Mirror Flipping

An SLR (Single Lens Reflex) or DSLR camera typically uses a mirror and prism system that lets the photographer see through the lens when preparing to take a photograph. When you press the shutter release, the mirror flips upward to allow light to pass through to the sensor instead of being reflected to the viewfinder. And therein lies a problem: no matter how steady your tripod, the mirror flipping will introduce a tiny amount of shake to the camera and might cause a slight blur in your image.

This can be a difficult problem to isolate. Getting your focus exactly right is a primary concern. A steady camera, with aid from a tripod, vibration reduction (VR) system, or other methods is also very important. A fast shutter speed helps a lot, but this is not possible in low light situations. And some VR systems can introduce shake when used on a tripod, further complicating the situation.

Two possible cures exist for the mirror flipping problem.

Using the first method, you lock the mirror in place before taking the shot. Use your camera to compose the scene and set the exposure, then lock up the camera mirror before releasing the shutter via remote shutter release. For many Nikon cameras, this involves setting a dial to MUP (Mirror Up). Then you use a remote shutter release: the first press locks up the mirror, the second press releases the shutter.

The second method is to use a mirrorless camera instead of a DSLR. I am waiting for a chance to try this when I purchase a full-frame Sony mirrorless digital camera.

Copyright © 2013 Philip N. Wheeler. All Rights Reserved.

Philip Wheeler Photography

f/22, ISO 100, 24mm. A combination of 9 images captured from a tripod.
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