40-shot burst? At what setting?

[Crazified]

Why do I read all of these claims that the 1D Mark II has a buffer size (in JPEG mode) of 40 frames when my camera only has a maximum of 23 (at the highest JPEG setting?) Shouldn't all of these reports put an asterisk next to that number which translates to, "*at a crappier JPEG setting?"

[tpinchback]

What ISO were you shooting at?

[Jackal]

I've shot my 350D on burst (3 shots a second) for 40+ shots at full jpeg quality. I just stopped after 40 because I was wasting shutter life :\. Could have kept going, though.

I have a lexar 80x 1gb card.

The card has alot to do with it if I am not mistaken.

[transcend]

I've shot my 350D on burst (3 shots a second) for 40+ shots at full jpeg quality. I just stopped after 40 because I was wasting shutter life :\. Could have kept going, though.

I have a lexar 80x 1gb card.

The card has alot to do with it if I am not mistaken.

wasting shutter life???

[Jim_T]

I've shot my 350D on burst (3 shots a second) for 40+ shots at full jpeg quality. I just stopped after 40 because I was wasting shutter life :\. Could have kept going, though.

I have a lexar 80x 1gb card.

The card has alot to do with it if I am not mistaken.

Wow.. The 20D can only do 23 frames.. I guess they put a whole lot more buffer memory in the 350D..

[caesars0331]

For the 350

Drive modes
• Single
• Continuous: 3.0 fps up to 14 JPEG / 4 RAW frames *
• Self-timer 10 secs (3 sec with mirror lock-up)

From dpreview.com

[FlyingPete]

Wow.. The 20D can only do 23 frames.. I guess they put a whole lot more buffer memory in the 350D..

With the same card that 40 shots was done on, the 20D will also go beyond its limit. The limit is the size of the frame buffer itself, it does not take into account space freed up whilst the buffer is being cleared to the card, the faster the card, the faster this happens, the further you will be able to go beyond the frame limit.

BTW, this is only applicable to DIGIC2 cameras that can clear the buffer whilst shooting (20D/350D).

[pcasciola]

23 large JPEG frames is the physical size of the 20D buffer. In actuality, the buffer is clearing at the same time you are filling it, so I typically get between 35 to 40 at 5 fps before I am slowed down at all. The 350D buffer is a little smaller, but since it is only shooting 3 fps, I can see 40-50 continuous being entirely possible, maybe even limitless at 3 fps.

Ooops, I see FlyingPete beat me to it.

[defordphoto]

Why do I read all of these claims that the 1D Mark II has a buffer size (in JPEG mode) of 40 frames when my camera only has a maximum of 23 (at the highest JPEG setting?) Shouldn't all of these reports put an asterisk next to that number which translates to, "*at a crappier JPEG setting?"

There are alot of variables that control that number. Shutter speed, ISO, AF mode and lens, etc. I've way over 23 in a burst without the camera even blinking twice. The 20D and XT claims of 40 continuous is true, but not at full speed.

And, of course there were some people that just had to hold down the button on a MKII until it quit and it was way more than 40 continuous frames. And of course, once it has to wait for the buffer to empty the 8.5 fps figure is tossed out the window, but it will continue shooting.

The camera reads 23 in the viewfinder, but once you start hammering out the shots the buffer empties quite quickly and you meet that 40 frames that is fact, not a claim.

[pcasciola]

Jim, just curious, but at the 5 fps setting, how many cotinuous RAWs can the 1D Mk II take?

[defordphoto]

Jim, just curious, but at the 5 fps setting, how many cotinuous RAWs can the 1D Mk II take?

Dunno. Never tried it.

[tim]

Don't forget the 350D is like 2.5fps and the 20D is 5fps, so it's crippled software slowing the 350D down, not the limitations of the memory card. The 20D will get take more photos in a given period of time, but then has to slow when its buffer's full. The 350D might not slow down, it's because the buffer empties itself to the CF card as quickly as the shots are taken.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I've been shooting the MkII for just about a year,..

I've never run out of buffer.... and I doubt I've ever even come close.

[FlyingPete]

...so it's crippled software slowing the 350D down, not the limitations of the memory card...

Not necessarily, there are some mechanicals there that also have to keep up, such as the mirror fire and return. A 350D and 20D's shutter mechanisms sound completely different, there is more than software to that.

[tim]

Good point Pete, but they're deliberately cripped the 20D, which is reasonable for what the camera's meant for. That 20D's pretty loud sucker, I wonder how it'd go at a wedding or such, during the ceremony. Only one way to find out I guess!

[pcasciola]

Ok. I realize I am a complete geek for doing this, but we talked about it at work and thought it would be fun to do anyway, and this is a gearhead forum after all. :D

This should dispel any rumors about what the 20D can or can't do as far as 40-50 shots bursts. Again, 23 is just the physical buffer size. The images can be offloaded from the buffer very quickly, resulting in a 40-50 shot buffer even in large-fine JPEG.

I just finished a 50 shot burst with my 20D at full speed (5 fps), using the 50/1.8 and the largest JPEG setting. 50 shots in exactly 10.81 seconds.

Here is shot #1 (1:00.02)
http://www.casciola.com/pics/20Dseq/_MG_9079.JPG

Here is shot #50 (1:10.83)
http://www.casciola.com/pics/20Dseq/_MG_9128.JPG

And here is the entire sequence (Warning: 500K JPEG)
50 shot 20D burst (http://www.casciola.com/pics/50_shots.jpg)

[Titus213]

And I was told the 20D didn't shoot video either....

[bigrob]

And I was told the 20D didn't shoot video either....

LOL :D

[Skip Souza]

Ok. I realize I am a complete geek for doing this, but we talked about it at work and thought it would be fun to do anyway, and this is a gearhead forum after all. :D



Yeah you are a geek. I loved it.
I think that there are two basic types on this forums, the artists like my wife and the gearheads/techno nuts like me who occasionally have moments of artistic adequacy.
Again I loved it, and it looked good too.