Nikon D300 or D700 at 8 fps without battery grip

[ulrick04]

It's bracketing not really a way for 8fps.

[noodlesnacks]

nikon fail.

[PhuNguyen88]

@noodlesnacks yo mama !

[LEXPIX]

Cool.

[xXxmidgexXx]

what was that at 2:52?! my subwoofer kicked HARD!

[astroskeptic]

Thanks for the tip. BTW, I measured the frame rate by recording the sounds of the shutter, plotting the waveform and measuring the peak-to-peak spacings. The rate is actually about 7.25 fps ... not quite 8 but still better than the normal 6 (I measured the normal rate at just over 6).

[chrisrnz]

Handy video, thanks. It's a good tip, despite the battery grip providing vertical shooting (which is why I bought the MB-D10).

[youpanos]

Excellent! I works on my D700 as claimed.

[eCicerone]

BTW, want to inform to rest of you guys I just upgraded firmware to version 1.02 released Jan 2010 and you still get 8 fps on D700!

[Linogenl]

Interestingly, this little hack does NOT work with my D300s, which already shoots at 7Fps.

good tip for D300 users though :)

[MAN32TN]

I used a D300 firmware v1.10 and I found that:

a. It works OK with JPG and TIFF.

b. It ALSO works OK with 12bit-depth RAW and RAW+JPG.

c. It DOES NOT work with 14bit-depth RAW. This is the only drawback.

Great tip! Thanks !

[chrisrnz]

@MAN32TN The manual clearly states that 14-bit RAW slows down the max shooting speed so this shouldn't really be a big surprise to you ... if you've read the manual. ;-)

[21beal21]

wait wait wait, ive never even heard of this whole battery grip thing, it allows you to shoot faster?? i have a d40 and a d90, d40-2.5fps and the d90-4.5 fps, does the battery grip just allow it to shoot faster because of better power?? i thought it depended on the camera itself can someone brief me on this plz!?

[andreyfuentes]

Only the D300 / D700 battery grip can help to shot faster.

The grip for D40, D90 no

[21beal21]

@andreyfuentes ahhh ok, thanks alot!

[junotfranco]

Weong, the D90 with the battery grip running AA batries >2000mAh can achieve 5FPS..

[boolekx]

@21beal21 grip gives extra fps only with those two cameras 300/700

[KeNuBort]

shooting faster fps with a bat grip is not for d90 and below

[iAteUrCookies]

I <3 the sound of 8fps. :)

[pyrophilus]

This isn't exactly the same as using the grip. Nikon used to have an interview of the guy in japan who developed the MB-D10. In it, he says that the grip is designed not to only extend the frame rate, but it also increase the speed of the shutter/mirror actuation.

this is true. Although doing the above trick in the video does create faster frame rates, popping on my MB-D10 makes it sound even faster, because the shutter/mirror flips up and down faster.

[PhotoCrimeX]

This is an extremely useful tutorial. I think it's stupid that they didn't have 8fps already available in the D300/s/D700. This also works on the Nikon D300s.

[jun19fan40]

So is there any reason to buyt he grip if you only want the higher frame rates? What else can't be used?

[neosoux]

wouldnt it damage the sensor due to overheating?

[xMandalorex]

hmmm so... if we add the battery grip it will be 10FPS then ? seeing as the camera shoots at 8FPs now with out it (due to your method) lol or ???

[tylercrotch]

no, if you get the battery grip it's still 8fps but instead of only being able to shoot 9 shots at 8fps you can shoot around 40

[egypsie]

Thank you so much for posting, easy to follow. I do hope you decide to be doing more of these tutorials!!! :)

[wongchingku]

Works awesome. Scared for my life about the shutter though, won't be trying that in a long time. :)

[red95isback]

works like a charm. also, if you set your step value to .3EV you're still within 1 stop plus or minus...comes in VERY handy when you want to bracket and dont have your tripod. thanks!!

[chargerfun34]

Thanks so much for this video. Do you have any more tips on the Nikon D300?

[lukic787]

It just works great, thanks a lot!!

[CrashMaster44]

This is a great discovery. I just took a class for the D300. To get 8 FPS would otherwise cost over $500. The battery pack, the Chamber cover,the lithium ion battery, AND the charger.

Thanks for posting this!!

[i8yourfwd]

Wrong.

You can get 8fps with AA batteries.

[notfitforsociety]

I just tried this on my D300 v 1.01/1.00 in RAW mode and it worked. I thought it would bracket as well the way he was setting it up but it didn't, all nine shots were the same. I was just about to buy the battery pack today specifically to get the higher frame rate then I found this. I love the youtubes.

[xenonsupra]

no, it will take 9 properly exposed images. try it.

[xenonsupra]

no it won't. try it.

[eCicerone]

@BadenRoth why don't you try it out before going of on the keyboard. I have tried and it works, there's no bracketing!

[chrisrnz]

@BadenRoth Yeah, it won't. It's bracketing flash only - it's why the video says you can't use a flash while in this mode. As deanx0r said, aperture, shutter speed and iso all remain the same ...

