Mirror Slap Really Bad!

[soupdragon]

I don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs but:
I could not understand how I acheived such a range of sharp to soft images with my 350 + 100 2.8 macro.
I did some tripod mounted controlled lighting macro shots and was mortified to see how soft the images when the mirror was not locked up.
So if you don't want to spend hours arguing the toss with your local lens retailler about how your lens is a lemon, try mirror lock up first.

[mr.photoguy]

Very good point..
I use it when hand holding at times also ...
Did it this morning.

[soupdragon]

I would like to be able to do that myself!
How do you overcome framing problems doing that?

[cmM]

I would like to be able to do that myself!
How do you overcome framing problems doing that?
Just stand still after the mirror locks up ;):-P

[mr.photoguy]

and don't breath....

[cmM]

and don't breath....
no no, that'll just make it worse

Take the shot while you exhale, towards the end... that's when you're most stable.

[soupdragon]

Are you guys yanking my chain here?

I can just bearly keep my subjects in frame during macro without using mirror up let alone if I lost sight of the subject.

Perhaps large brandy or two before hand will calm my nerves?

[mr.photoguy]

no no, that'll just make it worse

Take the shot while you exhale, towards the end... that's when you're most stable.
indeed, I do something like that. I exhale, then hold my breath for like 2 seconds or so.. I have this awkward ability to calm myself down though ...

[Lani]

Okay, will someone tell me how to use MLU. I did go into custom and activiated mirror lock up. However, after I frame a subject, hold the sutter button down for two seconds, then compleste the shot, nothing happens, but screen goes black. It seem like it waits 30 seconds, I hear something release, but I only have a black screen, not photo was taken. Please tell me what I am doing wrong. I am using the Canon Rebel XT 350D...Thank you...!

[Kraig C]

you gotta press the button twice, once to lock up the mirror, again to release the shutter and send the mirror back into viewing position, you may want to put a remote controll into use here so you don't move the camera when hitting the button the second time.

[tim]

Okay, will someone tell me how to use MLU. I did go into custom and activiated mirror lock up. However, after I frame a subject, hold the sutter button down for two seconds, then compleste the shot, nothing happens, but screen goes black. It seem like it waits 30 seconds, I hear something release, but I only have a black screen, not photo was taken. Please tell me what I am doing wrong. I am using the Canon Rebel XT 350D...Thank you...!

That one got me when I first got my 20D too!

[cmM]

Okay, will someone tell me how to use MLU. I did go into custom and activiated mirror lock up. However, after I frame a subject, hold the sutter button down for two seconds, then compleste the shot, nothing happens, but screen goes black. It seem like it waits 30 seconds, I hear something release, but I only have a black screen, not photo was taken. Please tell me what I am doing wrong. I am using the Canon Rebel XT 350D...Thank you...!
Easiest way is to use the self timer drive mode on the camera. With mirror lock-up it won't take the usual 10 seconds or whatever to take the shot, it'll take like 2, lock the mirror, another 1 or 2 secs, take the shot.

[ron chappel]

Are you guys yanking my chain here?




Yes,they are

[ron chappel]

you gotta press the button twice, once to lock up the mirror, again to release the shutter and send the mirror back into viewing position, you may want to put a remote controll into use here so you don't move the camera when hitting the button the second time.

What a strange way to design MLU. That means one HAS to use a remote or the act of pressing the shutter the second time would ruin the benifit of MLU .

[jojohohanon]

ya.

Pretty much every reviewer of the XT and earlier models made the same complaint/plea: use MLU automatically with all self-timers, and add a two second timer as a menu option.

Canon's compacts all have 2 or 10 sec timer choice in the menus, which I use with my s400 for longish exposures propped against improvised supports. That their SLRs lack it, after all the reviews must mean that either 1) canon have made the business decision to not implement it that way, or 2) there's a patent or some other impediment to doing 'the obvious thing'.

[LordV]

Rather than playing with MLU, why not just stay out of it's effect range- It's supposed to only effect images in the shutter speed range 2 secs to 1/15th sec. I certainly have not had any problem with exposures over 5 secs. If you are trying to handhold within that speed range then good luck :)
Brian V.

[soupdragon]

Rather than playing with MLU, why not just stay out of it's effect range- It's supposed to only effect images in the shutter speed range 2 secs to 1/15th sec. I certainly have not had any problem with exposures over 5 secs. If you are trying to handhold within that speed range then good luck :)
Brian V.

Hello Brian.

I missed your bit on this post.
I can't seem to hand hold at speeds slower than 1/60th, I must have a high natural frequency.
I have tried upping the ISO but I have trouble living with the noise.