Burst Mode
Burst mode, also called motor drive, means rapid-fire shooting as you keep the shutter button pressed—on the best cameras, several shots per second. Little cameras don't offer much in the way of burst mode, but SLRs can rattle off 3, 5, or even 7 shots per second.
(Some cameras let you keep firing like this until the memory card is full. More commonly, though, there's a maximum burst of, say, 10 or 20 shots.)
Why is burst mode so high on this "important features" list? Because it's great for sports and wildlife. It's also fantastic for portraits, because you can choose from multiple gradations of smile and expression.
Finally, for group shots, it's essential; it's the only prayer you have of getting a single photo where nobody's blinking.
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