Release mode

Choose the operation performed when the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down.

Choosing a release mode

To choose the operation performed when the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down, hold the c (E) button and rotate the main command dial.

  • Options for the selected setting, if any, can be chosen by holding the c (E) button and rotating the sub-command dial.
ModeDescription
U[Single frame]The camera takes one photograph each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
V[Continuous L]

The camera takes photographs at a selected rate while the shutter-release button is pressed.

  • Choose from rates of from 1 to 5 fps. To choose the frame rate, hold the c (E) button and rotate the sub-command dial.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
W[Continuous H]The camera takes photographs at up to 5.6 fps (up to 9.7 fps in silent mode) while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
X[Continuous H (extended)]The camera takes photographs at up to 11 fps (up to 15 fps in silent mode) while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
r[C15]The camera takes photographs at 15 or 30 fps while the shutter-release button is pressed (High-speed frame capture + (C15/C30)).
s[C30]
E[Self-timer]Take pictures with the self-timer (Using the self-timer (E)).

Frame advance rate

The maximum frame advance rates for [Continuous H] and [Continuous H (extended)] vary with camera settings.

Release modeImage qualityShutter type[Silent mode]: [ON]
Mechanical shutterElectronic front-curtain shutter
[Continuous H]NEF (RAW)/NEF (RAW) +Approx. 5.4 fpsApprox. 7.9 fpsApprox. 6.7 fps
JPEG/HEIFApprox. 5.6 fpsApprox. 8.3 fpsApprox. 9.7 fps
[Continuous H (extended)]NEF (RAW)/NEF (RAW) +Approx. 11 fpsApprox. 10 fpsApprox. 8.9 fps
JPEGApprox. 11 fpsApprox. 10 fpsApprox. 15 fps

Cautions: Continuous H (extended)

  • The camera may be unable to maintain consistent exposure across each burst at some settings. For consistent exposure across all the shots in each burst, use autoexposure lock (Autoexposure (AE) lock).
  • The frame advance rate for [Continuous H (extended)] drops to that for [Continuous H] when [HLG] is selected for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu.

Cautions: Burst photography

  • Depending on shooting conditions and memory card performance, the memory card access lamp may light for anywhere from a few tens of seconds to around a minute. Do not remove the memory card while the memory card access lamp is lit. Not only could any unrecorded images be lost, but the camera or memory card could be damaged.
  • If the camera is switched off while the memory card access lamp is lit, it will not power off until all images in the buffer have been recorded.
  • If the battery is exhausted while images remain in the buffer, the shutter release will be disabled and the images transferred to the memory card.

The memory buffer

  • While the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the frame-count display will show the number of pictures that can be stored in the memory buffer.
  • When the buffer is full, the display will show r000 and the frame rate will drop.
  • The number shown is approximate. The actual number of photos that can be stored in the memory buffer varies with camera settings and shooting conditions.

Series

Each series of shots taken during burst photography or high-speed frame capture + can be treated as a group. Use [Series playback] in the playback menu to choose how bursts are handled during playback.

High-speed frame capture + (C15/C30)

For high-speed burst photography at frame rates of 15 or 30 fps (high-speed frame capture +), hold the c (E) button and rotate the main command dial to choose [C15] or [C30].

  • The photos recorded may also include the final pictures from frames buffered while the shutter- release button is pressed halfway (“Pre-Release Capture”); to choose how much of the buffer is saved, use Custom Setting d3 [Pre-Release Capture options]. You can also limit the length of the burst recorded after the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down (d3: Pre-Release Capture options).
  • The touch shutter can be used only to take one picture at a time. Use the shutter-release button for high-speed frame capture +.

High-speed frame capture +: Restrictions

  • Image quality is fixed at [JPEG/HEIF normal] and pictures are recorded in JPEG format.
  • Image size is fixed at [Large].
  • Shutter speed is limited to values between 1/4000 s and 1/60 s.
  • Exposure compensation is restricted to values between −3 and +3 EV, although settings between −5 and +5 EV can be selected.
  • The upper limit for ISO sensitivity is ISO 51200, even when higher values (Hi 0.3 through Hi 2.0) are selected.
  • The option chosen for [Minimum shutter speed] will not apply if [ON] is selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO sensitivity control] in the photo shooting menu.
  • High-speed frame capture + cannot be combined with some camera features, including:
    • flexible program,
    • HLG tone mode,
    • photo flicker reduction,
    • flash photography,
    • bracketing,
    • multiple exposures,
    • HDR overlay,
    • interval-timer photography,
    • time-lapse video recording, and
    • focus shift.

High-speed frame capture +

Memory cards with a high write speed are recommended (Approved memory cards).

Using the self-timer (E)

In self-timer mode, pressing the shutter-release button all the way down starts a timer, and a photo is taken when the timer expires.

  1. Hold the c (E) button and rotate the main command dial to select [Self-timer].
  2. Hold the c (E) button and rotate the sub-command dial to choose the self-timer delay.
  3. Frame the photograph and focus.

    The timer will not start if the shutter cannot be released, as may be the case, for example, if the camera is unable to focus when AF-S is selected for focus mode.
  4. Start the timer.
    • Press the shutter-release button all the way down to start the timer; the self-timer lamp will begin to flash. The lamp stops flashing two seconds before the timer expires.
    • The timer duration, the number of shots taken, and the interval between shots can be selected using Custom Setting c2 [Self-timer].