Auto focus?

I was looking at cameras at Best Buy yesterday and when I took pictures with it, I could press it a bunch of times without stopping and it would take all those pictures. When I looked at the Canon Rebel XTi and the D40x, I had to press it down once to focus is and then I could take it. Why was that?

Sort of like when I was looking through the viewfinder deal it was already focused but when I looked through the other ones it wasn't so I had to press it down once to get it focused. My question is just why is that and/or what is that?

There are three basic auto focus modes on all DSLRs.

1. When the shutter is pressed the camera will autofucus and the focus is then locked and the shutter releases.

2. Continous focus where the camera constatly tries to keep the subject in focus and the shutter can be released any time.

3. Manual focus, where you have to move the focus ring, but the camera should give an indication in the viewfinder when it thinks the subject is in focus.The shutter can be released anytime.

I did not realize that there is a "Best Buy" branded dSLR.

It sounds lush! Tell us more!

I am not sure what you mean. All, or nearly all auto focus cameras have two stage shutter button. You can press it half way to focus and wait, then finish pressing it down to shoot when the picture is composed, or you can press it all the way and shoot immediately, as soon as focus is locked (and the two cameras you named are very good at fast and accurate focusing). Maybe you just weren't pressing the button all the way down? Or camera was in mode other than "Program" or "Auto"?

Most cheap cameras are fixed focus. They usually have an aperture of f/8 or less and can't take clear pictures closer than 4 or 5 feet.

The camera(s) that you tried to use may not have been set in BURST mode. So it's one shot at a time mode unless it's set in continuous mode.