dleebrick Loc: Indian Land, South Carolina

Just curious if shutter lag is shorter when shooting in manual with manual focus as compared with shooting in auto with auto focus. Seems like there could be less camera activity prior to actual exposure in the first case than the second case. Or is the difference only measurable in microseconds?

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

generally it is only microseconds. Auto focus can take up the most time. Low light and night shots, I go to Manual focus because the camera in AF may spend lots of time searching or even never focus. Some say mirrorless is slower than DSLR. I have not noticed the lag difference. 99.9% of all point and shoot as well as cel phone cameras are mirrorless and they have minimal lag if any. A DSLR has the lag time of the mirror flying out of the way unless you lock the mirror up first. But you can't really do that shooting action shots. I'm guessing that Leica is the fastest. When I use older fully manual lenses (manually set F-stop and focus) on my Sony cameras, it seems to be only slightly faster than new fully auto lenses. I shoot mostly Mother Nature so lag isn't much of a problem.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

On my camera there is a setting for shutter lag.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you consider. 05 sec. a lag then there is lag. Generally the AF on better cameras is much faster than you can do manually with a scarce few exceptions.
Personally I find pressing the shutter part way and getting instant focus and getting the shot far quicker than anyone could manually focus and trip the shutter in that sequence.
I don't generally shoot in near total darkness but this past week got near instant AF even in a near totally dark gun powder magazines of a fort. I couldn't have done it as quickly or as accurate in manual because of the darkness.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Years ago, it seemed that the cheaper the camera, the more shutter lag you got. Today, it seems like auto focusing in dim lighting will increase shutter lag. But, as one pro explained it, it's not really shutter lag. First, the camera must focus, and that's what takes time. Actuating the shutter is virtually instantaneous. Focus manually, and you won't have shutter lag. On the other hand, can you focus faster than the camera can?

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

For Canon 5DIV, in the "Anti-flicker" (mode) "If (Enable) is set the shutter release time lag may become longer or continuous shooting speed may become slower". I'm not sure how many Canon cameras have this feature for shooting in fluorescent lighting. Even shooting in the "anti-flicker" mode I have not noticed any lag other than the occasional (rare) low-light attributed shutter lag. Fire for effect! JimmyT sends

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...curious if shutter lag is shorter when shooting in manual with manual focus as compared with shooting in auto with auto focus..."

dleebrick "shutter lag" is of concern to those who shoot narratives involving dynamic motion... i.e. sports, dance etc.
Those who do so commercially have mastered this by carefully choosing a camera which can achieve auto focus quickly (this is one of the compelling reasons why high end "Pro" bodies command such high prices) Commercial shooters of Sports, dynamic motion and such have also come to realize that Image Stabilization, or Vibration Reduction is absolutely the worst feature to have on a lens... they will disable it since it has a HUGE impact on the speed at which their cameras can lock focus...

What this means is if you have Image Stabilization set to on it may dramatically increase shutter lag...

you list a Canon 80D, EF-S 10-22, 18-55, 18-135, 55-250 as your kit... This likely would not be considered ideal for one shooting sports at the commercial level... enough said...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey dleebrick

dleebrick Loc: Indian Land, South Carolina

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful comments. I hadn't considered IS as a contributor to shutter lag. I learn something every day!

Stephan G

Sometimes it depends on the flight.

Oh, excuse me. You meant shutter release. Not the shutter release-er! Sorry, one of those senior moments.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Let’s just say if you use a 50mp camera with noise reduction, a picture style etc. set and do a 5 second exposure of say fireworks at night, the camera will probably take 30 seconds to process that shot after the shutter closes after having taken the shot.
Not sure that’s technically shutter lag but you cannot take another shot till the camera is ready for at least a 1/2 a minute!!!
SS

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Good comment!

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

To further elaborate, it is possible to set a 1 second or more lag, presumably to allow for vibrations caused by pressing the shutter release, to fade away or for the photographer to move into the field of view.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Are you referring to the self-timer? Usually shutter "lag" has a negative connotation

MauiMoto Loc: Hawaii

There is a setting for either release priority or focus priority that will affect shutter lag.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

It takes about 300 mili seconds, from when decide to press the shutter release and you actually press that shutter. Thats a whole lot longer tan any shutter lag