Frames Per Second FPS: I have noticed a change in my habits of late. I used to rely on taking a lot of shots. But lately I have found that I now know enough about runners (I shoot...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I have noticed a change in my habits of late. I used to rely on taking a lot of shots. But lately I have found that I now know enough about runners (I shoot mainly marathons) and where they will be and what foot will be in the air at a given moment, that I have switched to single shot. I also have a lot more keepers and fewer missed shots since doing this.

I recognize that runners are not moving as fast as some sports and that they are unlikely to change direction and such. But I would still like to hear your thoughts.

Do any of you find that, as you know your sport better, frames per second has become less important than nailing a shot you see coming?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Not for motor racing photography, when shooting trackside, and you don't always see the action comming.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

I would agree with you on this. When one doesn't have the experience then a spray and pray method should be used but after a while one gets to understand and anticipate the nuances of the given situation, a single shot methodology will work fine. That said, it normally takes a LOT of experience to truly understand all the dynamics.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

big-guy wrote:

I would agree with you on this. When one doesn't have the experience then a spray and pray method should be used but after a while one gets to understand and anticipate the nuances of the given situation, a single shot methodology will work fine. That said, it normally takes a LOT of experience to truly understand all the dynamics.

Well, I have been shooting runners for nine years. I guess I should be there by now. I just got frustrated going through hundreds of shots and finding the one I really wanted was also one of the shots where the AF just missed. If I had been anticipating and just took the one shot, I would have gotten it.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Whether runners, birds in flight or airshows, there's a sweetspot where the subject fills the frame without being "too close". I know from experience I will throwaway all those earlier too-far-away images so I've stopped capturing them. Using planes as an example, particularly in a panning motion, I'm finding my own ability to pan in a steady motion is the more limiting factor on the results rather than the AF system. Planes are moving faster and more erratic, particularly prop-planes, where a burst of 3 to 10 (for me) is more likely to get at least one sharp result than trying for just a single shot. But for runners, something I shoot once or twice a year, I agree that 1 to 3ish will come out typically perfect and a high-speed burst isn't needed.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

CHG_CANON wrote:

Whether runners, birds in flight or airshows, ther... (show quote)

Thanks. I was wondering how much the speed of the action affected the need for bursts. I wonder when we hit diminishing returns on bursts. Are there situations where 20 FPS serves a real purpose? Is is there a useful FPS that we need not exceed? Is there a sweet spot, like 7 FPS that will fit most needs and should cameras allow us to set a limit on FPS?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

dsmeltz wrote:

Thanks. I was wondering how much the speed of the action affected the need for bursts. I wonder when we hit diminishing returns on bursts. Are there situations where 20 FPS serves a real purpose? Is is there a useful FPS that we need not exceed? Is there a sweet spot, like 7 FPS that will fit most needs and should cameras allow us to set a limit on FPS?

The photo finish at Church Downs might need a 10+ fps and similar breaking the tape shots in track & field, maybe the twirls in ice skating. But, more general purpose everyday needs, probably not. I don't think I even hit 5 fps with the dual cards I'm using in a 5DIII. And again, it's my own limitations as a photographer that misses the shot rather than the speed of the camera / cards / AF.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

dsmeltz wrote:

I have noticed a change in my habits of late. I u... (show quote)

I would say this is relatively true. As in relative to the sport. So maybe with running you can get to a point where it is a single click, with other faster moving sports maybe it is not down to a single click but experience and knowledge of the sport can reduce the number of shots in a burst. With hockey I find myself waiting and shooting shorter bursts rather than spray and pray. Your point is a good one.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Jaackil wrote:

I would say this is relatively true. As in relative to the sport. So maybe with running you can get to a point where it is a single click, with other faster moving sports maybe it is not down to a single click but experience and knowledge of the sport can reduce the number of shots in a burst. With hockey I find myself waiting and shooting shorter bursts rather than spray and pray. Your point is a good one.

The upshot is I will now give less weight to FPS and more to focus locking when choosing camera bodies.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

dsmeltz wrote:

I have noticed a change in my habits of late. I u... (show quote)

I agree that experience plays a large part in one's success with sports action. I often wonder why I could do this with a Pentax Spotmatic and I now require a D5. I will say my results have gotten better over the years. I use continuous shooting for most sports most of the time, but I take far less shots than I used to with much improved results. Just my general observations.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

dsmeltz the cardinal adage in sports photography is to "Know Your Sport"
There are no substitutes here...

My personal best efforts come only from sports I have actively played and have passion for...
Likely no amount of research can substitute for real-time experience as a player in these events...

Funny how these forums are filled with an endless concerns about kit...
And sadly so little concern about the pursuit of sport itself...

Photographers are by in large simply consumers under the sway of intense marketing campaigns ...
As such are the product of "lifestyle obsession"...
a.k.a. Photography is merely a vehicle of persona...

And yes I'm a victim of the aforementioned like everyone else...
Albeit struggling to divorce myself from "brand identity" and focus on championing "Sport" and a healthy lifestyle...

My current mission purpose in a era of "The Obesity Epidemic" is to champion and bare witness to a healthy life style...
Keeping in mind that once over the age of 25 near 80 percent of all "illness" are lifestyle related...

I wish you well on your journey dsmeltz
And can only hope you and others here become a little more concerned with your Systolic & Diastolic, and BMI rather than Frame Rate...
Do you get at minimum 1 hour of active exercise a day?
enough said...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Canon users are healthier, both physically and mentally

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Thomas902 wrote:

dsmeltz the cardinal adage in sports photography i... (show quote)

This is part of the reason for my post. People get to caught up in the benefits of this or that piece of equipment or feature and not enough on what it is they want to accomplish followed by choosing the right tool for that job.

Oh. And I am a runner, which is why a like shooting marathons. I train with my wife who is a 100+ marathon completer and a member of both the 52in52 club and a finishing member the 50 State Marathon club. She has a passion for racking up the numbers, while I do not care as much about that (though I do have 3 marathons and 22 half-marathons under my belt). So I shoot her races as well as some for members of the team we train.