Originally posted by RiceHigh It is not the "limiting" factor, the time lags are *cumulative*. If human reaction time is at 150 ms at best and typical low end slow SLRs are of around 200ms (supposed AF has been achieved in advanced, or MF is in use), then the total time delay in taking the picture is 350ms.
For a high end SLR of 75ms, say the Nikon F3, the total lag time before the picture can be taken is 225ms, or 0.225s. In contrast, for a EOS Rebel which has a 200 ms system lag, the total lag time can be 0.350s, which is 40% more, even when you count also the human reaction time.
Furthermore, Pentax do have a special designed shutter release button to shorten the human reaction time, that can be found in the MZ-S. For anyone who is interested to find out, try out the MZ-S and compared to other Pentax (D)SLRs yourselves.
Finally, I think you should google for one more time, for the keywords of "EOS RT", then you will know why there have been such cameras were made!
I think everyone needs a refresher course in physical applications of what lag really is and how is doesn't accumulate.
Lag 1: Focus
Lag 2: Recognizing the opportune moment to take the shot
Lag 3: Actually hitting the shutter
Lag 3: time is takes for the pressure on the shutter to actually begin the real action
Lag 4: Time it take for the camera to do the math
Lag 5: Time it takes for the rest of the action to complete (mirrors, exposing the ccd, SR, etc.)
Lag 6: The camera reseting itself for the next shot
Okay some where between lag 3 and 6 you physically notice whats going on... not added to it. DUH! Come on simple stuff here.
Another interesting point for RH is the fact that humans become HYPERSENSITIVE to certain things that happen in a regular fashion. Lets say driving a car for instance. When you drive a race car around the track most of your day at 200mph and then that night you drive around town at 45mph you seem like you're driving 20mph. This effect happens to us on a constant basis. Like with photography, once you get used to a certain speed of things happening you notice a change from one camera to the next.
Example: My first digital camera was a Sony P3 and boy did it take a long time to take a shot. I finally upgraded to a istDL and it seemed like everything was instantaneous. Now I've upgraded to a K10 and that seems even faster than the istDL did, even more instantaneous! After months and months of taking pictures you will eventually become so used to the speed of things its the "norm" to you. Any change in either direction whether it be slower or faster seems EXTREMELY different. This is fact and cannot be disproved by RH or anyone related to him.
RH example: One who sits in the lab and hits the shutter 10 million times with one camera and then 10 million with the other will see a difference, but only because he's become adjusted to the one and not the other.
The K10 can't have a lag of more than .33333333 seconds plus or minus a hundreth of second here or there because it has a 3fps continuous shooting mode. How did I come up with this... 1 divided by 3 equals .3333 repeated. Technically any camera with a 3fps has at best a .3333 second lag.