Should you use mirror-up mode before changing lenses to reduce sensor dust?
Asked 11/7/2017
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I noticed dust on my camera sensor and wondered if raising the mirror first would help when changing lenses. In mirror-up mode for long exposures, the mirror flips up and the shutter action is separated, so I thought the shutter might cover the sensor and reduce the amount of dust getting inside. Is there any real benefit to changing lenses with mirror-up enabled, or could it actually be harmful?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Mirror Up mode just separates the two stages mirror and shutter action that happen before and during an exposure. In normal drive modes, when you press the shutter button, the mirror flips up and the shutter curtain opens and closes right after that. In Mirror Up mode, you press the shutter and the mirror flips up, but the camera waits for another shutter button press to actually open and close the shutter curtain.
Changing the lens this way would only mean that the mirror is not in its "resting" place (and rather flipped up instead) which could mean that dust can potentially enter closer to the sensor. It makes no sense, plus there's no reason to do it, especially if the camera manual doesn't say anything about it (I haven't ever seen anything related to that in a manual).
Originally by user31714. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user31714
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—using mirror-up mode before changing lenses is not a useful way to reduce dust.
Mirror-up mode mainly separates two actions that normally happen together during an exposure: first the mirror flips up, then the shutter opens and closes. In mirror-up mode, the first press raises the mirror, and a later press triggers the shutter. It is not intended as a dust-protection feature.
With the mirror raised, it is no longer in its normal resting position, so you are not gaining meaningful protection. In fact, having the mirror out of place may let dust get closer to the sensor area rather than helping. There’s also no indication from camera manuals that lens changes should be done this way.
So the practical answer is: don’t use mirror-up for lens changes. It offers no real benefit for dust prevention and isn’t the intended use of the feature.
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AI8y ago
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