fps question for the smart guys..

zx7dave

Senior Member
When I have the camera (D300S) set on NEF 14-bit the camera will only shoot 2.5 fps....but when I go back to NEF 12-bit the camera will shoot at 7 fps...how much quality am I losing by shooting at 12-bit rather than 14-bit? What is the difference? Thanks
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Great answer....I guess each of us have to make their own decision on this...for me it was simple...I will shoot at 12-bit since shooting in 14-bit would hinder my fast shooting way too much.
 

KennethHamlett

New member
Great answer....I guess each of us have to make their own decision on this...for me it was simple...I will shoot at 12-bit since shooting in 14-bit would hinder my fast shooting way too much.

Yeah, shooting in 14-bit is slower but it provides better tonal structure. If what you're shooting requires the faster output of 12-bit then you gotta shoot 12-bit.
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Well To be honest I use the faster than 2.5 fps shooting often. I used it at several recent birthday parties and dinners I was at to catch those good moments such as when the birthday person is blowing out candles..you know if you only take one shot is will come back that she only had one eye open or something..so I do the quick burst often so I can choose the best one. Same with shooting pictures of my cats doing something cute. There are hundreds of scenarios like this...
I just had a surprise birthday cake for my office mate at work...I took 35 shots in the first few seconds with that priceless "surprised" look. Only about 3 really came out that showed good lighting, both eyes open, mounth open but still in a laughing smile, as well as the happy sparkle in her eye...would perhaps not of caught those "great shots" if I shot at 2.5 fps....make sense?
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
It does make make sense Dave ... I really was thinking of race cars, humming bird freeze action, etc. I do the same thing for shooting kids on trampolines for instance, or for the guys at the skate board park killing themselves attempting the ultimate jump (what ever)! Unless I'm shooting portraiture, both of the cameras are set to shoot 'continuous', and in some cases I'll shoot the portrait using the burst capabilities to capture a brief smile, a twinkle of the eye, etc., sooooo, Dave I understand what you are doing, my only suggestion is that you invest in the battery grip. ... speeds things up and accommodates the quick battery drain.
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Hi Dave - I got a grip same day as I got the D300S...Just had to have it to be closer to the D1X full body feel I was used to..the extra battery life is just a bonus :)
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Hi Dave - I got a grip same day as I got the D300S...Just had to have it to be closer to the D1X full body feel I was used to..the extra battery life is just a bonus :)

And this might be a little sad but I also got a grip off eBay for the D3000 as while I like the compactness of it at times there are other times I need the extra grip as well as the additional battery life...
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
I buy and sell quite of equipment on eBay. When I'm shopping for 'stuff' I check (in this order) B & H, Adorama, Amazon and eBay. The latter for photo paper and ink. I order most of my equipment off of internet as the pricing in the local camera shops run approx. 25% - 50% higher. Wolfe and Ritz Cameras used to be reasonable, but they went belly up a couple of years ago. At least in California.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
I, too, bought a grip for my trusty D200. I like the feel and balance it gives the camera, and the extra battery doesn't hurt either.
 

Birds in Flight

New member
In little defense of the 14bit, I took a picture of a brick on the side of a old fort in 12 and 14 bit. With the 14 bit image and capture NX I could manipulate the light so that I could see signatures and dates that couldn’t be seen in 12 bit. The signatures were 150 years old and in sandstone. There is a place for 14 bit although 99% of my photos are in 12. It is nice to have the 14 bit option.
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
This is good to know...I am not against using 14 bit..but I think anytime I am trying to shoot a moving target then I will use 12 bit to keep a higher FPS..
 
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