Key findings
- Burst mode captures photos in rapid succession when shooting action scenes such as sporting events or wildlife.
- The iPhone 15 has a high burst rate of 10 FPS, but Android phones vary, some allow FPS adjustment.
- After taking burst photos, you can manually select, save and share your favorites or use apps to create more engaging content.
Most modern smartphones support some sort of burst mode. Depending on the make and type of phone you have, the process for enabling this feature will vary, so I’ve broken down the steps for modern and older Android and iPhone devices.
What is burst mode?
Burst mode is a feature used to capture multiple photos in quick succession. It is also known as continuous shooting mode, continuous shooting, or sports mode. As the latter name suggests, it is extremely useful for taking action shots of fast-moving subjects, such as sporting events or wildlife.
Instead of trying to anticipate the subject’s movement and press the shutter button at just the right moment, photographers can use burst mode to take multiple shots and then select the images they want to keep from the group, or arrange the images in a sequence to emphasize the transitions.
The maximum number of photos that can be captured in one shot is measured in frames per second (FPS). The faster your phone’s processing speed, the more FPS it can capture. Most Android phones capture 20-30 images at an FPS rate of 2-4 per second, while some phones have a customizable burst mode that allows you to choose the frame rate and number of photos captured.
The iPhone 15, on the other hand, shoots at 10 FPS, which is more than some professional DSLR cameras.
How to take dynamic burst photos on an iPhone
The Burst Mode feature is available on all iPhones running iOS 7 or later. Depending on your iPhone model, you can access and activate Burst Mode in different ways.
On the latest iPhones and back to the iPhone 11, it is not necessary to adjust any settings. Instead, when the Camera app is open, simply Tap the shutter button, holdAnd slide to the left. The phone will continue to take photos until you take your finger off the shutter button, and a counter on the side will tell you how many pictures are being taken.
If you want to change the method for activating Burst Mode on a modern iPhone, you can go to Settings, and scroll down to Camera. In the list of options you will see a button called Use the volume for burst. If you select this option, you can long-press the volume button on the side of the phone to take burst photos instead of using the shutter button.
Older iPhones
If you have an older iPhone released before 2019 (iPhone 11 and earlier), activating Burst Mode is a little different. Instead of swiping left on the shutter button, you just hold down it. It’s also worth noting that on older iPhones, the Burst Mode feature is automatically disabled when you use the timer, zoom, or HDR settings.
How to take dynamic burst photos on an Android phone
On an Android phone, burst mode may need to be enabled manually in the camera settings. If your device is running the latest Android operating system, burst mode should be permanently available and is enabled by Swipe the shutter button to left or the Right.
You can change the number of pictures taken by pressing the small Arrow up of the screen and select the Timed salvo icon. This option allows you to select between 10 and 600 images in intervals of 1 to 60 seconds.
Samsung phones
To use the burst shooting feature on a Samsung phone, you will probably need to enable it first. Open your Camera app and go to Settings. Scroll down and tap Swipe the shutter button to take burst photos.
On the next screen, select Take a series shot, Then return to your camera app. To use the burst function, Hold down the shutter button And slide it down. The camera takes up to 100 pictures until you take your finger off the button.
Taking the perfect burst shot
Although it’s a useful feature, using burst mode alone doesn’t guarantee that your action shots will be well-framed and perfectly focused.
No matter what type of phone you have, there are a few extra steps you need to take if you want your images to look professional. As with any type of photography, the most important thing to think about is lighting. If you’re indoors, make sure there’s a light source bright enough to illuminate the subject. If you’re outdoors, think about your positioning and avoid shooting directly into the sun.
Before you start shooting, check zoom levels, exposure and focus so you’re ready at the right moment. When taking burst photos, remember that the shutter opens and closes several times per second, so try to keep your phone in the same position and as still as possible until you remove your finger from the shutter.
If your phone has an image stabilization mode, you can enable this with the burst mode to get even better images with less blur, which is ideal for fast action shots. Alternatively, a phone stand mounted on the floor or table will ensure that the camera is completely stable when taking the shots.
Select and share your favorite burst photos
Once you’ve taken a series of burst photos, you can access them in your gallery. On Android devices, burst photos are identifiable by a small, gray file icon in the bottom left corner. Tapping the image and then the file icon will open the full selection of images taken, allowing you to see which ones are blurred or repeated. Select the ones you want to keep and the rest will be automatically deleted.
To access your burst photos on an iPhone, you need to go to your photo album, Media types, and select Outbreaks. This option will open a screen with all your available burst photos stacked on top of each other and you can choose whether you want to keep all of them or just the selected ones.
If you want to share images from a burst shot with friends, you’ll first have to manually select each image you want to keep, save it to your photo album, and then select and share them individually. However, for a more unique option, you can download an app like Gif Toaster or ImgPlay that will let you turn your photo sequence into a slideshow or GIF. You can also add fun elements like text and filters to further customize your GIFs.
So next time you’re at a ball game or walking the dog, remember to enable burst mode on your smartphone. Then impress your friends with clear, sharp action shots rather than blurry images or ones that miss the highlight by a split second.
