Single frame or burst? Match drive mode to the moment: one press, continuous capture, delayed shutter, or auto bracket.
Pick a mode, then tap the shutter on the viewfinder
Captured frames
Empty slots show how many frames this mode captures
Tap shutter to capture
Active mode
One frame per shutter press. Default for landscapes, portraits, and deliberate composition.
Continuous modes fill the memory buffer, then slow to the card write speed. Raw + high fps drains the buffer faster than JPEG.
How many frames fire per press, and how fast
One photo per full shutter press. Release and press again for the next frame.
Slower burst while the shutter is held. Often 3–5 fps depending on body.
Maximum frame rate while held. Often 8–20+ fps on modern bodies.
Delays the shutter after you press. Beeps or a lamp count down on most bodies.
Fires a sequence at set EV steps, e.g. -2, -1, 0, +1, +2. One press, multiple exposures.
Reduces or eliminates shutter click. Electronic shutter on mirrorless, or a dampened mechanical cycle on some bodies.
Scenario, mode, and what to pair with it
| Scenario | Drive Mode | Pair With | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / walkaround Default | Single Shot | AF-S, Av/A | One frame per press. Saves buffer and card space. |
| Portrait (still) | Single Shot | AF-S, Eye AF | Fire on expression. Burst rarely helps. |
| Sports / action | Continuous High | AF-C, Tv/S 1/1000s+ | Hold shutter through the peak action. Pick sharpest frame after. |
| Wildlife | Continuous High | AF-C, Zone AF | Buffer fills fast in Raw. JPEG or lower fps if limited. |
| Panning | Continuous Low | AF-C, Tv/S 1/30–1/125s | Short burst through the sweep. Less buffer drain than CH. |
| Group / self portrait | Self-Timer | AF-S, 2s or 10s | Run into frame after pressing. Use 10s on tripods. |
| HDR / high contrast | Exposure Bracketing | Single or timer, tripod | 3–5 frames at 1–2 EV steps. Merge in post. |
| Real estate interior | Exposure Bracketing | Manual, tripod | Window plus room detail. Bracket 5–7 frames if needed. |
| Wedding / ceremony / concert | Silent / Quiet | Single or Continuous Low | Keep shutter noise down near speakers or during vows. Check for rolling shutter under artificial light. |
Still subject: Single. Moving subject: Continuous High + AF-C. High contrast: Bracket on a tripod. Group or tripod self-portrait: Self-Timer.
Dial the mode before the moment, verify fps and file type
Still: Single. Action: Continuous High. HDR: Bracket. Use the lookup table above.
Drive dial, quick menu, or custom button. Set before subjects arrive.
Burst modes need AF-C for tracking. Set shutter first: 1/1000s+ for sports, 1/500s+ for kids.
After a long burst, wait for the buffer indicator to clear. UHS-II cards and fast write speeds reduce downtime.
Quick answers for the field
Burst rate, bracketing steps, buffer limits, and when to leave Single Shot.
The camera captures multiple frames while the shutter button is held. Continuous High uses the maximum frame rate for action; Continuous Low uses a slower rate to limit buffer use.
High-contrast scenes where one exposure cannot hold highlight and shadow detail. Common for HDR, real estate interiors, and sunrise or sunset landscapes.
Usually not at full speed. Most on-camera flash units need recycle time between frames. Check your camera manual for maximum burst rate with flash enabled.
Single Shot for most still work. Switch to Continuous High with AF-C for sports and wildlife. Use bracketing for HDR and self-timer for group or tripod shots.
Focus tracking, shutter speed, and action settings
