Mirror Lock Up Confusion

[peterm1]

Sorry for my newbie question, but can someone explain mirror lock-up on the 10D and when I should use it - the manual doesn't get into this.

I understand it helps reduce vibration, but how and when do you use it? I see you can "enable" lock-up with a custom function, but then what happens exactly and what should I do?

Is it for tripod use only?

And how does it interact with the self-timer and remote?

Currently if I want to take a photo with a tripod, I use the self-timer for landscape and other still shots. Should I always use the lock up function too?

Finally, why would I need a remote if I am using the self-timer?

Thanks!

-Peter M
www.pbase.com/peterm1

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Hi,

On a tripod and extreme zooms it can be very helpfull to select the mirror lockup.
The SLAM from the mirror will cause some small vibrations in your system which will be evident on extreem zooms.

The timer is reduced to 3 seconds with the lockup, this combination will give you PERFECT shots on a tripod without any movement what so ever.

Greetings,
Frank

[robertwgross]

There is more to it.

Mirror slap causes a small amount of vibration when it flies up, and then another small amount of vibration when it falls back down.

Normally, there is a limited range of shutter speeds where mirror slap vibration is detectable. It varies by camera and by tripod, but the worst range is about 1/2 second to 1/16 second.

Much slower than that, like five seconds, and the five seconds of exposure will wipe out whatever small vibration took place in a small fraction of a second. Much faster than that, like 1/60 second, and the vibration just never seems to show up while the shutter is open.

Take your DSLR camera apart sometime, and you will see what I mean.

(just kidding)

---Bob Gross---

[Webster]

What Bob says is true, but I just about always use mirror lock up when I'm using a tripod because, why not? It can't hurt, and it just might help. Also, I figure that three second delay used by the self timer just might mean something, so that's how long I wait after the mirror goes up before I click off a shot.

[robertwgross]

If I were doing scenic nature shots, then waiting around for mirror lockup to go might be tolerable. However, if I am doing wildlife shots, I am sure as hell not going to wait for that.

It all depends on the subject matter and how you are shooting.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

Peter, you don't need to be sorry for a newbie question.

Often it gives the old farts a chance to exercise what it is that they think they know. By stating opinions and trying to argue a little to explain it, the old farts start to understand it better.

It has been said that the only way to really understand a subject is to have to teach it.

---Bob Gross---