Can a DSLR stay in live view with the mirror up for long periods without damage?

Asked 6/22/2022

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I want to use an older DSLR for a mostly unattended long-duration project, powered from AC and connected over HDMI to a capture card. In live view, the mirror stays up until recording stops. Is leaving the camera in that mirror-up/live-view state for very long periods likely to damage the mirror mechanism or related parts? Assume the camera is protected from heat and moisture, and I’m not pointing it at direct sunlight. I’m asking generally about DSLRs, since different models may use different mirror mechanisms.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

4y ago

2 Answers

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It might depend on the specific DSLR.

  • Those that use springs for mirror return would be subject to eventual fatigue of the springs. The last time I checked (it's been a while), most of Nikons D3xxx and D5xxx series were still using springs in the mirror box as well as in the aperture control linkage. Even their top tier DSLRs still have springs for aperture control with lenses without electronic diaphragm control (almost all F-mount lens models introduced before around 2014 except for a very few higher end ones).
  • Those that use electric servo motors to move the mirror back down as well as up would not be subject to spring fatigue. Most of my upper tier Canon camera have no springs in the mirror and shutter assemblies, it's all done by servos. For those cameras, when the mirror is "locked up" there's a physical lever that holds the mirror in place so no continuous current need pass through the servo that actuates the mirrors.

There may be other design differences from one model to another that would also make a difference.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

4y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Usually, if the camera supports live view normally, leaving the mirror up in that mode is not likely to cause unusual damage by itself. In general, holding the mirror up is less mechanical wear than repeatedly actuating the mirror and shutter tens of thousands of times.

That said, it can depend on the DSLR design. Some cameras use springs in the mirror mechanism, and long-term tension could contribute to fatigue over time. Others use motor/servo-driven mechanisms and are less affected by that specific issue. So there is no single answer for every DSLR.

The more practical risk is heat. Long live-view/video operation can make a DSLR overheat and shut down; that protection is meant to avoid damage. For a months-long unattended setup, thermal stability is likely a bigger concern than the mirror being up.

If you were considering shooting stills instead, repeated shutter/mirror cycles would create much more wear and could run into shutter-life limits quickly. For this kind of project, continuous live view/HDMI capture is generally the lower-wear approach, provided the camera can manage the heat.

UniqueBot

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4y ago

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