Continuous or One shot? how do you shoot?

[DStanic]

I'm not really into sports or anything that involves taking multiple shots in a row (one of the reasons why I didn't care if my XTi is only 3fps vs a 30D) but that's still faster then my old P&S by a long shot. So I leave my camera on One shot most of the time, so I don't accidentally take more pictures then I want and have to sort through them.

I'd like to hear what everyone else does. Don't care if you use a XT or a 1DmkIII.

[cdifoto]

Low speed continuous most of the time. Lets me pick up a burst if needed but at the same time it's easier to pop off one shot when it's 5 frames spread over a second than when it's 8 frames over the same second.

[Pete]

Whenever I need to. It's like an assult rifle. You don't need to waste the ammo, but sometimes to need a burst to get the effect you require...

[joayne]

Depends on what I am shooting.. Bird in flight? Continuous... Portrait? One Shot

[bwolford]

90+% of what I shoot is gymnastics. All continuous mode and the faster the better. 8.5FPS is wonderful...

The 10% is strobed for portraits, primarily with some natural light whenever possible.

[René Damkot]

I mostly use my 1D2 on 6 fps. I use single transport when I need the "quiet, delayed shutter". I set 8,5 fps when I need the speed. Continuous low: never.

[Jim G]

I have my 20D set to continuous but usually only fire off one frame at a time.. I like having it there on the rare occasion that I actually make use of the 5fps.

[oaktree]

Continuous for sports. One shot for everything else.

[galahad]

continuous on moving subjects and one shot for everything else.

[ryant35]

Whenever I need to. It's like an assult rifle. You don't need to waste the ammo, but sometimes to need a burst to get the effect you require...


It is like an assault rifle, but you can go into a menu and delete your spent rounds on your rifle.

I keep my camera on burst all the time, you never know if something happens that will require a burst. Occasionally I shoot 2 instead of one, but then I go back and delete it.

[aussieskier]

Whenever I need to. It's like an assult rifle. You don't need to waste the ammo, but sometimes to need a burst to get the effect you require...

That's my view on the subject as well. Scott (Timbernet) says I am still a film shooter at heart :lol:

[bkburns]

One shot when I can set it up. The less to PP/edit/discard the better. I use to shoot continuous mode quite a bit, but the extra post processing/editing was not worth it, and I used the continuous mode as a crutch.

Continuous mode sometimes:

when I am shooting my boys (4 and 6) with they have their full rough and tumble on, and I want the extra luck/ just perfect moment , or
when I want some extra chances of getting a no blur shot in a marginal light/movement shot and I haven't had time to set up or stabilize the camera as well as I would like.

[steved110]

I hate PP and if I spray and pray, I pay - in computer time, and see a drastic decrease in keepers.

These days I try to consider every shot before I press the shutter button.

In a way, going back to my film roots.

[kevin_c]

95% of the time 'one-shot' (I sometimes shoot trees!)

Even for equestrian event etc. I still usually shoot 'one shot' - I just get my timing right and don't have to wade through hundreds of shots to find the good ones...

[Perry Ge]

I shoot landscapes, portraits and birds primarily. All in one shot mostly. Spray and pray is not the answer. I'll use continuous for birds in flight and action, that's about it.

[airfrogusmc]

Train your eye and your reflexes. The decisive moment. Back away from the machine gun approach and use bursts only when you have to. It takes time and vision to shoot single frame especially when you are shooting fast moving subjects but if you take the time to do it you will rarely miss the shot and you wont take the chance of shooting through it missing it. Takes out the luck and puts the control in your hands.

[Blue Deuce]

10 fps is way better then sex !

[airfrogusmc]

Learning how to capture the decisive moment better than 20 frames.

[dave kadolph]

Always set on H.

But seldom used.

I hate PP

Prefer 1 shot 1 kill.

[bwolford]

I hate PP and if I spray and pray, I pay - in computer time, and see a drastic decrease in keepers.

These days I try to consider every shot before I press the shutter button.

