[mer]

hey all

1) how can I get more than 2 sec mirror lockup ?

And I bought a remote control and I want to use it with mirror lock up and it doesn't work ! In the menu I have to either select 2sec timer or remote ... USELESS for macro !!!!!!

2) If I buy a remote release shutter , can I press a button to lock the mirror up and press again for shutter ?

3) Idiot new cameras why don't they have an option to setup the time you want for mirror lock up ? It is so easy sometimes to program some things in to the software...

When I shoot at 5x-7x magnification , the 2 sec mirror lockup isn't enough and most of my pics are blurred even though perfectly focussed .

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Last edited by mer; 01-09-2008 at 11:09 PM.

[Gimbal]

1. you can't.

2. No.

[axl]

1. you can't.

2. No.

Does it mean we cant't use mirror lock up with remote?!?
That's bad, very bad news...

[blende8]

If I remember correctly, the 3 s remote has ML.
Cannot test it at the moment.

[little laker]

When I shoot at 5x-7x magnification , the 2 sec mirror lockup isn't enough and most of my pics are blurred even though perfectly focussed .

Would a heavier tripod not hold the camera steady enough?

[ChrisA]

If I remember correctly, the 3 s remote has ML.
Cannot test it at the moment.

It certainly does with the K10D. And the K100D manual seems very similar.

[Gimbal]

Does it mean we cant't use mirror lock up with remote?!?
That's bad, very bad news...

With a wire remote, (don’t know about wireless) you can have the 2sec delayed ML, but not the function the OP described at point 2.

[mer]

Would a heavier tripod not hold the camera steady enough?

I am not sure but it might . I have tested with a heavy tripod and it doesn't work . Remember that 5x-7x magnification is very much , even if a car passes by the street near your house , you get a blurry pic ( especially if you live in a UK house , most of them have wood floors , not good construction ) .

With a wire remote, (don’t know about wireless) you can have the 2sec delayed ML, but not the function the OP described at point 2.

I know but as I said 2 sec isn't enough .

It certainly does with the K10D. And the K100D manual seems very similar.

When I go to the menu with my K100D I have to either select 2sec delay ( which also does mirror lock up ) or select remote control trigger .... BUT it doesn't do mirror lock up with 12sec delay ... why ? Can you explain me how to set-up 2s or more mirror lock up with remote ?

So is there ANY , ANY way to get a mirror lock up more than 3-4 seconds with pentax k10d or k100d . I have a k100d but if there is a way to manually or more than 2 sec to lock the mirror up prior to exposure with a k10d , I guess I will have to buy the k10d ... just for the mirror lock up

Thanks guys....

[blende8]

Just to make sure to understand you correctly:
2 s MLU is not enough for you because the camera is still shaking after 2 s?

Perhaps you should buy a more sturdy tripod or repro stand?

[Gimbal]

To dampen the vibrations you can also try to hang some heavy cloth over the camera/lens.

[mer]

Just to make sure to understand you correctly:
2 s MLU is not enough for you because the camera is still shaking after 2 s?

Perhaps you should buy a more sturdy tripod or repro stand?

Yes thats right . Shooting at high magnifications , like 5x-10x , 2s is not enough . About half of my pics have blur but they are perfectly focussed . I have to shoot x4 the same photograph to get one or two good shots , depends on the magnification . Also , I have to use extreme light conditions ( more than a sunny day ) , but most of my exposures are in the 1sec - 1/15sec , where mirror lock vibrations is most apparent .

Yes, perhaps, I should buy a repro stand , but does that guarantee me that it will solve my problem ? It might not . I am saying this because I have used the camera on both hard table ,with all kind of inventions, and a heavy tripod but both did not solve 100% the problem .

The proper solution is manual mirror lock up , fire the shutter whenever you want . If there is no way to get more than 4 sec to get away with the mirror lock up vibration , I will have to get a very heavy repro stand which may solve the problem .

Thanks

[Beej80]

If I remember correctly, the 3 s remote has ML.
Cannot test it at the moment.

You're absolutely correct. Pentax K10D has a 3 second mirror lockup with the remote.
If that isn't enough then perhaps you should give the 'cloth over the lens' method that Gimbal mentioned.

I just saw that you had a K100D, I don't know if 3 sec delay is an option there.

Regards,
Beej80

[Canada_Rockies]

Yes thats right . Shooting at high magnifications , like 5x-10x , 2s is not enough . About half of my pics have blur but they are perfectly focussed . I have to shoot x4 the same photograph to get one or two good shots , depends on the magnification . Also , I have to use extreme light conditions ( more than a sunny day ) , but most of my exposures are in the 1sec - 1/15sec , where mirror lock vibrations is most apparent .

Yes, perhaps, I should buy a repro stand , but does that guarantee me that it will solve my problem ? It might not . I am saying this because I have used the camera on both hard table ,with all kind of inventions, and a heavy tripod but both did not solve 100% the problem .

The proper solution is manual mirror lock up , fire the shutter whenever you want . If there is no way to get more than 4 sec to get away with the mirror lock up vibration , I will have to get a very heavy repro stand which may solve the problem .

Thanks

Did you turn off Shake Reduction when you put your camera on the tripod? If you don't you will have the SR creating shake rather than reducing it.

[travis_cooper]

I thought there was a timed setting for remote, 3 seconds or something like that. The other alternative is the 12 second timer, that should give you plenty of time to get everything settled down again.

[little laker]

Just a thought mer, but if you can't get it steady enough you might have to make up a stand that locks onto both your camera and the subject. That way they'll both move together, so any little ground shake won't effect the image.