burst mode vs. single shot

[elbirth]

Something I've been wondering for a while and have kept my eye open for a mention of it somewhere, but haven't really seen a discussion on it...
I always keep my 20D in burst mode so that if I need to take several shots back to back I can without having to fumble through pressing a couple buttons and risk missing a shot.

My question, though... is there any harm to picture quality or any sort of draw backs from keeping it in burst mode as opposed to only using it when I need it? I mainly ask because I would think it'd make more sense to just have an all-time burst shot mode if it doesn't, rather than being required to change it... though I do see the desire some people have for that extra bit of control.

[ssim]

I normally keep my cameras set to high speed. There is no harm to the quality of the images in subsequent frames past the first one.

There are times when I only want to take one shot but due to a heavy finger I end up with more than that. In my opinon this would be only reason for going down on the shutter release speed.

[Jackal]

Last time I had my camera set to burst I handed it to my uncle to take a picture of my family and I. He's never used an SLR that fast before so he pressed the button and ended up taking 3 pictures. Hehe...

I usually keep it on single shot unless I know I'll need burst.

[elbirth]

ok, so I guess I'm fine in how I've been doing things... just wanted to see if there was something I was missing somehow.

Jackal, I have that hapen a bit as well... I'll give it to a friend to take a picture and they first think it's broken because I forget to tell them to hit * to focus, and they hold it down and end up with 3-5 shots or so and freak out :D

[jscotti]

I keep my 20D in burst mode as well and have not seen any detrimental side affects other than the occasional extra shot when I'm a bit heavy on my shutter finger. That's one of the few times I might consider actually deleting an otherwise well exposed picture, especially if I am worried about space on my CF card.

I haven't had the opportunity to hand my camera to a rookie bystander yet, but I'll have to keep that in mind and perhaps set it to single shot mode then....

I did find a new use for burst mode last night - I was taking pictures of a distant lightning storm after sunset and my exposure time was a few seconds. I left the camera in burst mode and used the lock on my cable release to keep the shutter pressed and then stepped back from the tripod mounted camera and watched as the camera would fire off a 4 second exposure followed by 0.2 seconds cycle time and another 4 second exposure ad infinitum, giving me in excess of 90% duty cycle on the lightning storm - obviously, I caught more of the bolts than I missed!

Jim.

[myth337]

Back in the days of burning thru a roll of film at 4-5 frames per second, one learns to be light on the trigger. In the many many years, well.. months, that I have had my 300D, it has been on multi mode for 99.99% of the time, and I have never accidentally wasted some bytes on my Gig flash card. (set it back to single shot once or twice for some testing..)

.. but I'm still trying to figure out how to do AI shots with this thing...
and another question... when in multi shot mode.. does it keep the metering / white balance from the first shot for each in the sequence??

[elbirth]

I did find a new use for burst mode last night - I was taking pictures of a distant lightning storm after sunset and my exposure time was a few seconds. I left the camera in burst mode and used the lock on my cable release to keep the shutter pressed and then stepped back from the tripod mounted camera and watched as the camera would fire off a 4 second exposure followed by 0.2 seconds cycle time and another 4 second exposure ad infinitum, giving me in excess of 90% duty cycle on the lightning storm - obviously, I caught more of the bolts than I missed!

Jim.

GREAT idea, Jim! Whenever I finally get a remote release I'll definitely keep that in mind if we ever get another storm with actual lightning around here :)


Myth, I've also learned to be pretty light on the shutter myself and almost never accidentally take more than a single shot even in burst mode. As far as AI Servo on the 300D, I think you have to install the hack?
Also, I think it does keep the metering from the first shot in the sequence, so if you want to re-meter, you'd have to let go of the shutter and press it again

[bolantej]

it's also good to use it to aide in reducing camera shake, as the first press of the shutter release could cause some shake. i've only read this, but it makes sense to me.

[ksmattfish]

... is there any harm to picture quality or any sort of draw backs from keeping it in burst mode as opposed to only using it when I need it?

The harm here is that you are relying on the equipment rather than develping your own sense of timing. As fancy smancy as these cameras are, your brain is still more versatile. Someday your equipment will fail you, or you will be in a situation where you'll need to rely on your own skills. I'm not saying that multiple frames per second doesn't come in handy, but practice single shooting sometimes too.

Did Henri Carter Bresson ever even hold a camera capable of multiple fps? He may never have gotten to even to 1 fps. ;)

[elbirth]

it's also good to use it to aide in reducing camera shake, as the first press of the shutter release could cause some shake. i've only read this, but it makes sense to me.


yeah, I've noticed that whenever I do end up taking the same shot multiple (2-3) times, there's usually at least one that looks slightly sharper than the other.

[elbirth]

The harm here is that you are relying on the equipment rather than develping your own sense of timing. As fancy smancy as these cameras are, your brain is still more versatile. Someday your equipment will fail you, or you will be in a situation where you'll need to rely on your own skills. I'm not saying that multiple frames per second doesn't come in handy, but practice single shooting sometimes too.

Did Henri Carter Bresson ever even hold a camera capable of multiple fps?

Well of course, I don't go around shooting bursts of pictures for everything I take, it's just that I leave it in burst mode so that if a time arises where I may want a series of pictures, I don't have to take the time (albeit short amount of time) to go into burst mode. For example, while at Busch Gardens I was walking around taking some pictures and came upon a water ride where some kid went running to an area that you can get splashed at. All I had to do was just point the camera in his direction and take several shots in burst mode and I had a nice little series that was amusing as you could see the water rushing upon him and his expression changing accordingly.
Otherwise I usually take time to compose my shots and the only multiple shots I take is if I'm messing with exposure, where I end up reshooting.

[WaveRider57]

I don't have to take the time (albeit short amount of time) to go into burst mode.

More than the time it takes, I disklike having to take the viewfinder away from my eye so I can ensure I've gone to multi-shot and NOT self-timer! :rolleyes:

Is there any way to confirm the mode change through the 20D viewfinder?

[Stooge_UK]

I made use of the "Burst" mode whilst out whale watching in NZ. Enabled me to capture a great series of shots as the whale dived.
(Did however scare the person standing next to me as i fired off around 10 shots to his one on his P & S):)

[elbirth]

Is there any way to confirm the mode change through the 20D viewfinder?

unfortunately, I don't think so... just like the issue with not being able to see the ISO in the viewfinder.

I made use of the "Burst" mode whilst out whale watching in NZ. Enabled me to capture a great series of shots as the whale dived.
(Did however scare the person standing next to me as i fired off around 10 shots to his one on his P & S):)

hahaha, great!

[bballboy30]

One drawback I thought of was the camera might be in busy mode longer after taking one shot in burst mode than after taking one shot in single mode. However, after experimenting they stay in busy mode for the same amount of time.