focus bracketing interval

[LeesKeys]

Using my X-s10 with focus bracketing. I've found that even though I have the interval set at 0 seconds, after I initiate the sequence, the shutter will fire 15 or 20 times then, pause a few seconds, fire a few more, pause again, and repeat this pattern until the series is finally finished. Thinking about it now, I wonder if it has something to do with the memory card I'm using. (Transcend R95 w60MB/s).

Thoughts?

[jerryy]

While the card will have an impact, the camera itself can only take so many images before the buffer is filled and it must dump (write) the stored images out to the card.

https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/cameras/x-s10/specifications/

Scroll down to the section called “Continuous Shooting” and you will find your answer there.

[LeesKeys]

Good information, thanks. For rapid shooting such as a focus bracketing series, is there an advantage with mechanical versus electronic shutter?

[jerryy]

It depends on the lighting, electronic shutter can have issues with banding for some types of lighting. It is also possible to get something called rolling shutter from electronic shutter. On the other hand, you get way faster shutter speeds.

The two issues do not turn up as much lately, because the folks building cameras put a lot of work into preventing them, but the issues do turn up now and then, so try some test shots and make sure things look fine first. 

[BobJ]

When focus bracketing it is unlikely that you will be dealing with fast moving subjects or flickering lights. If you set the interval to 0 you run the risk of shutter shock taking the edge off the sharpness. So electronic shutter is the way to go in most circumstances.

[jerryy]

Yup, it is very tricky to use focus bracketing for birds in flight photos 😀.

But, fluorescent lighting can still cause flickering or banding, usually it is easier to use the mechanical shutter with indoor lighting.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/flicker-free-lights-and-why-they-are-important-you