Slow in Live View

rosycreates

New member
So, I can use the same settings in both the viewfinder and live view. When using the viewfinder, all is fine. However, if I use the viewfinder, it's slow. It has the focus point just fine, but the shutter is very slow. I can't figure out why.???? Drives me nuts!

 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Well... You need to differentiate between the shutter and the mirror. They're different. When you're NOT in Live View, the mirror is down and the shutter just opens and closes. Fast. In Live View, the mirror is UP and when you release the shutter, there's an extra step for the mirror to move before the shutter fires... takes a split second longer... If your shutter is set to 1/250th... it fires at 1/250th in both modes...otherwise your exposure would be off... the delay is the extra step of the mirror opening/closing in Live View...

The only time I use Live View is when the camera is mounted on a tripod, and almost never when hand-held...
 

nickt

Senior Member
I'm not sure what the mirror is doing but there is an extra shutter movement. In live view, the camera is wide open. The mirror up and shutter is open. When you take a picture, it sets up to take a regular picture. That means the shutter closes briefly, then it opens for the selected shutter time, then it closes briefly to end the shutter time. Then the shutter opens to return to live live. It takes extra time and makes some noise and also racks up 2 shutter counts per picture.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I still think you're confusing shutter with the mirror... The shutter DOESN'T open when you turn on Live View... only the mirror moves...


live view ON
mirror up
press shutter
mirror close
shutter open/close
mirror back up
live view on

If you're getting 2 images...then the above sequence is, for whatever reason, cycling twice...

If in fact there are two images and the mirror is only cycling one up/down sequence, then there may be something wrong with the camera...
 
Last edited:

nickt

Senior Member
Fred, off course the shutter opens at the start for live view on a DSLR. Take your lens off and try it (full manual mode will be needed with no lens). If the shutter were closed, the lcd would not be able to show the live scene. The shutter opens at the start of live view and when the shutter button is pressed it needs to first close - then open (timed) - then close (to end time) - then open (to return to live view) This is the lag the OP is seeing.

I didn't say I was getting two images, I said the shutter count logs 2 actuations for a live view shot. Just entering and exiting live view will adds one shutter count.
 
Last edited:

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
When I take my lens off...I'm looking directly at the mirror.
When I turn on Live View, only the mirror moves up. The shutter is behind the mirror.
If you look inside while in live view, you are looking at the outside of the shutter
If you press the shutter button, you will then see the shutter curtain move across the sensor.
 

nickt

Senior Member
When I take my lens off...I'm looking directly at the mirror.
When I turn on Live View, only the mirror moves up. The shutter is behind the mirror.
If you look inside while in live view, you are looking at the outside of the shutter
If you press the shutter button, you will then see the shutter curtain move across the sensor.
What camera? I'm looking at my d7200. I see my sensor in live view. Mirror goes up, shutter opens and exposes the sensor full time. Just like cleaning mode.
 

nickt

Senior Member
My d500 opens the shutter as well. I can't speak for the d810 but I can't think of how live view would work otherwise. Mirror up, blacks out viewfinder. Shutter opens full time so the sensor can see the scene in real time.
 
Top