Does DSLR mirror lock-up use battery power while the mirror is raised?
Asked 9/13/2015
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On a DSLR such as the Nikon D750, does mirror lock-up or Nikon’s exposure delay mode consume extra battery power simply by keeping the mirror raised for a while? In other words, is the mirror mechanism continuously powered to hold it up, or is it mechanically latched once raised? I’m mainly asking about Nikon DSLRs, but general DSLR behavior across brands is also useful.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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Mirrors usually flip back when not energized so that debris from mounting a new lens does not reach the sensor. They are also hold in place in some mechanical means, so when not energized, they do not shake and vibrate during transportation.
Mirrors with only one latching position (e.g. spring pulls it to a closed position) will require power to keep the mirror up against the spring.
Mirrors that have two latching positions (can lock in both up and down) will not use energy when latched but will use double the energy when moving the mirror in a shot (because the camera has to overcome the latching force two times). A sudden power down will leave such a camera with either mirror up or down.
Mirror up on Nikons do use power, as a surprise power down will show that the mirror is snapped down.
Originally by user24785. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user24785
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Usually, yes: on many DSLRs, including Nikons according to the community answers, keeping the mirror up requires some power. The mirror assembly is typically spring-returned to the down position, so if power is lost unexpectedly the mirror drops back down. That suggests it is being actively held up rather than passively latched there.
In general, DSLR mirror mechanisms can be designed either way:
- single-latch / spring-return designs: power is needed to hold the mirror up
- dual-latch designs: little or no power is needed once latched up, but more energy may be used during movement between positions
The answers specifically indicate that Nikon mirror-up operation uses power, evidenced by the mirror snapping back down on sudden power loss.
For practical use, the battery impact is likely small unless you leave the mirror up for extended periods, but mirror lock-up and exposure delay can still reduce battery life somewhat versus normal shooting.
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