Why does Live View black out briefly after each shot on a Canon EOS 650D, and can it be reduced?
Asked 8/30/2017
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When I shoot in Live View on my Canon EOS 650D, the rear LCD goes blank every time I take a photo, and the blackout lasts noticeably longer than the actual exposure. This makes interval shooting and focus stacking difficult because I cannot see the subject between frames. I often work in awkward macro setups, so using the optical viewfinder is usually not practical.
Is this blackout normal for DSLRs in Live View? Are there settings or shooting modes that can reduce it, or is this mainly a hardware limitation? If so, would a newer DSLR or a mirrorless camera improve the experience?
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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It's largely inherent in the nature of DSLRs in that they use a mechanical focal plane shutter, which closes and reopens before and after taking the shot.
Your best bet, if you can find one, would be a mirrorless camera that uses a global electronic shutter. Without the physical shutter, the delay should be essentially zero. That said, I haven't looked at MILCs much—I shoot a lot in low light, where optical viewfinders are just inherently better choices than EVFs—so I can't offer any specific suggestions.
Failing that, If your camera has any silent live view shooting modes, try those. On some DSLRs, these modes electronically clear the sensor at the start of shooting rather than closing and reopening the shutter. Other cameras have a specific "electronic front curtain shutter" (EFCS) menu option to turn this on. I have no idea if the 650D has any of the above.
Originally by user25054. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user25054
8y ago
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Yes—this is mostly normal behavior for DSLRs in Live View. A DSLR with a mechanical focal-plane shutter typically has to close and reopen the shutter around each exposure, which causes the LCD blackout. On some cameras, the sensor also needs to be cleared/read out, which adds delay.
Things that may help:
- Check for a silent Live View mode or electronic front-curtain shutter setting, if your camera offers one.
- If the blackout happens specifically during autofocus, make sure you are not using a mode like Quick Mode AF, which can interrupt Live View more.
In general, newer cameras can reduce the delay, but not all DSLRs behave the same. Mirrorless cameras usually do better, and models with electronic shutters can have very little or nearly imperceptible blackout. For focus stacking and macro work on the rear screen, a mirrorless body is often a better fit than a traditional DSLR.
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