[zzclef]

wow.. thanks...

[J40d]

i tried on my d700 and it works fine. this is not an alternative for the grip, but it's still pretty cool!

[crocotone]

cool... it works also with my D700

[myiphoneapp]

cool discovery, I hope i have a d300 :)

[M24E9L]

just curious, you shoot on JPG, so is it work on RAW file ?

[lifanus]

Pros use d2x/d3/d3x, period.

[foxesamu]

No. It simply depends on what type of pro you are. A wildlife pro would probably want DX format. A wedding photographer would do best with the D700 because there is little reason for the pro body of the D3 unless they really want to pay $1,500 for dual card slots. etc etc etc

[kokester95]

Thank you for the tip, I've just tried it and it works!!!!!!!!!!! Very nice trick.

[deanx0r]

I was running similar settings so I could shoot a burst with a touch of a button without having to dial in CL or CH mode. I never realized that I was actually shooting at 8fps! Pretty interesting, and still working with the latest firmware release (1.30) FYI).

[mstubblefield72]

Firmware release 1.3? I am only aware of version 1.10? I just checked Nikon USA's support site and do not see that there...is there something newer that I'm not aware of??

[deanx0r]

1.10

typo

[eddie2042]

screw it, i'l just buy the grip :P

[mousewrestler]

I just tested it by shooting a running stopwatch (iPhone). Its either 8fps or just under it but definitely over 7fps.

Thanks for the hack!

[itchyundies]

but wont the shots be bracketed as you set the bracketing mode yeah so it will be under and over exposed havent tried it yet but sounds a great idea

[deanx0r]

Flash bracketed shots means shutter, aperture, or iso remain constant. The only thing that changes is the flash power. Because the flash is off, all 9 shots are the same.

[evan2156]

Great little secret! How did you learn this? I think you neglected to mention this only works in JPEG file mode though.

[xenonsupra]

it worked in RAW for me. try again!

[evan2156]

Your correct. I retried in RAW but will NOT work if I'm using lossless compression for RAW file. Still didn't tell us how you figured this out. Thanx!

[xenonsupra]

I can't give away my secret methods.

[PhuNguyen88]

@evan2156 dude your selfish, thats not your secret methods. You got it from internet ! Search for D300 overclock. He uses RAW but 12bit so he will be able to shoot with 8Fps. Warning, this will hurt your camera.

[rinceresource]

why would anyone serious about photography and quality not want a grip? imop all cameras considered pro or semi-pro should be full bodied which means the grip is built in. the d300 is a professional camera so compliment it since nikon is obviously too lazy to build a proper pro camera for under $2000. nothing worse than seeing huge, expensive glass hanging off a chopped in half camera body with no grip either added or built in from the factory... a pro from texas.

[scabberdoug]

I guess, by reading your comment, that the Canon 5D Mark II is also not a pro or semi-pro camera because Canon was too lazy to build it with a vertical grip (and it is over $2000). For that fact the H3DII would not qualify either.

[rinceresource]

"scabberdoug," you would be right. same would apply with the d700. nikon, canon and now sony offer "semi-pro" gear to "advanced amatuers" to sell more cameras, (good business sense but hell on pros trying to make a living). this allows novices a chance to "look like a pro" without the credentials of being one. it cheapens the whole professional industry to be honest.

[scabberdoug]

yeah right, the Hasselblad really cheapens the industry. I don't know what you are using but it must be really something.

a pro not from texas.

[itchyundies]

who needs a grip on a landscape camera when scampering through the bush not me

[GLXLR]

Because not everyone has the money for it.

[TheCarLessDriven]

wtf?? You have got to be kidding me. How in the hell does the size of a camera body indicate its "Status"? A $1000 lens is the same on a D300 or a D3. (Sans the FOV of course but that doesn't affect performance)

Your obviously an elitist.

[jdsony]

Sorry but that's retarded. There are tons of pro's who don't want a 'full bodied' DSLR due to the size and weight. There are actually many pros using the Canon 5D not because it's cheaper than the 1D but because it's smaller. The D700 has the same appeal this way. In an ideal world we would all own both a small and large camera.

[hamaka]

ANd with the new firmware (1,03) you won't be enable to do this hack anymore; so if you want 8fps without the grip don't upgrade the firmware, stay with version 1.00

[Kadschedi]

Is this also possible with the new Nikon D700? Can you tell me please?

[MacrossTse]

It seems that N cheats her customers by limiting the shutter function with programme.

By this way, N pushes them to buy hand grip.

[nikonolism]

thx a lot ^^

it's quite stunning with only a single en-el3e to get to 8fps

lol

thx again ^^

[Chicagois2]

and also.. to the poster, thanks for this little trick. I tried it just to see if it worked, and it did. But I still prefer the grip

[xenonsupra]

i plan on buying the grip as well, this was just a little trick for people to mess with.

[Chicagois2]

Umm...hello idiots

The 8fps isn't the ONLY reason to buy a grip. How about portrait mode w/ shutter, dials, multi-select, more battery life. I guess some of these comments show who actually does something with their camera, and who has it as just a toy.

