Mirror Lockup M.UP greyed out on K-1

morepower · 05-21-2023, 10:43 AM

Attempting to shoot with ND filter and adjust K-1 accordingly including activating Mirror Lock Up (M.UP), but that option is greyed out. Tried different mode settings (e.g., AV, TV, etc) and no luck. Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View! Any help appreciated, thanks!

pschlute · 05-21-2023, 10:54 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by morepower

Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View!

MLU is not an option in LV because the mirror is already up

MLU is only available, and indeed useful, when using the viewfinder.

morepower · 05-21-2023, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by pschlute

MLU is not an option in LV because the mirror is already up

MLU is only available, and indeed useful, when using the viewfinder.

Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure.

James O'Neill · 05-21-2023, 11:25 AM - **1 Like**

You can use 2 second self timer, or turn on electronic shutter on menu page 2 (just be aware that disables some other things).

Self timer closes the shutter, turning off live view, puts the mirror up and takes the shot 2 seconds later.
ES relies on the fact the mirror is up and doesn't close the shutter and reopen it to start the exposure.

pschlute · 05-21-2023, 12:09 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by morepower

Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure.

Use the timer in LV, the mirror will be up

**othar** · 05-21-2023, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by morepower

Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View! Any help appreciated, thanks!

What do you mean "the only way to set the feature"?

When using ND filters I'm usually in M-Mode; I add exposure time according to the used filter strength to the initial exposure reading without the filter.
After I added the filter I check focus in LV with magnification, I turn off LV and take the picture with the help of MLU (when using back button focus nothing else is needed, otherwise you might have to switch the focus lever from AF to MF before taking the image to prevent the AF from messing up the image / I am not sure about that though as I often use manual focus lenses and I only use back button focusing)

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-21-2023, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by pschlute

Use the timer in LV, the mirror will be up

And using this option with the timer avoids possibly shaking the camera while pushing the shutter button.

biz-engineer · 05-22-2023, 03:30 AM - **1 Like**

1) MLU option is greyed out because the mirror is already up in live view. It's not a bug and malfunction.

Originally posted by morepower

Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure.

2) Mirror lock up doesn't prevent camera shake. MLU prevents vibration occurring when the mirror goes up and hit the upper part of the mirror box before the shutter opens. Also, M.LU has not meaningful vibration reduction effect on exposures longer than about 1 second because the vibration induced by mirror bounce lasts a fraction of a second at the beginning of exposure and the contribution of light changes during that fraction of the exposure time is negligible relative to the total light collected over the whole exposure. To confirm that MLU is beneficial or not, you can take two times the same long exposure photo, one exposure with MLU enabled (or live view) and one exposure without MLU, compared the two pictures without exif or file name (blind test). If you can't tell which one was taken with MLU enabled that means MLU had no beneficial effect.

**Pentax Syntax** · 05-22-2023, 05:42 AM

On my K-1ii (latest firmware) it is available as an option in P Av and Tv mode. It shouldn’t be greyed out.

pschlute · 05-22-2023, 06:22 AM

Originally posted by Pentax Syntax

On my K-1ii (latest firmware) it is available as an option in P Av and Tv mode. It shouldn’t be greyed out.

It will be grayed out in Live View

pschlute · 05-22-2023, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

MLU prevents vibration occurring when the mirror goes up and hit the upper part of the mirror box before the shutter opens

I did some experimentation a few years back and found that the K-1's issue was that in certain circumstances shutter shock can be an issue, and induce blur into the photo. For me at least it was only evident when using a long footed lens on a tripod (lens attached via the foot), and only in the range of speeds 1/30-1/180. I could replicate the issue quite easily, and it could be avoided by using Electronic Shutter in Live view. From the tests I did, the MLU made no difference at all.

biz-engineer · 05-22-2023, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by pschlute

I did some experimentation a few years back and found that the K-1's issue was that in certain circumstances shutter shock can be an issue, and induce blur into the photo.

Shutter shock doesn't matter for long exposures, the vibration ripple lasts 1/100 to 1/25th of a second, that's 1 to 4% of the total light hitting the sensor for a duration of 1 second assuming exposure is 1 second. When I shoot night skies for 30 s. to 2 minutes in bulb mode, I don't even bother using a remote trigger or delay, I just press the shutter button, the camera moves for a second or two but then the shutter is open for 30 seconds or more.

05-21-2023, 10:43 AM	#1
morepower Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Photos: Gallery Posts: 64	Mirror Lockup M.UP greyed out on K-1 Attempting to shoot with ND filter and adjust K-1 accordingly including activating Mirror Lock Up (M.UP), but that option is greyed out. Tried different mode settings (e.g., AV, TV, etc) and no luck. Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View! Any help appreciated, thanks!

