Who shoots in burst mode all the time?

Burst mode is an SRD (Skill Reduction Device). What has happened to photography where people find it necessary to fire off bursts of captures in the hope that at least one picture will turn out right? Are they no longer capable of coordinating hand, eye, brain and shutter and using single shot? The term used for the burst mode technique is "spray and pray" with good reason.

I photograph motorsport with cars/bikes travelling at well over 100mph and never use burst mode. I can take multiple shots of a quickly happening accident sequence with the benefit of the fast buffer of the 1D, simply through years of practice (I started way before AF and multi-shot facilities). I have had over 30 years of experience and before anyone makes the accusation, I am not stuck in the old ways, I simply feel that the skill of photography has been dumbed down by the over use of burst mode in particular.

Burst mode has its place and an example would be a situation where you are one of a number of togs using flash (podium shots, catwalks, etc), where you could get a blown shot due to the multiple flashes. However, IMHO it should be regarded as an exception, not a rule.

I have put on my fireproof suit as I have no doubt these comments are not welcome by some.

I do.
I always shoot 3-4shot bursts during portraits to account for blinks, etc

KennyG wrote in post #10703542
Burst mode is an SRD (Skill Reduction Device). What has happened to photography where people find it necessary to fire off bursts of captures in the hope that at least one picture will turn out right? Are they no longer capable of coordinating hand, eye, brain and shutter and using single shot? The term used for the burst mode technique is "spray and pray" with good reason.

In any discussion of burst mode, there's always a tool who can't tell the difference between "burst" and "mash the shutter button until the buffer gets full."

And if you had the camera set to burst you could use that finely honed finger to get only one or two shots when that's all you want, and then be able to get the full frame rate when you need it by holding the shutter. But I guess that getting the same result from a different technique makes you feel all smug and superior, so more power to you.

^amen.
Burst is usefull.
Holding the shutter down untill your memory card starts crying, is not skillful and most people dont do it.

My 20D has never been set for burst mode. I just don't ever have a need to use anything but one-shot, even if I want a series of action shots. I've done that manually for decades - even when I had to wind the film between shots.

i use it all the time unless i am using strobes since the 7D's shutter is so sensitive.

Maybe for an acrobatic skier going off a jump but otherwise I don't count on luck and leave it in single mode. Anticipation has worked very well for me.

When I shoot concerts the camera is in AI Servo or when I am shooting someone outdoors and we are both moving. Still life, 1 shot.

My 1D3 is set to 7 frames per second for high speed. Shooting in burst all the time is a pain in the butt to go through in post. I usually use single and then burst when I need it.

I leave my 1D mk1 to low continuous. If I put it on high continuous, I always accidentally get 3-4 shots haha.

I rarely use it..

I set burst mode when I think it will be useful....otherwise it stays in single-shot mode. It's quick and easy enough to switch when needed.

AI Focus = NEVER. I trust myself more than the camera to know when AI Servo is needed. Same with Auto AF point selection.

Yep. My bodies are set to hi speed mode and AI Servo all the time.

egordon99 wrote in post #10702629
If you want ten or more shots everytime you pushed the shutter button

Not true.
You can take only one shot when the camera is set to a high speed frame rate.

The only time I use burst mode is when shooting wildlife and usually that is in slow speed burst. I have my autofocus set to AI Servo 100% of the time. If you use AF-ON to focus, AI Servo is the only way to go. My thoughts are that if I use AF-ON to focus and select AI Servo, I actually 3 focus modes in 1. Manual, One shot, and Servo all without changing a thing. Works great!

Veemac wrote in post #10705902
AI Focus = NEVER. I trust myself more than the camera to know when AI Servo is needed. Same with Auto AF point selection.

Couldn't agree more.

ben4633 wrote in post #10706105
The only time I use burst mode is when shooting wildlife and usually that is in slow speed burst. I have my autofocus set to AI Servo 100% of the time. If you use AF-ON to focus, AI Servo is the only way to go. My thoughts are that if I use AF-ON to focus and select AI Servo, I actually 3 focus modes in 1. Manual, One shot, and Servo all without changing a thing. Works great!

Keep in mind the trade-off is less accuracy than One Shot, and the AF confirm light/beep doesn't work like it does in either One Shot or manual focus.

I leave my camera on One Shot for stationary subjects for the accuracy, particularly in low light. In better light I might leave it in Servo.