URGENT, Shooting football on continuous Hi with Nikon D3

[dave_mccoll]

<p>Hello, I have been shooting high school football for a few years now and have a question/issue.<br>

I shoot using my D3 on aperture Priority at f4.5ish usually, ISO 200-1000 depending on the weather using a 70-300 4.5, low end lens.<br>

I always shoot in RAW and my concern is that on Continuous-Hi, the camera stops and thinks after about 8-10 shots. I hold down the shutter button but nothing.... and the play continues. I will try shooting on JPG today and see if this changes things.<br>

Am I missing something? Any advise is apreciated. Thanks, Dave.</p>

[Matt Laur]

Are you writing 12-bit, or 14-bit RAW files? Compressed, or uncompressed? What CF card are you using?

[acbeddoe]

<p>You're likely filling the memory buffer and the pause is the D3 writing to the CF card. Since JPGs are smaller, you will get longer bursts.</p>

[daverhaas]

<p>Dave - </p>

<p>You're filling the buffer - as the camera writes an image - a shot will become available again. </p>

<p>JPG will give you a few more shots as they are not nearly as large as RAW - but your buffer will still eventually fill up. </p>

<p>Solution - time your burst better or get faster memory cards. </p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

[dave_mccoll]

<p>Hi guys, thanks. I'm set on Lossless compressed 12 bit RAW using 2 Sandisk Extreme III 16GB cards. I shot on JPEG yesterday and the bursts were much better. Thanks for the advice. Dave.</p>

[connor_walberg]

<p>Hi Dave,<br>

I actually wrote an article on this a while back. Check this out and it will explain what settings are slowing you down. I alway's shoot RAW for the quality and edit-ability. Hopefully this helps!</p>

<p>http://allphotobuzz.blogspot.com/2009/12/certain-camera-settings-will-slow-down.html</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

Connor</p>