Canon 550D Preventing Camera ShakeN, Focus the subject, press the shutter button completely, 106

Preventing Camera ShakeN

The camera’s mechanical shake caused by the reflex mirror action can blur images taken with a super telephoto lens or close-up (macro) lens. In such cases, mirror lockup is effective.

Mirror lockup is enabled by selecting the [7Custom Functions (C.Fn)] menu’s [Mirror lockup] and setting it to [1: Enable] (p.195).

1 Focus the subject, press the shutter button completely.

XThe mirror will swing up.

2 Press the shutter button completely again.

XThe picture is taken and the mirror goes back down.

Shooting Tips

Using the self-timer <l> with mirror lockup.

When you press the shutter button completely, the mirror locks up, then the picture is taken 2 sec. later.

Remote control shooting.

Since you do not touch the camera when the picture is taken, remote control shooting together with mirror lockup can further prevent camera shake. With Remote Controller RC-6 set to a 2-sec. delay, press the transmit button, the mirror will lockup and the picture will be taken 2 sec. later.

Do not point the camera toward the sun. The sun’s heat can damage the camera’s internal components.

If you use the self-timer and mirror lockup in combination with a bulb exposure, keep pressing the shutter button completely (self-timer delay time + bulb exposure time). If you let go of the shutter button during the self-timer countdown, there will be a shutter-release sound, but no picture will be taken.

Even if <i> (Continuous shooting) has been set, single shooting will take effect.

If 30 seconds elapse after the mirror has locked up, it will go back down automatically. Pressing the shutter button completely again locks up the mirror again.

106