Minolta D7.

Nikon Coolpix 990.

Minolta D7.

As is obvious from the above sequence the continous "motor drive" on the D7 is not capable of keeping up with such fast action. That is, don´t expect to record it as a video with 5MP... Remember that such a jump is about half a second long, you really need much more than the about 1.1 frames/second the D7 can give you at full resolution. If you reduce the image size or use the video mode you can get a video sequence, but better use the proper tool for that - a videocamera.

It is as I see it NOT a problem to shot several single shots in rapid succession, the D7 buffer is quite capable of this, but for fast motor drive sequences - get a professional camera such as the D1H or use a videocam. However, I do find it quite easy to get the proper timing in action shots by looking with my right eye in the D7 eyefinder and the left eye directly on the scene, the right eye is just sort of tracking that I don´t move the camera and change the framing, the left I is deciding the proper time to release the shutter. It works, try it! The EVF delay is short-circuited this way, it is bypassed. Since you should have the D7 pre-focused (manual or half-press) the D7 shutter release delay is very short.