bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

When someone is shopping for a new camera, one the attributes that is often brought up is the "fps" or frames per second. New cameras have markedly improved frame rates compared to DSLRs just a few years ago. Do you need 60fps or 30fps? That certainly can produce a daunting number of images to sort through at the end of the day. However, what that frame rate also does is to sometimes capture "the" moment. With the increasing emphasis on "action" or "telling a story" in our images, this can mean the difference between a winner and a loser. This image is an example of that. My wife, Deb, shot this image of two Saffron Finches in Brazil last summer. She used a Canon R7, 100-500 mm zoom (at 500 mm), SS 1/1600, ISO 400, f/7.1, EC -0.7 (dark BG and she wanted to avoid blowing out the yellows). This camera is capable of 30 fps (electronic shutter) or 15 fps (mechanical shutter) but when the battery level drops below 50% the fps slows way down; indeed that was the case here.
A millisecond before this frame was shot, both of these finches were singing to each other with their beaks open wide as they belted out their song. Although this is a nice image, if the camera had caught them a millisecond earlier, it would have been a terrific image.
Processed in PS with birds brought slightly up and cropped slightly from top and R.

(Download)

ricardo00

Nice picture and interesting story. Hadn't heard about the Canon R7 fps falling when the battery drops below 50%. Do you know if this is true of the Canon R5? (I am a Nikon shooter but had been recommending the R5 to people).

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Thank you for looking and commenting. Yes, as far as I know (I have an R5 and R6) the fps drops when the battery level falls to a certain point. It may not be exactly 50%. I believe the same thing is true of most of the rapid fps mirrorless cameras out there.

ricardo00

Don't think it is true of my Z8 but will test it. Do you know if it is true of both the electronic shutter and mechanical shutter on the Canons? And what does it fall to?
Personally, I love the higher fps of the new cameras, I always shoot at 20 fps (the highest I can) with my Nikon Z8 just for the reasons you describe (and had been envious of the higher fps of the Canon).

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Certainly with electronic shutter the drop is more dramatic, but it affects mechanical shutter too. Lots of factors come into play; lens being used, type of battery, use of battery grip, SS, which memory card is being used. Under "ideal" conditions my fps drops to about 12 fps with electronic and 7-8 mechanical.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

30 or 60 fps sounds like video settings.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Beautiful shot and informative post, thanks!

ricardo00

Don't shoot Canon but according to the specs of the R7, it can shoot up to 30 fps (not 60) with the electronic shutter. But there is a catch, only up to 42 frames Raw. Or for about 1.3 seconds. Not very long. Don't know how much it slows down after 1.3 seconds. And this most likely depends on the card. Not sure what else. And from the OP, only if the battery is mostly charged. So not perfect for sure if one wants to shoot at a high fps (which I like to do).

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

A superbly beautiful shot

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, and SLR's - this is why the 1 series Canons have BIG batteries ....

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

In spite of the slow down, it is still an excellent capture!

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I am not familiar with the options of most mirrorless cameras, but with the Sony A1 you have numerous options as far as FPS. When shooting birds, or other action, I choose to leave the setup at 30 FPS, in order to catch the "moment". For anything static, I can slow it down to a single shot. Yes, higher frame rates impact the process of keeping the best shot, but it's worth it, and over time with the right culling software, you get more efficient at making your selections. I'm very pleased having a camera that can produce high frame rates, especially in combination with large full frame sensors. I do wonder however whether 60 fps is actually necessary.

ricardo00

Does the Sony A1 decrease its FPS as the battery is depleted? If so, how much of the battery has to be depleted before the fps decreases and to what extent?

gouldopfl

I have an EOS R and I get 8 or 5 fps depending on the settings. For my use it works fine.

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

Nice shot. I confess I have never had that problem with either of my Sony cameras

Iechyd da

Ann