[lullabud]

I couldn't get this to work with the newest firmware, didn't try with the old one. My biggest irk is that I can't get high shutter speeds with high quality images. =/ Canon 30D does...

A 1.02

B 1.00

[IonControl]

"My biggest irk is that I can't get high shutter speeds with high quality images."

User error. A good camera doesn't make good pictures. A good photographer does. It's you, not the camera.

[lullabud]

I didn't say good pictures, jackass, I said high quality.

[IonControl]

It's still you, not the camera.

[lullabud]

Hahaha, whatever you say man

[lazlobass]

I think he's talking about not being able to shoot RAW. some others have not been able to get 8fps in RAW

[chrisrioux]

Well, I have to hand it to you for finding a way of getting an extra frame per second. But I have the D300 and the grip, and if you read the instructions, the only way you get 8 fps is with 8 Double A (AA) batteries in it, or a D3 battery. With an extra EL3e you don't get any more frames, so it would sound similar. I just did many tests back and forth, and the 8 AA's are about one frame faster. AND CAN SHOOT MORE THAN a puny 9 frames at a time. But a very handy trick non the less. Thanks!

[JeremyLukas]

there´s a third way to get 8 fps. in the instructions nikon listed the ac adapter(page 77 user´s manual) as another way to speed it up.

it´s not a handy method because you´re tethered, but anyway....

by the way, the biggest laugh i had on page 43, about "adjusting the viewfinder":

...WHEN OPERATING THE DIOPTER CONTROL WITH YOUR EYE TO THE VIEWFINDER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO PUT YOUR FINGER OR FINGERNAILS IN YOUR EYE.

isn´t it great?

[44GINGE]

Absolutely fantastic bit of advice. I've just done the adjustments and now have the 8fps as indicated.

I was about to shell out £170 for the battery grip on Amazon, and that was cheap compared to the £260 retail cost.  Now there is absolutely no need to.

many thanks for posting this video.

[tguerrero75]

After I make these changes, I can still use my single shot as normal, right? I just wouldn't hold the function while i shoot?

[franctoma]

with this setup and MB-D 10, would you get 10 frames per second?

[xenonsupra]

not likely

[hamsi82]

Hi

This is noooooooooot 8fps !!!!

I have ha MB-10 and the sound is NOT same . This video is only 6fps SORRY guys. If this was so , then Nikon tell this in browsers manuell book.

/

Hamza

[xenonsupra]

I'm SORRY but its clearly faster than the 6fps setting. It is 8fps, just because nikon did not include it in the manual does not mean that its not possible. Don't be mad because you paid $250 for the grip and the rest of us don't have to buy it.

[petermalh]

i can understand the quailty of this video might not be optimal to hear those differences. at first, i didnt believe it but when i actually tired it out on my Nikon D300, it really does work, and sounds the full 8fps when i compared it with my MB-10 on. Why dont you try it out yourself (if you have the D300), then post your comments...

[dryan2]

its just bad audio

[petermalh]

i never really understood why you needed the battery grip to shot 8fps. you just proved, you can go about it.

i guess its Nikon's marketing trick just to make you buy the grip and batteries.

[zarathustra551]

Sorry maybe some settings are different on my D300 but I only got 6fps with this too =/. Recording format is Raw 12-bit, maybe it's buffer speed?

[woobstoob]

holy smokes!

[dvdburn10]

Fantastic - very nice ££££££ saved for now ( I like the vertical grip option tho) : > )

[dvdburn10]

Fantastic very good- £££££ : > )

[v0lv0]

i will get my D300 in 2 weeks :D and i was going to buy the MB-D10 battery grip to get the 8fps, but i am absolutley going to try this out. Great vid man, thumbs up.

(sorry for bad english)

[deckerTM]

Yes!! WORKS!! now i have a machine gun!!! muuaahahahaha!!!

[deckerTM]

whats the next step after set up the braketing setting to +9 and before start to shot??

I cannot understand what you say and don't know what's the step you make to switch into 8 fps or 6 fps

Thanks and sorry for my english, i'm spainard.

[xenonsupra]

make sure it is on "S" for single shot as opposed to "Ch" for continuous high like you would think.

[deckerTM]

Ok, i will try when go home and comment you the ressults.

While i press the shot button i must have pressed the "FUNC" buttón ¿is this correct?

Thanks

[rago]

Nice

[alankkwong1]

I tried it on my D300 and it works... thanks!!

[sandykeanufan]

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely try this out later :)

[Takeacoke]

thank you, you just saved me a few bugs :)

[dombower]

oh very sneeky! well done tfs

[weihnachtsgeldjunge]

yeah.. thanks man.. cool thing.

[trooperchaos]

Nice hack, thanx

[ChrisGugliuzza]

Wow, never knew this , thanks! Does this ruin an y IQ or mp?

[xenonsupra]

naw, it is meant to be able to shoot this fast. it just might kill your battery a little faster.