Shutter lag issue with flash

[Richartist]

Hi, on my GR4 I am facing a shutter lag when using the flash in auto-flash setting. The camera is always fast exept when using the flash in auto-flash mode and it doesn't have the lag when using the manual flash.

So:
When taking a normal pricture (P or other, no flash):
I partial press the shutter-release button
GR4 focuses (beeps, green light), takes 0,1-0,2 seconds
Full press the shutter-release
Very short mechanical sound (like a diafragm fix) and the shutter goes directly after the full press.


When taking a flash pricture (P, auto flash):
I partial press the shutter-release button
GR4 focuses (beeps, green light), takes 0,1-0,2 seconds (so far all the same)
Full press the shutter-release
Same very short mechanical sound
Camera seems to think for 0,5 second
Flash & shutter go

I tried several settings but only the manual flash does not lag. As I take people & scenes and the nearest people are my family and the scenes are the dark (Dutch )days around New Year I am obliged to use the flash sometimes. The shutter lag makes the camera too slow for children scenes when trying to use the "auto" flash. I am using the manual flash now that performs very well I must say, but I would rather use shutter or diafragm priority and let the camera handle the flash. It is too slow handling it though.

Asking Ricoh (Germany) got me some fast but confusing reply's about the focus and snap-focus, I think they did not quite understood my question...

So do other GR4 owners share this experience (I am using latest firmware, very fast SD and tried other SD's) or can someone at least confirm this as "normal" for the GR4. It feels weird for me as the camera is so fast without flash or when using the manual flash.

Thanks & regards,
Richard

 

[oxideblu]

Don't know if this applies to your problem, from the release notes for the GRD4 v1.17:

1 Improved flash firing for backlight conditions when the flash is set to [Auto].

Does that sound like something that would apply to you situation?

 

[odklizec]

Hi oxideblu. We are discussing this issue in more details here:
viewtopic.php?f=66&t=7760

It seems Richard is already running his GRDIV on 1.17, but the problem is related also to GRDIII (I have yet to test the GRDI/II). I already sent a question about this issue to my contact in Ricoh so now we have to wait for the answer. My best guess is that it has something to do with the pre-flash?