Can the Nikon D7100 keep the mirror up during continuous shooting to increase frame rate?
Asked 2/5/2016
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I’m trying to photograph water droplets with a Nikon D7100. Even at 1/2000s, the burst sequence has noticeable gaps. I set focus and exposure in advance, so I’m wondering whether the camera can keep the mirror locked up while shooting continuously. Is mirror lock-up supported for burst shooting on the D7100, and would it increase the number of frames per second?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
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1/2000 is the time the shutter is open. What you are looking for is frame rate, frames per second (fps), and the two are not directly related.
The D7100 maxes out at 5-7 fps. The mirror lockup seems to be for only one picture at a time (p. 61 in the user's guide), and won't increase the frame rate.
You can get a higher frame rate with video: Your camera supports up to 60 fps in video mode, so you could grab a (lower resolution) frame from the video.
If you want more than 60 fps, you'll need something other than the D7100.
Originally by user5262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5262
10y ago
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No. On the Nikon D7100, mirror lock-up is not a continuous-burst mode and won’t increase shooting speed. The key limit here is frame rate (frames per second), not shutter speed. A 1/2000s shutter only controls how long each frame is exposed; it does not make the camera capture more frames per second.
The D7100’s still-photo burst rate is about 5–7 fps, and the mirror mechanism is part of that limit. Mirror lock-up on this camera is intended for single shots, mainly to reduce vibration, not to hold the mirror up for a faster burst sequence.
If you need more captures per second for splash or droplet timing, the practical option on this camera is video mode, which can record up to 60 fps, though at much lower resolution than still photos. If you need even higher frame rates, you’d need a different camera or a dedicated high-speed setup.
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