | 55 ms |
191 ms |
87 ms |
EOS Magazine
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
||
Canon EOS 20D | 65 ms |
115 ms |
200 ms |
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights | ||
Canon EOS 5D | 200 ms |
EOS Magazine | ||||
Canon EOS Digital Rebel | 120 ms (1) |
2000 ms |
(1) Source did not provide specific details to how the lag was determined, so I assume it is nominal. | DigitalReview.ca | ||
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT | 100 ms (1) |
200 ms |
(1) Source did not provide specific details to how the lag was determined, so I assume it is nominal. | Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT White Paper | ||
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi | 100 ms (1) |
170 ms |
200 ms |
(1) Source did not provide specific details to how the lag was determined, so I assume it is nominal. | Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
CASIO EXILIM EX-P600 | Release: 10 ms |
CASIO USA mentioned a "shutter time lag" of 10 ms. It is most likely a mis-print, because this duration is the same as the release lag on other CASIO digital cameras. | CASIO USA | |||
CASIO EXILIM PRO EX-P700 | Release: 10 ms |
2000 ms | CASIO USA | |||
CASIO EXILIM EX-Z40 | Release: 10 ms |
CASIO USA | ||||
CASIO QV-R51 | Release: 10 ms |
CASIO USA |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n | 125 ms *** |
Kodak FAQ mentioned 125 ms maximum time. I suspect it is a nominal value based on data from SLR/n. | Kodak | |||
Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/n | 125 ms |
200 ms |
Kodak |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Nikon D2H | 37 ms |
80 ms |
Nikon USA
Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Olympus Camedia E-10 | < 100 ms (1) |
(1) Reported by Olympus America
(2) Reported by Olympus Europe |
Olympus America
Olympus Europe |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Ricoh Caplio RX | 120 ms |
Time required from pressing the shutter button to starting exposure in autofocus mode without using focus lock. | Ricoh Global |
Model | Shutter |
Shutter |
Mirror Blackout |
Startup Time |
Notes | Source |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 | Shutter: 260 ms |
SonyStyle Canada | ||||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P100 | Release: 9 ms *** |
SonyStyle mentioned a shutter lag of 9 ms. It is most likely a mis-print, since this time frame is very close to the release lag on other Sony digital cameras. | SonyStyle Canada | |||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P92 | 470 ms |
SonyStyle Canada | ||||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P93 | 300 ms |
SonyStyle Canada | ||||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 | Shutter: ~ 240 ms |
SonyStyle Canada | ||||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1 | 530 ms |
SonyStyle Canada | ||||
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1 | Shutter: 300 ms |
SonyStyle Canada |
* When full pressure is applied to partially depressed shutter button (pre-focused), or during manual focus mode.
** Shutter button is fully depressed from standing position.
*** My correction based on information from the source, see notes.
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