Just bought a Sony HX60 and I'm feeling deflated?

I think this camera is pretty unresponsive and slow to take consecutive single shots and more so when using the flash. I want a quick taking camera as I have a 4year old and a 2year old so need to be fast to get a good photo.Think my sisters iPhone would take photos quicker.Think image quality is fine.

I would say that the speed of operation is something that doesn't get reviewed or talked about all that much. Here's a link to a review site that does report on the speed of the camera's operation: http://www.imaging-resource.com/

The HX60 is basically a point and shoot camera. Buyers are often fooled it into thinking that it's more than it really is. Manufacturers do this by designing bridge cameras to look similar to a real DSLR. However, as you're experiencing first hand, bridge cameras are nothing more than the sensor from a smartphone put into an impressive-looking body with poor performance and image quality.

To get a camera that meet or exceed your needs for quick focusing and quick photo taking, you need to get into a DSLR. A mirrorless camera will take the shot much quicker than any point and shoot will, however, no mirrorless can focus continuously on your subject like a DSLR.

If you were to get a Pentax K50, Canon Rebel series, or a Nikon D3xxx series, you would basically be going from a Hyundai to a BMW in terms of handling, performance and not to mention a huge increase in image quality too.

The recycling time of the flash would be a bit quicker, but if you were to buy an external flash, then the recycling times would be around 3 seconds per shot. The larger, external flashes have more initial power so on average it takes less to recycle for the next shot because you're often not outputting 100% of what the flash has the ability to do. Therefore you can often shoot consecutive shots with DSLRs.

The Pentax K50 is the most under-rated of DSLRs. Pentax is a real sleeper company as it's marketing and advertising is mere fraction of what Canon or Nikon do. However, their products are better built, lenses are as sharp, and you get far more features and capabilities. Take a look at the Pentax K50 at a local shop or read reviews at http://www.imaging-resource.com/

The speed of your camera is dependent on several factors. However, you mentioned that you are using flash. It takes time for any camera to recharge the flash between shots, especially if you are shooting in low light. Furthermore, if your batteries are not fully charged, it'll take more time to recharge the flash.

If you shoot in better light such that you don't need the flash, your camera will shoot photos as fast as you can press the shutter button.

In summary, you are blaming the camera but it's only operating normally. Some cameras with bigger batteries can charge the flash faster, but any camera will have some delay when using flash.

You have a great camera. Unfortunately you don't how to work under its limitations.

It's a point-and-shoot camera. All cameras like that suffer from severe shutter lag. Action shots are difficult to get using this type of camera but it's not impossible. All you need is a large amount of determination and patience combined with a fair amount of anticipation and the discipline to limit shooting under very ideal lighting situations only.