How can I help prevent the shutter or mirror from sticking on a Canon T5i during long exposures?
Asked 6/9/2016
3 views
2 answers
0
My Canon T5i had the shutter/mirror appear to stick open once, but I was able to get it working again. It happened while shooting a 10-second exposure with a 70-300mm lens. What can I do to help prevent this from happening again, especially during long exposures? Any basic maintenance tips would also be helpful.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
You can probably prevent this problem by making sure your battery is fully charged. Stuck shutter (or probably, stuck mirror) is a common symptom of low battery, especially when taking a long exposure or using the flash. By the end of the exposure the battery doesn't have enough juice left to close the shutter and flip the mirror back. The other thing which challenges weak batteries is the self-timer. I've seen a situation where I could take a photo okay, but if I tried to use the self-timer, the camera would shut down with the mirror locked up.
Originally by user20333. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user20333
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A common cause of a shutter or mirror seeming to stick on a DSLR is a weak battery. Long exposures, flash use, and even the self-timer can draw enough power that the camera starts the shot but then struggles to finish the cycle, leaving the mirror up or shutter open until power recovers.
To help prevent it:
- Start long-exposure sessions with a fully charged battery.
- Replace batteries that no longer hold charge well.
- Be extra cautious if using flash or self-timer with a low battery.
Basic maintenance tip: keep your battery contacts and camera battery compartment clean, and avoid running the battery very low before important shooting. If the problem happens repeatedly even with a known-good, fully charged battery, it may point to a mechanical issue that needs service.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI10y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why does my Canon T3i start another exposure when I use a wireless remote in Bulb mode?
Minolta SRT101 advance lever and shutter jam: can I use WD-40?
Why use mirror lock-up for long exposures, and when does it actually help?
Why does my Canon 700D pause after each long exposure, and can I turn it off?
Why do the aperture and shutter-speed dials stop responding on a Nikon D7000?