Trouble in burst mode today. Human error, lens, or camera? (Or am I just paranoid.)

Hey all.

Thanks for your welcoming attitude and wonderful knowledge and advice.

I did some pictures for a friend this morning. Sort of a practice session for me with her and her fiance. I felt I was having some issues in burst mode. It just wasn't "bursting." Not at the rate it typically does. Paranoid, I checked three times to make sure I had it in the continuous mode; it was.

When I came home, I snapped off a few pics of my dog to see if I still noticed an issue. For the most part I didn't, just once noticed a delay (and there in the pause it seemed like my lens was "hunting" for a second).

I'm trying to determine if I need to be concerned or what. Do you think I've made some inadvertant setting error that I don't know about?

I am scared it's my camera (yikes--I can't afford a new one!), but I am thinking there's a good chance it's human error or a delay caused by the lens hunting? Although, the lens theory may be dead bc I notice in manual focus (well, perhaps the manual focus delay was imaginary---by they time I tested that out, the paranoia had kicked in).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Laura

Btw, it's a Rebel XSi (which is just over a year old) and I was using a 35mm f/2 and 50mm f/2.5. Outside. It was a fairly sunny morning, we were mostly in slightly shaded areas. No flash. *Mostly* wider apertures (2-3.2). *Mostly* in Av mode (actually, I don't think I noticed the issue when I was in manual or Tv--but then, I'm not sure I was in burst mode with them). The battery was freshly, fully charges, and the card is a Sandisk Extreme III.

the burst mode is a "max", and can be affected by a lot of things, but it's hard to say what might be the case in your situation. From the sounds of things you've done a pretty thorough investigation, especially checking battery life and shooting in MF. Are you sure your battery is in good overall condition? If you have a spare and you can charge it up it might be worth doing some testing.

You say you were shooting in some shade -- that would be something to consider. AF needs some light and some contrast to work properly. Try things out in some different settings and try to get a feel of how your camera/lens combo work in these settings. If I was shooting in shade I probably would not expect the optimum AF performance, but if you set your lens to MF it shouldn't matter...

Have a look at your exif. If you were shooting in shade in AV mode this means that your shutter speed would get lowered in order to maintain exposure at whatever f-stop you chose. The camera can only go so fast if it is using a slower shutter speed. I had this exact problem when I first got it. If I know that I am going to utilizing the burst functionality I will normally go full manual, including focus, or at the very least go to TV mode so that I know what shutter speed I am getting.

In one-shot mode and autofocus the camera will want to focus on something before taking the picture. You were perhaps focusing on an area of the subject that for some reason was difficult for the autofocus to see, which happens sometimes, I'm sure a pro can elaborate on this.

You should maybe try changing the autofocus on button to the * button on the back via the custom function menu. I have mine set that way and the focus mode to AI Servo. Some people like it that way because you can focus on something and then when you get what you want, let go of the focus and it stays there, and there is no risk of the autofocus "hunting" before tripping the shutter.

ssim wrote in post #10419849
Have a look at your exif. If you were shooting in shade in AV mode this means that your shutter speed would get lowered in order to maintain exposure at whatever f-stop you chose. The camera can only go so fast if it is using a slower shutter speed. I had this exact problem when I first got it. If I know that I am going to utilizing the burst functionality I will normally go full manual, including focus, or at the very least go to TV mode so that I know what shutter speed I am getting.

My thoughts exactly.

Full manual mode for exposure.

I may go AF in Servo mode, I have used that and burst rate was still quite high but the lighting was excellent as was target contrast

Probably shutter speed as mentioned already. Burst mode shooting a couple. I can't imagine why nor bear to have to go through hundreds off almost the same shots and none of them perfect or, as bad, deciding which one(s) are the best

I use the burst when shooting dancers. They move so quickly you might miss a great shot otherwise.

It has its purposes, I guess some use it for " spray and pray " photography.

FPS and burst mode are directly effected by shutterspeed.. Slower the shutterspeed, slower the FPS.. Also,, auto focus plays a big part in this.. If your lens is constantly looking to focus your FPS rate will be slowed..

Remember,, your XSi has a maximum FPS rate of 3.5 fps.. Any variables will effect the FPS rate..

And yes,,you are being paranoid

bohdank wrote in post #10422335
Probably shutter speed as mentioned already. Burst mode shooting a couple. I can't imagine why nor bear to have to go through hundreds off almost the same shots and none of them perfect or, as bad, deciding which one(s) are the best

My thoughts exactly. Plus, isn't the 50 f/2.5 notoriously slow in the AF department?

In One Shot, once you half-press the shutter button and the camera locks focus, it won't focus again while the shutter is pressed. It will shoot continuously up to the max framerate.

I think the same is true for AI Servo since the XSi defaults to drive priority and doesn't have a CFn to change it.

toxic wrote in post #10423521
In One Shot, once you half-press the shutter button and the camera locks focus, it won't focus again while the shutter is pressed. It will shoot continuously up to the max framerate.

I think the same is true for AI Servo since the XSi defaults to drive priority and doesn't have a CFn to change it.

Pretty sure I was in AI Servo at the time. Gonna test this bugger out again today. Thanks all.

bohdank wrote in post #10422335
Probably shutter speed as mentioned already. Burst mode shooting a couple. I can't imagine why nor bear to have to go through hundreds off almost the same shots and none of them perfect or, as bad, deciding which one(s) are the best

I was using burst mode when they wanted some "silly pics." So they ran down the railroad tracks.... And jumped off a sculpture....

Lightworks Imaging wrote in post #10423344
My thoughts exactly. Plus, isn't the 50 f/2.5 notoriously slow in the AF department?

I think I was using the 35 f/2 when I first noticed it. But,...I think it may have a similiar reputation? I know my gear is pretty basic, but it in budget.

LauraBella wrote in post #10424252
I was using burst mode when they wanted some "silly pics." So they ran down the railroad tracks.... And jumped off a sculpture....

Understandable.