BebuLamar

If you argue that if you don't have fast burst it would be the different between getting the shot and missing it then you never have a fast enough camera.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

The main reason is because I'm always after that perfect expression. When you just pop off one shot at a time, you tend to miss some of the best stuff. Back in the film days, it cost money to burst like crazy, so we were more conservative, but now it's free. Why not pop off a few extra to get the best shot? So many of my very best pics were because of a burst - I often catch just one single, perfect expression, wing beat, or leg position (running mammals) during a burst - even at 12 FPS.

In addition, I often tell you workshop students to pop off short bursts rather than one at a time, especially if they are facing slow shutter speeds or tricky AF. In fact, I wrote a full article about it here:

https://backcountrygallery.com/burst-perfect-moment/

Finally, the idea of trying to just pop off shots quickly one at a time is a disaster - each time you jab at the button, you cause extra camera motion, especially if you're doing it quickly. With a burst, you have the movement only on the first shot - and in fact you'll often find one of the next shots to be sharper.

Take a look at the article, I think you'll be bursting right along with the rest of us :)

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

No one has mentioned bracketing. I can set my camera to take 3 quick exposures at 1/2 over, 1/2 under and just what the meter wants for example. Or 5 exposures at 1/3 over and under etc. That plus catching that one perfect pose out of a fast action sequence. It's worth it to me to delete 3 or 4 photos to get that close to perfect on.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If I'm bracketing only for exposure variance I don't need burst.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Fantastic information and advice, as always. Oh, and breathtaking photos, of course Thank you Steve!

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Actually, why does anyone else really care how someone else shoots? It continues to amaze me that people want to dictate how I or someone else should shoot just because they do. Crazy! And, like Steve, I want to get that perfect look or expression if possible so I'll continue to use burst whenever I want to.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I shoot how I want, the way I want, when I want, with what I want.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

How do you do that?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Three shots in succession, three pushes on the shutter button. (after setting up for bracketing.)
Not combining, so I don't need perfect registration, which is a different item (tripod use).

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

We could be optimist and believe topics like this are attempting to be helpful to inexperienced members.

Unfortunately, the OP's opening sentence, "Photographers seem to be infatuated with a camera's ability to have as many shots per second as possible" is representative of the type of writing we see so much of now-a-days: judgmental sounding rhetoric that appears to have no learning/teaching objective and that doesn't really encourage discussion of the subject ("...how many shots of a bird popping or a bride and groom in a lip-lock position does anyone need?")

Despite that, a lot of folks have offered excellent real-life advice here

I personally wore out my first Canon sx50 bridge camera by using burst mode almost exclusively. That enabled me to get these fun - with IQ reflecting a $375 camera/lens combo shooting ridiculously long distances - shots of an eagle nest. In the first, one juvie (in shadow) is attempting to steal the fish from its sibling. Downloaded and enlarged will reveal the talons hanging on tightly

(Download)


(Download)

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Thanks! :)

jonjacobik Loc: Quincy, MA

This little guy gave 3 great expressions in second. My reaction time on the shutter, about a second (I'm 3 score and dozen more, give me a break). Taking 5 shots in a second gave the results I was after.

(Download)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I shoot birds in flight, I really like when birds bring nesting material to the new nest, the male hands off sticks, branches, and leaves to the female. U want that one shot that tells the story. It is very hard to get it without 10 to 20 frames per second. Without this ability, I could not do my job.
As far as repushing the shutter button many times in a row, I am sure you are kidding, can you imagine the camera shake that would result. REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

MikeT9

For all the ‘experts’ here that can get the money pic with one shot, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. Poor old me, with the photography I do, I’ll happily take numerous bursts of 14 fps and then pick out the money shots and get the likes on the pictures I post