Question for all the action photographers

[LeVeL]

When shooting motorsport, what are your opinions on burst mode? Do you use it? Why or why not?
I've found it useful in some situations, especially when a car is about to come into your field of view sideways (eg during a rally).

[Alok]

In my opinion, it is not advisable to use the burst mode. This is something I've learnt from the pros here and what I use at shooting at drift and track events. Always plan your shot, if you are shooting at a specific part of a course, keep the autofocus preset to that location, and pan, while squeezing away the shots. Helps you improve your keeper rate over the long run.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I leave my cam in Continuous mode. If I want one shot, I only squeeze off one. If I want a sequence and pick the best angle later, I hold it down. It's there for a purpose, use it as such.

[damnhawk]

alok, yes the amount of crisp photos increase relative to the number of images taken by the fact that your not spraying and praying for a good image. I find that if you have enough card space to allow for contious shooting then do it, it helps to reduce camera shake in the vertical direction as you pan more smoothly in the horizontal. i shot through 16gigs at a two day event. (filled the 8 gigs of card both days and off loaded them each night)

[damnhawk]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

I leave my cam in Continuous mode. If I want one shot, I only squeeze off one. If I want a sequence and pick the best angle later, I hold it down. It's there for a purpose, use it as such.

Thats my theory right there, when working with a model being able to get 2 or so frames from holding the shutter for a second helps reduce the chance of catching a blink, and increases the chances of getting a nice candid image you wouldnt have gotten other wise.

[hansvonaxion]

Comes in handy sometimes, most reasons have been mentioned.

You can choose the best capture when reviewing (so easy to clip something off by mistake or get an unwanted flare)

You might be lucky enough to catch exhaust flames etc

If theres a prang or spin etc, you've got it.

Its easy enough to delete shots, but if you miss it there's no second chance.

[LeVeL]

Thanks all. How about a batter hitting a baseball? I would imagine that its not very easy to get the moment of impact without burst...

[Shadowness]

I always have my Nikon in high speed continuous mode, just in case something happens ie. a crash or someone goes into the gravel, and you get a nice frame by frame shot of it.

There are occasions where Im having an off day and the only way I can seem to get a crisp pan is to go into gattling gun mode and just take hundreds of pics!

[Martyn]

My camera is always on high speed continuous at motorsport events, just in case something happens, like a roll or something. I don't use it that much though, although, if I'm shooting portraits of drivers or something I'll often fire two or three off at once, just in case they blink or something.

It's very useful, and I'd never recommend not using it.

[Shadowness]

A lot of people see it as cheating I guess. But when your shooting as low as 1/20th you dont get many keepers, so it's best to take as many photos as possible!

[IceBone]

I've learned that squeezing off your shots isn't always the best thing, as if the car you're following comes out of the shadow into the light and you have the shutter depressed half way, waiting for the perfect angle, the cam won't adjust the exposure/aperture so the picture will get overexposed and vice versa. Or is there a such a thing as continuous metering i'm not aware of...