Locking up mirror

[ione]

I am wondering how the rest of you do when shooting using a tripod, and using an IS lens.

Nowadays there is so much to keep in mind while shooting, that I think I'm going to make a chi chi and attached to my tripod.

I was shooting the fall foliage the other day, and I locked up the mirror, but then I forgot to turn off the IS. Needless to say, the shots came out horribly.

I had a discussion with Canon and they told me that it wouldn't make any difference if I was shooting <5secs.

What's your opinion?

BTW I was using 40D 28-135 lens

[S.Horton]

It would help a great deal if you posted the picture.

FWIW, I've not seen IS 'ruin' a shot.

If you can't post the picture, describe what was wrong with it.......

[ione]

Oh I deleted I was so freaking frustrated it, it was blurred, and had this distortion the leaves washed.... horrible....

I have been having some issue with this glass. Mind you, it's over 5 years old. I have used it with 3 different EOS dig cameras. I realize that when I use the lens over 50mm and I hold it I try to see how sturdy and I can see and feel a slight movement.

I asked Canon they said it's fine. On the other hand I shoot hand held and it came out great but it's inconsistent

[Sparky98]

Was it so dark that you were having to make a long exposure or were you just trying to eliminate any camera shake and so used MLU? If you were using a long shutter speed was the wind blowing? Wind could account for blurry foliage. Were your pictures blurry or was the exposure off?

Like Sam said post a picture and we can get a better idea of what the problem might be and then we can have a better idea of how to help.

[ione]

No contrare, it was a post card chamber of commerce weather peeeerfect it had this beautiful goldish glow toward the end of the day before sunset. There was a slight breeze not a lot it was cool

I think it was the exposure based on the reading, I'd have to dig to see if I could find a copy because as I said I got so frustrated and mad that I deleted them after viewing them on the screen at home thanks

[S.Horton]

Just a guess -- Clean the lens.

[PacAce]

What kind of tripod were you using?

BTW, your thread title (re mirror lockup) doesn't seem to match what you are asking about (keeping IS on when on a tripod).

[ione]

Yes I had the lens clean, and I even used an eraser to clean the contact.

I was using the heaviest Bogen tripod that you can think I forget the model number.

But in any event, I just read somewhere that whenever you use a tripod that the mirror should be locked, and the IS turned off

[justincase724]

Yeah, I remember something about when using a tripod, turn the IS off. For some reason the IS motors would freak out or something if they remained perfectly still (not sure why, or if this is true). As for mirror lockup, I don't think it's absolutely necessary. Yeah, it may shake the camera a (very small) bit when the mirror swings open, but depending on the composition, you'd never notice. Now if you're shooting with a long telephoto, that small movement may be more exagerated on the sensor. That's when you would want to use the lock-up.

[GilesGuthrie]

I switch IS off when using a tripod. My 100-400 definitely creeps with IS on when it's not actually needing to stabilise the image.

I generally use MLU as well, although I think it's only really important when you're tending towards the load limit of your tripod. Remember that the load limit varies according to what configuration you have it in. Notably, raising the centre column (if you can) significantly increases susceptibility to shaking the rig through mirror slap.

[ione]

As I said, I need to create a chi chi to go over the check list like a pilot before shooting too many things to check.

Giles what you said about the centre column how true. I don't raise unless I have to because what you expleained

[justincase724]

What's a "chi chi"? Same thing as a "cheat sheet"?

[ione]

yep, you got me......

have you ever experienced complete mental block? I couldn't come out with the right spelling....

[tzalman]

MLU is only effective in the range between 1/30 of a second and 2 seconds. Longer than that the amount of time during which the camera vibrates from mirror slap is an insignificant percentage of the exposure time.

With a 40D, if you use Live View the mirror is locked up already.

[ione]

Yes, it makes sense,

BTW what's the deal with Ed Weston do you mind sharing? or private joke?