Is there a setting I can change my camera to so that I don't have a delay in picture taking??

This is a common situation with almost all point-and-shoot cameras. The delay is because the camera has to do so much when you push the button. Bulkier and more expensive SLRs eliminate the delay by having more hardware to handle the various tasks.

You can reduce the delay by anticipating the action. If you know where the action is going to happen (a child blowing out the candles on a cake, or right in front of a soccer goal, for example) aim the camera there and press the shutter button halfway and hold it there. This meters the exposure and focuses the lens. Then when the action finally happens, press the shutter button the rest of the way. With the camera having done most of the work when you pressed the button halfway, there will be much less delay.

Again, the delay is a basic "feature" of the camera design. It can't be completely eliminated, but by pressing the shutter release halfway it can be reduced.

Don't know what exactly the issue is, but digital cameras these days all have a setting to adjust the aperture. If a picture is dark, you can change the setting to have the aperture open for longer (this lets more light in). It wouldn't be an automatic setting, unfortunately, but this is something you have to do anyways when its dark outside and you are taking pictures at night. Just make sure you steady the camera (if the aperture is open for very long, then you may need a tripod) when taking the picture or else it will be blurry.

This is a common situation with many compact point&shoot cameras. The camera has to do a lot of work between the time you press the shutter release button and it takes the picture; set the focus, meter the light and set the exposure, switch from showing the real-time image on the LCD to capturing and storing a single image, and more. Larger, heavier, and more expensive DSLRs have additional hardware to reduce this "shutter lag" to nothing, compact cameras don't.

There is something you can do to reduce the time, however. If you know where the action is going to happen (a kid getting ready to blow out the candles on a cake, for example), press the shutter release button halfway to focus and meter. Hold the button there until the action happens, then press it the rest of the way. This lets the camera get most of the work done before taking the picture.

This is a common situation with compact point&shoot cameras. Between the time you press the shutter release button and it takes a picture, it has a lot to do. It has to find the subject and focus on it, meter the light and set the exposure, perhaps set the white balance, and other things. Larger, more powerful (and more expensive) DSLRs have more powerful processors and additional hardware to speed up the process.

One way you can reduce this shutter lag is to press the shutter release button halfway to focus and meter before you need the picture. Keep the shutter button pressed halfway until the action hits its peak, then press it the rest of the way.

This is a common situation with compact point&shoot cameras. Between the time you press the shutter release button and it takes a picture, it has a lot to do. It has to find the subject and focus on it, meter the light and set the exposure, perhaps set the white balance, and other things. Larger, more powerful (and more expensive) DSLRs have more powerful processors and additional hardware to speed up the process.

One way you can reduce this shutter lag is to press the shutter release button halfway to focus and meter before you need the picture. Keep the shutter button pressed halfway until the action hits its peak, then press it the rest of the way.

press the flower button next to the ok button look at screen when u see pf in the lower left corner it is on this will stop the delay's

Hi Susan, and welcome to FixYa-
I have had the exact problem that you are describing, albeit a different make and model of camera. Here's how I solved my issue:
I grabbed the nearest heavy object and smashed the camera....
No, but seriously, try this:
The S700 has the standard "Scene Selector" knob on the top. Make sure that this is NOT pointed toward (set to) the "Self Timer" option. The icon for this, on the camera's body, looks similar to the "Auto" setting icon.
The S700 has 3 timer modes: a 10 second delay, 2 second delay and a "Double" mode wherein the camera waits 10 seconds, takes one picture then, after an additional 2 second delay, will take a second picture. The delay must be selected by the user and will appear in your LCD viewing screen. Prior to taking a test picture, look in the display screen to see if any numbers appear. If you see any, you know that the camera is in the Self Timer mode. Simply rotate the button on top of the camera to the "Auto" icon and you'll be all set.
Good luck, and let us know how you go!

There is a small delay after you click a picture so as to enable the camera to focus properly. If you force click then the photo will be out of focus. If the delay is too long then you have to check the settings to see if the self timer is not enabled .
Regards.
plz. Don't forget to rate my suggestion..

You are probably causing the delay. When taking a picture, you should press the shutter button half-way and allow the camera to lock in the focus (it will beep) then press the rest of the way.

are you using mirror lock-up or live-view feature?