Slowest speed without mirror lock-up

[Ian Grant]

My wooden Berlebach tripod seems to drain vibration very effectively. In 16x20" prints I can't really tell a difference between frames with mirror lockup and those without.

I've heard others say that about wooden tripods, I do have two but the first a Gandolfi is awful in terms of build quality and the second is a pro-TV/35mm cine camera tripod built like a tank and very heavy.

This is why I think it's about knowing your own equipment. These days it's rare I use 35mm or 120 SLR's although I've bought 2 pre WWII quarter plate and two 6x9 SLR's recently but they seem to have very little mirror slap compared to later cameras, strangely. The mirror moves as you press the shutter and isn't governed mechanically, the shutter only tripping once it's up, so you move the mirror mechanically and there's no slap.

With all equipment there's no hard and fast rules, it's up to us as photographers to find what works best as individuals.

Ian

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I've heard others say that about wooden tripods, I do have two but the first a Gandolfi is awful in terms of build quality and the second is a pro-TV/35mm cine camera tripod built like a tank and very heavy.

This is why I think it's about knowing your own equipment. These days it's rare I use 35mm or 120 SLR's although I've bought 2 pre WWII quarter plate and two 6x9 SLR's recently but they seem to have very little mirror slap compared to later cameras, strangely. The mirror moves as you press the shutter and isn't governed mechanically, the shutter only tripping once it's up, so you move the mirror mechanically and there's no slap.

With all equipment there's no hard and fast rules, it's up to us as photographers to find what works best as individuals.

Ian

Absolutely agreed about knowing our equipment, Ian. The Berlebach is a wonderful tripod, unless you have to travel. It's got quite long legs and won't fit in any suitcase. But it's comparatively light and built very well. 35mm tripod mounted shots with my Pentax SLRs (which don't have mirror lock-up), show really amazing clarity in large prints, regardless of shutter speeds being 1/60s or 2 minutes.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

My wooden Berlebach tripod seems to drain vibration very effectively. In 16x20" prints I can't really tell a difference between frames with mirror lockup and those without.

Damping vibration is one of the virtues of wood tripods.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Thanks for the replies. So to summarize:

1) If on a tripod, always use mirror lock-up.
2) If not on a tripod, forget it. Holding the camera steady is more important.

If not on a tripod, it's pretty hard to take a photo with the mirror locked up.

 

[Hatchetman]

If not on a tripod, it's pretty hard to take a photo with the mirror locked up.

Not really. I do this all the time with my Pentax 6x7.

Just frame the shot, trip the MLU and hit the shutter.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Not really. I do this all the time with my Pentax 6x7.

Just frame the shot, trip the MLU and hit the shutter.

Yup. You can use front rise on my Linhof with the wire frame finder never viewing the image on the GG, too, but I prefer to use a tripod and frame the shot properly. The point of MLU is to get a sharp image; using MLU but not a tripod strikes me as being similar to getting a long range rifle and using it without a telescopic sight or sandbags. YMMV.

 

[jsimoespedro]

Hi.

There is no evidence that the mirror vibration was fully damped by the time the shutter opened.
But I can agree to disagree .

 

[BrianShaw]

I think you are reading the graph correctly. It wasn't, and it wasn't after the shutter opened either.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Hi.

There is no evidence that the mirror vibration was fully damped by the time the shutter opened.
But I can agree to disagree .

It's possible to tell that the action of the mirror is evident, and that the amplitude degradation as the mirror vibration settles is also evident, regardless of whether shutter vibration is taken into account or not. Since shutter vibration cannot be entirely eliminated anyway, it is a moot point to discuss. It's there, whether we flip up the mirror or not, so it's a constant, not a variable.

The point is that the the vibration that is likely cause mostly due to the mirror action, is not fully damped by the time the shutter opens.
- If a tripod with poor vibration damping, or poor vibration draining abilities is used, there will be more vibration in the camera itself, causing unsharp pictures, and that there are some shutter times that are particularly sensitive to this, where vibration is sustained during a majority of the lapsed time.
- If the camera is hand held, the photographer must employ techniques to hold the camera as still as possible.

 

[Noble]

Hi.

There is no evidence that the mirror vibration was fully damped by the time the shutter opened.
But I can agree to disagree .

Disagree?!

Neither the author of the article which accompanied that graph nor I ever suggested the mirror vibration was fully damped by the time the shutter opened. In fact if you read the article just the opposite was suggested by the author. Furthermore I find your post curious because you posted this...

Hi,

the chart on the link may have several interpretations, but I am sure it does not demonstrate the need for MLU.

I never said the graph "demonstrates" anything. All I said was it is "interesting." But if you subscribe to the notion that the vibrations from the mirror flipping up are still reverberating when the shutter is opened wouldn't that mean it is within the realm of possibility mirror lockup could have a beneficial effect on image quality? What am I missing?