What affects continuous shooting speed and buffer performance on a Nikon D90?
Asked 1/14/2011
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When shooting in continuous high-speed mode on a Nikon D90, burst performance can vary a lot. For example, RAW+JPEG may sometimes fire at the expected rate for several frames, but other times there can be pauses or uneven timing between shots. What camera settings or conditions affect how long the D90 can maintain its rated burst speed, and how can I maximize continuous shooting performance?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Memory write speed is one factor so any delays during writing and the camera will have to slow down as the buffer isn't cleared fast enough.
It's worth noting that not all raws are the same file size. Nearly all manufacturers employ some form of lossless compression on raw files. The amount of entropy (randomness) determines how much compression reduces the filesize.
If the filesize suddenly goes up the camera won't be able to write the file quick enough to clear the buffer before the next frame so shooting slows down.
Of course this doesn't explain a 20 second delay, this may indicate a genuine problem with your camera, or more likely the card.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The main limit is the camera’s buffer, not just card speed. On the D90, burst depth drops a lot with heavier file types: RAW+JPEG is the most demanding, RAW is better, and JPEG allows the longest bursts. Once the buffer fills, shooting slows until data is written to the card.
Things that reduce burst performance:
- RAW+JPEG recording
- Slow memory cards or card problems
- Larger RAW files (RAW compression varies with scene detail)
- Extra processing such as Active D-Lighting and especially high-ISO noise reduction
To maximize burst speed:
- Shoot JPEG if you need the longest burst
- Or shoot RAW only instead of RAW+JPEG
- Turn off extra processing features like D-Lighting and noise reduction when possible
- Use a fast, reliable memory card
The reported 20+ second pause is not normal for typical burst behavior. Community answers suggest that points more to a card issue or possibly a camera problem than to ordinary autofocus or exposure timing.
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