D3100 Mirror Lock up

Quickshooter

Quickshooter

Suspended / Banned
Messages
321
Name
Liam
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, Ive read that if you lock the mirror then you eliminate the change of shake on long exposers, so I thought I would try the mirror lock up function on my Nikon D3100. So I select the menu for the lock up and press the shutter and the mirror flips up now I cant take any pictures with it like this, and have to turn the camera off to lower it again.
just checked the user manual online and it states this is for checking and cleaning the senor??

So is this not the correct thing to stop the shake on long exposers im now confused :thinking:

Cheers
 
Quickshooter said:
Hi all, Ive read that if you lock the mirror then you eliminate the change of shake on long exposers, so I thought I would try the mirror lock up function on my Nikon D3100. So I select the menu for the lock up and press the shutter and the mirror flips up now I cant take any pictures with it like this, and have to turn the camera off to lower it again.
just checked the user manual online and it states this is for checking and cleaning the senor??

So is this not the correct thing to stop the shake on long exposers im now confused :thinking:

Cheers
Click to expand...

Mirror lock up through the menus like that is to allow you to clean the sensor and also opens the shutter as well.

Paritcularly on macro photographs a Mirror Lock Up mode during the exposure which eliminates the movement of the mirror during the exposure can be vert useful. This is what you're after I guess and sadly the d3100 doesn't have this.

On long exposures its not a very useful feature though and won't help. A tripod will be better to stop shake on those

H
 
Last edited:
On my D90 it's called Exposure Delay Mode in the menus. It doesn't actually lock the mirror up, it just flips the mirror up a second before the shot is taken which should allow any vibration to stop before the shot is taken.

Not sure if that option is on the D3100, but I would imagine that's the option in the menu/manual you're looking for.
 
Last edited:
boyfalldown said:
Mirror lock up through the menus like that is to allow you to clean the sensor and also opens the shutter as well.

Paritcularly on macro photographs a Mirror Lock Up mode during the exposure which eliminates the movement of the mirror during the exposure can be vert useful. This is what you're after I guess and sadly the d3100 doesn't have this.

On long exposures its not a very useful feature though and won't help. A tripod will be better to stop shake on those

H
Click to expand...

right ok bit of bummer that it does not have it, as for the long exposers ive been reading in the photographer mags that if your using very long exp then it can cause some shake that is noticeable. but since i dont have it lol never mind
cheers :)
 
chris330 said:
On my D90 it's called Exposure Delay Mode in the menus. It doesn't actually lock the mirror up, it just flips the mirror up a second before the shot is taken which should allow any vibration to stop before the shot is taken.

Not sure if that option is on the D3100, but I would imagine that's the option in the menu/manual you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Hi Chris, thanks for that ill have a look but its sounding like i dont have the option to do this. never mind is only my first camera

Cheersw :thumbs:
 
Quickshooter said:
right ok bit of bummer that it does not have it, as for the long exposers ive been reading in the photographer mags that if your using very long exp then it can cause some shake that is noticeable. but since i dont have it lol never mind
cheers :)
Click to expand...

normally its more of an issue during macro photography when you're trying to eleminate every possible source of movement. For long exposures its less likely to be an issue
 
I think you'll find the cheapest current Nikon with MUP (the mirror lock up function) is the D300s.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
I think you'll find the cheapest current Nikon with MUP (the mirror lock up function) is the D300s.
Click to expand...

Hi Graham, Thank you for that im not ready yet this D3100 is enough for my needs at the moment as im only just starting out in Photography when im ready to get a better camera i will look at the D300 :)

also the Cannons seem to take very good images.
 
Quickshooter said:
Hi Graham, Thank you for that im not ready yet this D3100 is enough for my needs at the moment as im only just starting out in Photography when im ready to get a better camera i will look at the D300 :)

also the Cannons seem to take very good images.
Click to expand...

For the likes of the shots of your car in the tunnel all you really need for starters is a decent tripod (not a £10 Aldi job) and perhaps a flashgun or decent torch to try some light painting....
 
Yeah I agree, im going to be getting Giottos MTL9351B Tripod and Manfrotto 222 Joystick head.

And a Trigger release for my light trials and water fall landscapes etc etc.

yes Flash is next been looking at SB700 :)
 
Quickshooter said:
right ok bit of bummer that it does not have it, as for the long exposers ive been reading in the photographer mags that if your using very long exp then it can cause some shake that is noticeable. but since i dont have it lol never mind
cheers :)
Click to expand...

It does help a bit having mirror lockup, but its not a dealbreaker when it comes to long exposures, give it a try anyway and see how you get on!
 
Graham. Hopefully :) :thumbs:

Chris. ok cool, defo be giving it a try. Going back to Newquay in sept so will have lots of photos :)
 
D3100 actually does have a mirror lock up. It's just not so obvious at first. When you shoot in live view mode the mirror is locked up all the time. :thumbs:
 
Ceraf said:
D3100 actually does have a mirror lock up. It's just not so obvious at first. When you shoot in live view mode the mirror is locked up all the time. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

But if it is like the LV on the D90, the mirror will flip twice when the shot is taken :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top