I use it for all landscapes, which is 98% of what I shoot. I've never actually done any real comparisons to see what kind of difference it makes, but I figure it can't hurt. The way I look at at it is that every little bit helps.
I use mirror lockup 100% of the time when I'm shooting multiple exposures for later HDR processing.
I've compared images with and without it, and it makes a visible difference - at least in the final HDR image.
For landscapes, if my exposure is slower than ~1/focal length (which is the majority of time) I use it. I haven't done any direct comparisons, but always used it just in case.
Posted by Tom Nevesely on July 23, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I also use it for every single landscape I shoot. I haven't done any tests to see if's it helps but it only takes a couple seconds so why not.
I use it 100% of the time on landscapes and close-ups that don't involve something that can move on its own...which covers probably 99% of the shots I take. I have the MLU setting on both my D200 bodies enabled all the time (i.e. I have to turn it off on the rare occasions when I don't want it), just so I won't forget to switch it on.
And it does make a difference when it comes to image sharpness, particularly with shutter speeds in the (roughly) 1/15 to 1 sec. range with an SLR.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on July 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I use it 100% of the time, and mostly in conjunction with a 2 second timer - I hate attaching a remote release - but that of course is only for the static subjects.
Always. Some cameras may be more susceptible to vibration than others - my D2X is particularly susceptible when shooting telephoto in combo w/ long shutter speeds. I use a remote release with MLU and it's become second nature. Prior to that, I used the timer and MLU to reduce the chance of vibrations ruining a shot.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on July 23, 2008 at 12:04 PM
All the time for landscape shots from a tripod.
I use the 2 sec timer & adding mirror lockup is no big deal.
From the tests I've seen, it only makes a difference in the slower shutter speed range.
Posted by Larry Puckett on July 23, 2008 at 12:06 PM
All the time if the camera is on a tripod and the exposure is longer than 1/60 sec--Larry
Posted by Mike Sellers on July 23, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Here is an article from Luminous Landscape on the subject http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/mirror-lock.shtml
I use MLU for most landscapes. Always for slowish shutter speeds, say slower than about 1/60 or so. I have even occasionally used it for the first bird picture of the day, having forgotten to disable it after shooting the morning's sunrise.
If I am shooting landscapes with my digital system, I use MLU 100% of the time. If you don't need to photograph something that is moving, no reason not to.
When I shoot landscapes I use it a lot. I like to keep the ISO at 100 as this is the best, optimized ISO for CAnon cameras. Since it is landscape photography I often need to shoot at f 9 - f 16 which, in nice soft light of early AM or late afternoon or early evening requires long shutter speeds. So, I will use MLU along with an electronic cable release or 2 second timer. Like many, I do wish it were easier to get at and enable.
I use it with a short time delay (landscapes on tripod). I've never tested. After all the work and expense of getting the camera to the right place and the right time, mirror lockup seems like a trivial effort.
After all the work and expense of getting the camera to the right place and the right time, mirror lockup seems like a trivial effort.
Quite.
And that's as true of macro as it is of landscapes. Anything 1/30 sec or slower gets MLU from me.
Posted by Richard Wong on July 26, 2008 at 1:06 AM
Never.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on July 28, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Its locked up 100% of the time on my landscapes and a high percentage of the time on my flora shots.
One obscure reason I like it locked up is because I can frame through the viewfinder, trip the mirror lock up and then move my eye away from the viewfinder to view the scene I'm shooting. On a landscape I might then wait for just the right light to emphasize an important part of the scene. On a flower shot it may be as simple as waiting for the flower to stop moving before I trip the shutter a second time.
In this way I don't get a missed exposure because of ambient light entering through the viewfinder while my eye isn't covering it.
Discussion
22 repliesHow often do you use this option?
I've compared images with and without it, and it makes a visible difference - at least in the final HDR image.
And it does make a difference when it comes to image sharpness, particularly with shutter speeds in the (roughly) 1/15 to 1 sec. range with an SLR.
I use the 2 sec timer & adding mirror lockup is no big deal.
From the tests I've seen, it only makes a difference in the slower shutter speed range.
I use it with a short time delay (landscapes on tripod). I've never tested. After all the work and expense of getting the camera to the right place and the right time, mirror lockup seems like a trivial effort.
-P
Quite.
And that's as true of macro as it is of landscapes. Anything 1/30 sec or slower gets MLU from me.
One obscure reason I like it locked up is because I can frame through the viewfinder, trip the mirror lock up and then move my eye away from the viewfinder to view the scene I'm shooting. On a landscape I might then wait for just the right light to emphasize an important part of the scene. On a flower shot it may be as simple as waiting for the flower to stop moving before I trip the shutter a second time.
In this way I don't get a missed exposure because of ambient light entering through the viewfinder while my eye isn't covering it.