Whats your keeper ratio?

I am just curious b/c mine is ridiculous-I may have 3 keepers out of 50 shots.............on a good day.

threeinthenest wrote in post #5811472
I am just curious b/c mine is ridiculous-I may have 3 keepers out of 50 shots.............on a good day.

Blame the kit lens!

Seriously, my ratio varies a bit depending on the event and conditions, I can say the last 3 events I shot with my 3 week old 40d provided me with pretty much all keepers...

-5 year old soccer game shot with 40d and 70-200 2.8 - all keepers

-2 year old's birthday party (outside, sun) shot with 24-70 2.8, 17-55 2.8, and 85 1.8 - al keepers

-Family gathering for an uncles 60th - I had some that were discarded due to motion blur (candids of children moving - I was using a 1/60 shutter speed). I was trying out my new lumiquest promax indoors and somehow managed to have the camera set on Aperture priority mode which goes to a slow shutter speed.... Learned a lot about the lumiquest that day....

I had a lower ratio before getting my 40d, but I can't blame the 20d- It was mostly me and my camera settings... I started shooting in manual 98% of the time and have been much happier... Not sure why I was afraid of it for so long

What types of issues are you having with your shots? Is it lighting, composition, focus issues, or what?

It may partially be the kit lens, you never know! When I sold 17-85 and got my 24-60 f/2.8 for some reason I just started taking better, sharper photos. I don't nave IS anymore, but I just love my lens it works great for me. Of course I've only had a DSLR since christmas, so the learning curve is there...

Don't worry.. practise and post your pictures if you have questions. We'll be sure to help you improve your shooting if you are making mistakes.

Unless I'm going after BIF, keeper rate is pretty high if I have control of subject.

DStanic wrote in post #5811606
It may partially be the kit lens, you never know! When I sold 17-85 and got my 24-60 f/2.8 for some reason I just started taking better, sharper photos.

I think its psychological

You spend the money on equipment and find out it doesn't fix user error, so you try harder to justify the purchase....

5:1 on a good day
probably 3:1 on a bad

Uuuuuhhh... Good question.

It depends, on many things.

On a scheduled photo ops where I am required to take a portrait, the keep ratio will be very high, something like 3 out of 5.

On another situation -say a fire, or a spontaneous news situation- the keeper rate can vary greatly. From 4 out of 5, to 6 out of 30. And in the end, the editor may not like any from any shoot, completely unrelated to the amount of keepers.

I like it -personally- when at the end of every month I have 5-7 shots I am very proud of, despite both cameras having increased 1k actuations each. It makes me feel satisfied.

Wow! Thanks everyone! My main issue keeping up with my kiddos, getting my 2YO to even look my way is extremely frustrating. I do have issues with focus, still trying to hone in on those skills! I pretty much only shoot with my 60mm, I really cannot remember when I last used my kit lens.........hmmmm, perhaps its me and not the gear...........hahaaa. Anyway, I just tend to have lots of elbows, cut off heads, never can catch a natural smile.....or maybe its just my kids! Anyway, hoping to invest in a few lenses in the next few months-probably the 50, 85, and Sigma 17-70. Sometimes I really hate my 60, it hunts like crazy-but again-probably me!

threeinthenest wrote in post #5811765
Wow! Thanks everyone! My main issue keeping up with my kiddos, getting my 2YO to even look my way is extremely frustrating. I do have issues with focus, still trying to hone in on those skills! I pretty much only shoot with my 60mm, I really cannot remember when I last used my kit lens.........hmmmm, perhaps its me and not the gear...........hahaaa. Anyway, I just tend to have lots of elbows, cut off heads, never can catch a natural smile.....or maybe its just my kids! Anyway, hoping to invest in a few lenses in the next few months-probably the 50, 85, and Sigma 17-70. Sometimes I really hate my 60, it hunts like crazy-but again-probably me!

Ok, this is another dimension for keeper rate ...

My 2 year old was watching the computer monitor yesterday, with natural light on her face, and her pretty eyes looking amazing. But she kept dancing, or looking at the camera and saying Cheese. As I was so close with a 50mm 1.4, I have to say I snapped some 20 frames, and I would only keep 2 or 3 photos. When experimenting, or looking for specific results, throw your stats out the window, and be grateful for Digital technology and hundreds of images in a single card. Lightning photography can often be 100 frames with no keepers, and astronomy photos about the same rate.

Now that fireworks are coming up, you may want to start another thread on the 5th of july, and ask people their keeper rates between photos taken, and those technically qualified for publishing. It may be a really interesting test.

PhotoJourno wrote in post #5811783
Ok, this is another dimension for keeper rate ...

My 2 year old was watching the computer monitor yesterday, with natural light on her face, and her pretty eyes looking amazing. But she kept dancing, or looking at the camera and saying Cheese. As I was so close with a 50mm 1.4, I have to say I snapped some 20 frames, and I would only keep 2 or 3 photos. When experimenting, or looking for specific results, throw your stats out the window, and be grateful for Digital technology and hundreds of images in a single card. Lightning photography can often be 100 frames with no keepers, and astronomy photos about the same rate.

Now that fireworks are coming up, you may want to start another thread on the 5th of july, and ask people their keeper rates between photos taken, and those technically qualified for publishing. It may be a really interesting test.

I am so glad you posted all that! Maybe there is hope for me afterall, I have to tell ya, after chasing my kids around for a couple of hours and only having a few shots to keep, I really start to question my limited photography skills.........you are so right about digi technology, I trash sooo many shots! Anyway, thanks again-great point about fireworks too!

It seems that the more I shoot the lower my keeper ratio becomes. It also depends on what I'm shooting. If it's snap shots of a family event, it's not too bad, maybe 50/50%. When I'm out hiking and shooting wildlife, I'd be happy if I come back with one or two nice pics out of a hundred.

threeinthenest wrote in post #5811765
just my kids! Anyway, hoping to invest in a few lenses in the next few months-probably the 50, 85, and Sigma 17-70. Sometimes I really hate my 60, it hunts like crazy-but again-probably me!

I had the 50/1.8 and hated it, for the same reason as you describe your 60mm. I would suggest maybe getting the 50 f/1.4 it's probably much better at focusing. My Sigma 24-60 focuses quite well (maybe even better than the 17-85 did with USM) I think you'll probably like the 17-70.

Sorry, I went and looked really quick. I took 32 frames, and three real keepers. Here is one, for example.

First a keeper, the second a typical almost good photo.

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DStanic wrote in post #5811819
I had the 50/1.8 and hated it, for the same reason as you describe your 60mm. I would suggest maybe getting the 50 f/1.4 it's probably much better at focusing. My Sigma 24-60 focuses quite well (maybe even better than the 17-85 did with USM) I think you'll probably like the 17-70.

Hey, thanks for sharing that about the 50mm, what is the deal with that? I am glad to hear you like your Sigma, would love to have the 24-70, but its so expensive and so heavy!

PhotoJourno wrote in post #5811828
Sorry, I went and looked really quick. I took 32 frames, and three real keepers. Here is one, for example.

First a keeper, the second a typical almost good photo.

OH, she is just adorable-love those baby blues! When is her bday? Our daughter turned 2 in late April...anyway-thanks for sharing, she is too sweet!