What limits FPS?

[thetrue]

Why is it that some cameras, like mine, are limited to 3.x fps, while others are capable of 10+fps in burst? Is there a "hack" or some program that would allow me to shoot mirrorless without the mechanical shutter and shoot more frames per second? I'm prepared for lashings of "just search, loser", and to you I say: I did

 

[Light Guru]

It's a physical limitation of the camera itself. The cameras processed and data writing abilities.

As for using a DSLR as a mirror less camera sorry they are just not designed that way.

So no hack.

 

[480sparky43 42]

The speed of the memory card is a factor as well.

Some cameras gain a bit on the FPS rate when a battery grip is attached.

But I think the biggest factor is the target market of the camera itself. Entry-level DSLRs don't tout high FPS rates as the average first-time buyer either doesn't know what it is or doesn't care. The makers won't bother stuffing the ability of 6FPS into a $400 DSLR body.

 

[thetrue]

As far as mirrorless not being a capability: when using it in live mode, is that not the the mirror locked up and shutter open therefore exposing the sensor? Is there a "pre" sensor that allows you to see the scene without actually opening the shutter? If the sensor IS exposed, aside from the limitations of a memory card, why couldn't it be hacked to do something like the Sony cameras do?

 

[table1349]

Why is it that some cameras, like mine, are limited to 3.x fps, while others are capable of 10+fps in burst? Is there a "hack" or some program that would allow me to shoot mirrorless without the mechanical shutter and shoot more frames per second? I'm prepared for lashings of "just search, loser", and to you I say: I did

Yes, it's called a video camera.

 

[thetrue]

Why is it that some cameras, like mine, are limited to 3.x fps, while others are capable of 10+fps in burst? Is there a "hack" or some program that would allow me to shoot mirrorless without the mechanical shutter and shoot more frames per second? I'm prepared for lashings of "just search, loser", and to you I say: I did

Yes, it's called a video camera.

Riiiiiiiiight. I'm not sure how many video cameras can take 10+ quality stills per second. Great answer, but for the wrong question.....

 

[rexbobcat]

As far as mirrorless not being a capability: when using it in live mode, is that not the the mirror locked up and shutter open therefore exposing the sensor? Is there a "pre" sensor that allows you to see the scene without actually opening the shutter? If the sensor IS exposed, aside from the limitations of a memory card, why couldn't it be hacked to do something like the Sony cameras do?

The Canon 1DX already does this.

But it's firmware already allows this. There's no hack that I know of

 

[thetrue]

I'm going to assume that it wouldn't be possible to install the 1Dx firmware on a lesser body then, right?

 

[Andrei_316]

Well, with fast shutter speeds come with a high price (most of the time on dslr's) because of the extensive work they have to do, alot of stuff goes on when the mirror goes up and down , especially if they can last more than 200,000 shots with a camera.

If there is a way to ''hack'' the camera body it won't last long if the mirror goes up and down more then it can handle

 

[KmH]

I'm going to assume that it wouldn't be possible to install the 1Dx firmware on a lesser body then, right?

Probably not because of the different image processors in the different grades of cameras.

Two other devices critical to FPS is the A/D converter and if it offers 12-bit, or 14-bit conversion, or both, and the memory buffer and it's capacity.

EOS-1D X uses Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors that include four 4-channel A/D converter front-end processing circuits and deliver speeds of up to 12 fps (RAW + JPEG) and 14 fps (JPEG). Compared with the predecessor, Canon's DIGIC 4 Image Processor, the Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processor offers approximately 17x faster processing speed,[.....

The 5D MKIII uses a single DIGIC 5+ image processor.

EOS 5D Mark III uses a DIGIC 5+ Image Processor. Working with two 4-channel A/D converter front-end processing circuits, and delivering speeds of up to 6.0 fps (RAW + JPEG),...

 

[shefjr]

Isn't there a direct relation between the MPs and the FPS?
My (probably wrong) understanding was the higher the MPs the less FPS because there was a large amount of information to process. And then the lower the MPs the more FPS because the is less information to process.... If I'm wrong I'm sure you'll let me know. :thumbup:

 

[thetrue]

I wonder (sue me!) if there's some hardware that can be added to increase the performance, almost like adding RAM to your PC. Any thoughts on this?

 

[table1349]

Yes, Buy one of these....

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt9tvgKbeB1qzkn7so1_500.jpg

Take some white out or black out as the case may be and change it to read...
REBEL
T1i


If you are a Nikon shooter the addition of a grip may help.

 

[thetrue]

If $6800 was in my budget, I'd be all over it.

 

[Light Guru]

I'm going to assume that it wouldn't be possible to install the 1Dx firmware on a lesser body then, right?

NO!!! They have different image processing chips.

Again it is a physical limitation of what the computer inside the camera can do. There is a reason the higher end cameras are more expensive because they can do things that the cheep cameras cannot.

Why would a camera manufacturer sell a camera body for cheep that had the physical and computing abilities to pro form like their higher end cameras by installing a symple hack?