Nikon D300 Complete Manual page 422

Frame Rate)" on page <423>), when the internal memory
buffer fills, the D300 must write that information to the
CompactFlash card. As enough internal memory becomes
available for another image, the D300 again releases the
shutter. Fortunately, the D300's buffer is rather large and
its write speed to storage is fast, so it's rare that you'll
encounter buffer delays, but it is possible, especially if you
shoot NEF format in rapid bursts. Suggestion: make sure
that you're using UDMA capable cards, which clear
images out of the buffer faster than cards using older
technologies.
• Autofocus is set to Single Servo. In low contrast scenes
and sometimes with moving objects, the autofocus
mechanism may take longer than usual to lock onto the
focus point. If you've set Single Servo AF, the camera
won't release the shutter until autofocus is achieved (you
can override that with Custom Setting #A2). With
telephoto lenses that do not have a built-in motor (i.e. are
not AF-I or AF-S), the number of turns the autofocus motor
has to make to drive a lens from one extreme focus
position to another can also be a factor (generally you
don't see this with wide angle lenses). Suggestion: if you
use Single Servo autofocus, also select Single Point
autofocus and confine yourself to the center fifteen focus
sensors, which have better low-light performance.
• The shutter speed is long. In the continuous release frame
rate shooting method, it is possible for long shutter speeds
to reduce the camera's frame rate. While this doesn't
contribute lag to the initial frame in a burst, you may feel
like subsequent frames have a built-in lag. Consider, for
example, that you have the camera set to shoot
continuously and are using a shutter speed of
Obviously, the absolute best you're going to get is
something less than 2 frames per second, not the 5 frames
per second maximum the D300 is capable of. Suggestion:
use faster lenses or a higher ISO value so that you can get
shorter shutter speeds.
Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
V1.02
second.
Page 422