In a way, going back to my film roots.

Interesting. Do you shoot sports? And just because someone is using a fast FPS doesn't mean it's spray and pray. Ask a pro sports photog how many shots they shoot vs sell. I suspect you'd think each was spraying and praying.

For non sports work with predictable motion or posing, I'd agree with you. I believe FPS vs one shot is really a style point.

[bwolford]

Learning how to capture the decisive moment better than 20 frames.

I've looked at some of your wonderful Urban Life and People images and you certainly capture the decisive moment. Nice work.

[airfrogusmc]

Oh Thanks....its a work in progress.:D:D

I think some folks don't take the time to learn to recognize the moment and expect the FPS to work it out for them. They keep wanting to get more FPS and think the equipment is going to make them a great photographer.

Good photographers use the FPS to their advantage and the great ones know just how to place a burst and where to be to get the right perspective on the action. Also know when to burst and when not to.

[bwolford]

Oh Thanks....its a work in progress.:D:D

I think some folks don't take the time to learn to recognize the moment and expect the FPS to work it out for them. They keep wanting to get more FPS and think the equipment is going to make them a great photographer.

Good photographers use the FPS to their advantage and the great ones know just how to place a burst and where to be to get the right perspective on the action. Also know when to burst and when not to.


100% behind you! I was a spray and prayer for a long time. I've learned to anticipate the action (difficult in my genre - gymnastics - when you don't know what the gymnast is going to do next) and my bursts are now shorter and fewer in between. Keeper rate has gone from 15-20% to 50-75%. Purely because a well placed burst gets the job done.

[oaktree]

Learning how to capture the decisive moment better than 20 frames.

While shooting NBA players, the decisive moment probably last about 1/10 second. So it's spray and pray all the way. I bet the pros on the floor are doing the same as we amateurs in the stands. However while I'm at 3 fps, they are probably doing 10 fps. I still take about 300 shots per game.

Just shot a dinner at a Chinese restaurant in One Shot and only just took 12 shots! :)

[jakegatchell]

I keep in on High 95% of the time. I work for a newspaper mostly so I have to get that one shot. Like this week we've been taking photos of every restaurant in town for a website they want to put together. The first day i got out at every place. Then the second day I rode with another guy and we just slowed down and hung out the window. So it's nice to shoot two or three photos quickly so we get the shot and can keep driving without causing a wreck of some sort.

[Cadwell]

One shot nearly all the time. I have no need for burst when shooting motorsport or other sports. If something interesting happens I can single shot the Mark II / Mark III at four frames a second or better which is fast enough to catch the action. The only exception is when shooting the sprint in canoe polo when I may drop the camera into burst mode if I am feeling lazy.

[sjones]

One shot, whether the subject is moving or static…and as Glenn noted, you can fire off two or three frames in single shot mode pretty quickly if needed…

[blackcap]

I'm a bit confused here. I always leave my camera in Continuous mode even though most of the time I only take one shot at a time. What's the benefit of One Shot mode given you can do this? I have a 350D which would be slower than higher end models. With those, is the camera too fast to shoot one shot in Continuous mode?

[condyk]

Personally, I am temperamentally and philosophically opposed to spray and pray ;-) but totally see its value in specific instances. I suppose the sensible thing to do would be to leave it in continuous mode just in case, but then you have to guard against relying on luck and just keepin' the bl**dy thing pressed. I don't see any right answer here. I enjoy the process of seeing, thinking and shooting as much (more!) than the results. If you enjoy the results more than the process then good luck to you.

[SkipD]

It wouldn't make one whit of difference to me if my 20D (or any future DSLR) came WITHOUT the ability to operate in machine-gun mode.

Over the years, I have taken several strings of multiple shots in rapid succession with my Nikon F cameras, and they required me to manually advance the film between shots. I even had to manually adjust the focus to follow the subject while doing all the rest of the manual stuff.

It's extremely easy to do a string of shots with my 20D if I ever find it necessary.