05-21-2023, 02:28 PM	#6
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	Originally posted by morepower Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View! Any help appreciated, thanks! What do you mean "the only way to set the feature"? When using ND filters I'm usually in M-Mode; I add exposure time according to the used filter strength to the initial exposure reading without the filter. After I added the filter I check focus in LV with magnification, I turn off LV and take the picture with the help of MLU (when using back button focus nothing else is needed, otherwise you might have to switch the focus lever from AF to MF before taking the image to prevent the AF from messing up the image / I am not sure about that though as I often use manual focus lenses and I only use back button focusing) Last edited by othar; 05-21-2023 at 02:36 PM.

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05-21-2023, 10:54 AM - 1 Like	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,211	Originally posted by morepower Manual states that function not available in Live View, but the only way to set the feature is in... Live View! MLU is not an option in LV because the mirror is already up MLU is only available, and indeed useful, when using the viewfinder.

05-21-2023, 11:09 AM	#3
morepower Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Photos: Gallery Posts: 64 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute MLU is not an option in LV because the mirror is already up MLU is only available, and indeed useful, when using the viewfinder. Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure.

05-21-2023, 11:25 AM - 1 Like	#4
James O'Neill Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 351	You can use 2 second self timer, or turn on electronic shutter on menu page 2 (just be aware that disables some other things). Self timer closes the shutter, turning off live view, puts the mirror up and takes the shot 2 seconds later. ES relies on the fact the mirror is up and doesn't close the shutter and reopen it to start the exposure.

05-21-2023, 12:09 PM - 2 Likes	#5
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,211	Originally posted by morepower Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure. Use the timer in LV, the mirror will be up

05-21-2023, 04:28 PM	#7
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,294	Originally posted by pschlute Use the timer in LV, the mirror will be up And using this option with the timer avoids possibly shaking the camera while pushing the shutter button.

05-22-2023, 03:30 AM - 1 Like	#8
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,239	1) MLU option is greyed out because the mirror is already up in live view. It's not a bug and malfunction. Originally posted by morepower Right, but I am attempting to activate the feature to avoid camera shake during a long exposure. 2) Mirror lock up doesn't prevent camera shake. MLU prevents vibration occurring when the mirror goes up and hit the upper part of the mirror box before the shutter opens. Also, M.LU has not meaningful vibration reduction effect on exposures longer than about 1 second because the vibration induced by mirror bounce lasts a fraction of a second at the beginning of exposure and the contribution of light changes during that fraction of the exposure time is negligible relative to the total light collected over the whole exposure. To confirm that MLU is beneficial or not, you can take two times the same long exposure photo, one exposure with MLU enabled (or live view) and one exposure without MLU, compared the two pictures without exif or file name (blind test). If you can't tell which one was taken with MLU enabled that means MLU had no beneficial effect.

05-22-2023, 05:42 AM	#9
Pentax Syntax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 595	On my K-1ii (latest firmware) it is available as an option in P Av and Tv mode. It shouldn’t be greyed out.

05-22-2023, 06:22 AM	#10
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,211	Originally posted by Pentax Syntax On my K-1ii (latest firmware) it is available as an option in P Av and Tv mode. It shouldn’t be greyed out. It will be grayed out in Live View

05-22-2023, 06:29 AM	#11
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,211	Originally posted by biz-engineer MLU prevents vibration occurring when the mirror goes up and hit the upper part of the mirror box before the shutter opens I did some experimentation a few years back and found that the K-1's issue was that in certain circumstances shutter shock can be an issue, and induce blur into the photo. For me at least it was only evident when using a long footed lens on a tripod (lens attached via the foot), and only in the range of speeds 1/30-1/180. I could replicate the issue quite easily, and it could be avoided by using Electronic Shutter in Live view. From the tests I did, the MLU made no difference at all.

05-22-2023, 08:02 AM	#12
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,239	Originally posted by pschlute I did some experimentation a few years back and found that the K-1's issue was that in certain circumstances shutter shock can be an issue, and induce blur into the photo. Shutter shock doesn't matter for long exposures, the vibration ripple lasts 1/100 to 1/25th of a second, that's 1 to 4% of the total light hitting the sensor for a duration of 1 second assuming exposure is 1 second. When I shoot night skies for 30 s. to 2 minutes in bulb mode, I don't even bother using a remote trigger or delay, I just press the shutter button, the camera moves for a second or two but then the shutter is open for 30 seconds or more.