Live View/Mirror Lockup?

MCPorche · Feb 6, 2011

In regards to my Canon T2i...

Am I correct in assuming that if I am shooting in Live View, that is essentially the same as using the mirror lockup?

JeffieLove · Feb 6, 2011

nooo...

live view means you can see what you're shooting on the LCD screen just like on a regular point and shoot..

mirror lock up is just (in my experience) a way to reduce camera shake when taking a long exposure. There may be a more technical use or explanation for mirror lock up, but either way, those are two completely different things

Oh, and I'm assuming this is a new camera for you... If you read the manual, it should explain both of these functions

kezsaj · Feb 6, 2011

Well technically, when shooting in live view the mirror goes up, and when you press the shutter you take a shot without the mirror moving. So in theory its similar to mirror lock-up

To get the real mirror lockup you have to find it in custom functions.

So JeffieLove, you are incorrect in your reasoning.

MCPorche · Feb 6, 2011

kezsaj said:
Well technically, when shooting in live view the mirror goes up, and when you press the shutter you take a shot without the mirror moving. So in theory its similar to mirror lock-up

To get the real mirror lockup you have to find it in custom functions.

Well, to get more to the point....I'm planning on using my T2i with a T-mount on my telescope. If I'm using Live View to focus, should I also turn on the mirror lockup in the custom function? Or is that unnecessary?

kezsaj · Feb 6, 2011

If you are using it to focus then there is no point, since mirror lock up would just raise the mirror and not raise the curtain. The T2i probably uses contrast based focusing while in live view so you need to curtain open to focus. And with mirror lock up you wouldnt see anything through the viewfinder.

MCPorche · Feb 6, 2011

JeffieLove said:
nooo...

live view means you can see what you're shooting on the LCD screen just like on a regular point and shoot..

mirror lock up is just (in my experience) a way to reduce camera shake when taking a long exposure. There may be a more technical use or explanation for mirror lock up, but either way, those are two completely different things

Oh, and I'm assuming this is a new camera for you... If you read the manual, it should explain both of these functions

Thanks...and I'm familiar with both functions...

I was basing my theory on the fact that when I switch to live view I can hear something move and click inside the camera...and I can no longer see anything through the viewfinder. So, I reasoned that the mirror was locked up, and the image on the sensor was being funneled to the lcd on the back.

MCPorche · Feb 6, 2011

kezsaj said:
If you are using it to focus then there is no point, since mirror lock up would just raise the mirror and not raise the curtain. The T2i probably uses contrast based focusing while in live view so you need to curtain open to focus. And with mirror lock up you wouldnt see anything through the viewfinder.

Well, what I mean is that I would be looking at the LCD and using the telescope's focuser to focus the image. I wouldn't be using the autofocus on the camera.