Shutter speed is not shutter lag. Shutter lag is what you think it is, the time from when you press until it happens. You can usually reduce it drastically by holding the shutter button down half way, which lets the camera auto focus & take the meter reading that determines the shutter speed and aperture that will be used. Try that, because pressing from no pre focus requires those things to have to be done before the photo gets taken. You might find the lag almost negligable with the focus locked by the half press...

Thanks for your reply (I'm going to apologize because my period button on my computer doesn't work - so no sentence will appear ended ) Anyway - Do compact cameras have that functionality - pushing the button down halfway, or is that just on SLRs? I ask because I don't think my elf can do that And, I guess, I have another question - I'm often trying to take pictures of my kids, quick/on-the-fly and rarely posing that's why the lag thing is such a pain; the picture is gone before I can even take it So, given that issue - Any recommendations for cameras?..

Hi, I think many compact digital cameras do have this option to press the shutter buttom half-way down e.g. to let the focus stay on the wished subject while composing the picture. But I don't know if it is possible with your camera.

Usually (D)SLRs have a shorter power-on time and shutter lag than compact ones, but there are some high end compact cameras which are almost as quick as DSLRs. I've only read about that in severals reviews. When I compare shutter lag of my father's Kodak compact camera and my EOS 1D - there are worlds between them... ^^'.

Years ago I had a 2MP-compact digital camera and sold it for a film SLR, because it was so slow... When you want to take "action" shots (your kids in action ^^) I would recommend a DSLR or you read some reviews on compact cameras which tell you about their shutter lag to find out the right camera for you...

I appreciate the input - I am looking to buy a new camera, but I think a compact one is best for us for now,,, the size is a plus..

I have the same issue. I'd like a compact camera this can quickly take an unplanned shot. Unfortunately it looks like I have to read many reviews as no one seems to have shutter lag and flash recharge rates in a way that you can compare them on many cameras at once...