How can I reduce shutter lag on a Canon EOS 400D/XTi for timing-triggered finish-line photos?
Asked 4/22/2015
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I’m using a Canon EOS 400D/XTi with an external shutter-release trigger for pinewood derby finish-line photos. The camera is already set to manual exposure and manual focus, and I want the shortest possible delay between the trigger signal and the actual exposure. Mirror lockup doesn’t seem practical because it needs an extra press each time. Are there any other camera settings that significantly reduce shutter lag, or is the best solution to compensate for the camera’s built-in delay another way?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
3
I think that you are doing most if not all of the right things to ensure that you are capturing the image in camera as fast as possible. The obvious ones you have done; turn off AF and use manual mode. Beyond that I would look at your shutter release methods.
It sounds like the sensor is may be placed at "the finish line", where as it might benefit your situation to place the sensor slightly ahead of that location. I'm not fluent in physics, but I'd imaging a pinewood derby model car can only go so fast and it could be calculated exactly how far ahead to place the sensor for the desired shot. You also would either want to calculate or lookup the shutter lag that is inherently built into your DSLR. Quite a few camera reviews already offer this information that can be easily found on the internet.
Finally, you didn't mention what particular shutter release device you are using, but I would consider some of the other options that may work better or provide additional functions to improve your results:
- Triggertrap
- MIOPS
- Anyone else can edit and add more if desired...
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
With the 400D/XTi, you’ve already done the main camera-side things: manual focus and manual exposure. There isn’t much else to disable that will dramatically reduce shutter lag. Mirror lockup can help, but it needs a separate press, so it’s usually not practical for repeated race triggers.
The bigger issue is the camera’s built-in shutter lag. Community measurements put the XTi at roughly 116 ms normally and about 66 ms with mirror lockup. At typical pinewood derby speeds, that means the car may travel several inches after the sensor is triggered before the photo is actually taken.
So the most effective fix is usually not a hidden camera setting, but moving the trigger sensor slightly before the finish line to compensate for the known lag. You can estimate the needed offset based on car speed and test it in practice. A wider lens can also help ensure all cars are still in frame.
If you need more precise capture than the XTi can provide, a camera with video recording may be a better tool, since you can extract the exact frame later. Also, if your battery is very old, replacing it is worth trying, though the main limitation is still the camera’s inherent lag.
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AI11y ago
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