Mirror Lockup Shots

[Seesee]

OK, it has been mentioned a few times now about mirror lockup shots to avoid camera shake on not so steady tripods, not too sure what this really means, but..............are we talking about going to the camera menu and selecting mirror lockup as used for accessing the sensor for cleaning, activating it, and then pressing the shutter button ?.....what about viewing to focus on a subject ?

[Knawful]

I tried it a few minutes ago Col,
It's a shooting mode on the D200, i think the D50 is for sensor cleaning only, i could be wrong. (have a look under shooting modes in the destruction's)
when mirror lock is up you cant meter/auto focus or see through the viewfinder...Press the shutter release to raise the mirror, then press again to take the picture.

[Seesee]

Ah right, thanx mate, nah the D-50 only has it for sensor cleaning....hmmmm, but I wonder if it would still work ?

[Ronbo]

Yeah another feature I needed to go to the D80 for. Colin there is a setting where the mirror locks up and .4 seconds after that the shutter opens. Kinda reminds me of the shutter lag in P&S since if you forget to set it back all your handheld pics look you you pressed the button and thought the camera took the shot right away so it got the shot when you were dropping the camera or reframing..yep I am so embarrassed as I have done it more times than I care to remember.

[arthurking83]

Hey Col,

MLU is normally used for one(or two) reasons.

If you have a superduper long focal length or using a telescope, or if your tripod is of unworthy support value.

I need it a few times when using the 500 mirror, or alternatively I'll place my hand over the camera body to dampen the mirror induced vibes, and also shoot 3fps in the hope that it'll counter the vibes effect.

the other reason you may need MLU mode is if you have a lens type that pushes the rear element well into the mirror box, ie. closer to the film plane.
There are a few lenses of this type still around and the ost famous one is the 'the dish', which is the famous 6 and 8mm fisheyes made many years ago, which give a 200°+ view, and a front element the size of a large dinner plate. The rear element sits just a few mm from the film plane, and would completely destroy a mirror flap, if the body doesn't have MLU mode.

Like A_K said the MLU mode on the D50/70 is only for sensor cleaning.

[MarkW]

the other reason you may need MLU mode is if you have a lens type that pushes the rear element well into the mirror box, ie. closer to the film plane.

AK
One of the things mentioned in Hogan's D200 ebook is never to fit a lens which extends into the mirror box (he lists a number of them) cause when the mirror tries to return to its rest position the lens will cause it damage.

In MLU once the image is taken I think the mirror returns to its rest state and not remain in the lock up position. I might be wrong as I haven't used this setting yet but only what I've read and comprehended.

[Roof]

I could be stupid but Mirror lock-up is that the same as BULB setting?

I have a pentax K100D but can't find anything that explains this.

Please help

[Ronbo]

No mirror lock up is when the mirror flips up before the shutter opens...this reduces camera shake while mounted on a tripod.

BULB is when you manually or electronically hold open the shutter for a time that you determine. You hold the shutter release either by holding the button or the remote (wireless or cable) when first pressed the shutter opens..and when released the shutter closes...you have to time it manually using a watch or timer or by the counting method.

[MarkW]

In an SLR or DSLR (virtually the same thing), before the shutter screen makes its pass, the viewing mirror must fold up out of the way.

Try this site for more info http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/camera5.htm

[Roof]

Thanks Guys.

I did manage to download my manual and on page 67 it explains it perfectly.

Still thank you very much for explaining this to me.

Roof