delayed action

4.9

A camera setting that waits before taking a photo so you can join the picture

noun

: disparador retardado

Using the delayed action helps reduce camera shake when taking long exposure shots.

Examples

Using a delayed action feature can help capture special moments.
He set the camera to delayed action before joining the group.
He set the delayed action on the camera so he could run into the group photo.
Many digital cameras are equipped with a delayed action function for self-portraits.
The photographer set the camera on delayed action mode so he could join his friends in the group photo.
Using a delayed action feature, she ensured that she could pose with the sunset behind her.
He activated the delayed action setting on his camera before running to catch up with his family.

Antonyms

immediate

570 1.3

Happening at once without any delay

Surface Forms

delayed action singular

delayed actions plural

Morphology

delayed + action

The sense is directly compositional: 'delayed' = postponed and 'action' = an operation or mechanical movement, so 'delayed action' can be understood as an operation that happens after a delay (here, the shutter release). This adjective+noun composition is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents and the camera context will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Delayed action comes from the idea of making the camera wait a short time before it takes a photo. The camera's action is delayed so the photographer can 'appear in the picture' or avoid touching the camera and get a clear shot.