In my opinion, it's utterly stupid to leave a camera in machine-gun mode for everyday photography. I feel that method of working would lead the photographer to "hope" that the right image got caught rather than developing skills in timing his/her shots.

[Steve Parr]

If I'm doing a "3 and out" concert shoot, I'll burst 'em. Usually, though, I'm shooting one shot at a time...

[airfrogusmc]

It wouldn't make one whit of difference to me if my 20D (or any future DSLR) came WITHOUT the ability to operate in machine-gun mode.

Over the years, I have taken several strings of multiple shots in rapid succession with my Nikon F cameras, and they required me to manually advance the film between shots. I even had to manually adjust the focus to follow the subject while doing all the rest of the manual stuff.

It's extremely easy to do a string of shots with my 20D if I ever find it necessary.

In my opinion, it's utterly stupid to leave a camera in machine-gun mode for everyday photography. I feel that method of working would lead the photographer to "hope" that the right image got caught rather than developing skills in timing his/her shots.

I would rather the companies put the money into something other than FPS.

The PERFECT DSLR for me would be a very sturdy sealed body with manual only, spot meter (1%) no FPS just one frame at 1/125 or whatever shutter speed I've picked, 16 MPs or more, FF and I could us old FD manual focus lenses on....

[eigga]

High speed unless taking portratis or weddings.

Tapping the trigger most of the time to get 1 shot anyway but the choice is there if needed. (getting one shot from the Mark III is rather hard on H so far)

[collierportraits]

One shot. Portrait. Not much need for anything else...

[tonylong]

Well, to me it's not a big philosophical pro-con deal, it's what gets the best shots.

So, if I'm shooting in a relatively stable scenario, one-shot makes sense, because I don't have any use for 3-10 shots of a particular setting.

But, if I'm waiting for, say, an eagle to spread its wings and fly, I'll really love my continuous shot mode, wait until the right moment, then capture a sequence of sweet moments!

In other words, I really avoid the "my approach is better than your approach" way of thinking, because they both work for me!

[EnronRocks]

Spray and Pray baby!!!!!!!!11

[samnz]

One shot.

More smoother than trying to stab a single shot in continuous mode.

[DStanic]

In other words, I really avoid the "my approach is better than your approach" way of thinking, because they both work for me!

I hope nobody got the intention that this thread is about which is "better" than the other. Just wanted to see how people use it. They both have their purpose and while I am a "one shot shooter" there will be times that I switch to continuous. :)

[artyboy]

95% of the time one-shot - street/landscapes/candids/portraits. not much chance to shoot sports :( and no, 6fps is NOT better than sex!

[tonylong]

I hope nobody got the intention that this thread is about which is "better" than the other. Just wanted to see how people use it. They both have their purpose and while I am a "one shot shooter" there will be times that I switch to continuous. :)

Exactly, and I think that's the point of the exercise!

When I'm shooting wildlife, I'm usually in continuous mode, even if I only take one or two shots. I have to be ready for anything.

If I'm doing street photography, I'll switch back and forth, depending on the scene I'm trying to capture.

If I'm doing something static, of course one shot is all that's needed -- especially if I have high shutter speeds or am mounted on a tripod.

What I use most varies with what I am shooting!

[bobbyz]

Since I am stupid, I keep it on 8.5fps mode even for regular shooting (which for me is birds and sports). I can always shoot 1 shot (usuaully get 2) while in AI servo mode and high frame rate. Can't go other way around.

When portraits etc, 1 shot mode.

For folks who say 1 shot all the way with manual focus in between, it will be good to show some shots as proof. And how consistent you guys are in getting the peak action? Not that it can't be done. People have been shooting birds/sports before AF and high frame rate cameras.

[drewman]

Still shots like landscape and architecture, one shot. Most anything else I usually always fire off at least 2, if not a lot more to catch the right moment. I wouldn't call it spray and pray, but with a blink of an eye you can miss the opportune moment to get the photo you want ;)

[Mark_Cohran]

One shot usually - I'm usually shooting people in none fast moving environments.