Question on D810 EFC

[A Owens]

In their review of the D810, DPR says of the EFC implementation a sentence which I do not understand and wonder if it is wrong:

"...electronic first curtain doesn't reduce shutter shock unless a delay is added between the shutter opening & initiation of exposure via the electronic curtain (since the shutter has to open). Perhaps they were unwilling to add this delay."

My question is whether the operator is able to add that delay between the shutter mechanically opening and the exposure electronically beginning. Surely there is no point to the EFC unless this is possible.

 

[just Tony]

In their review of the D810, DPR says of the EFC implementation a sentence which I do not understand and wonder if it is wrong:

"...electronic first curtain doesn't reduce shutter shock unless a delay is added between the shutter opening & initiation of exposure via the electronic curtain (since the shutter has to open). Perhaps they were unwilling to add this delay."

My question is whether the operator is able to add that delay between the shutter mechanically opening and the exposure electronically beginning. Surely there is no point to the EFC unless this is possible.

Shutter shock is small in comparison to mirror shock. So yes, if you are refining your technique to the point where the tiny bump from the shutter will make a difference in your results, you'll want to also eliminate the larger bump from the mirror as well.

In all cases, two things are mandatory in the D810 in order to activate EFC: enable EFC in the menu, and set Mirror Up mode on the release dial. These can be placed in My Menu but there is zero downside to leaving the EFC setting always active. It does not come into play unless you also engage M-Up.

• If you are using a remote trigger that is plugged into the 10-pin socket, you are all set. Simply touch the release button twice. Note that some people, including the DPR reviewer, have stated the opinion that this is a major inconvenience. However if you can count to two you should be qualified to proceed.
• If you are using the built in shutter release you have two options. The one that makes the most sense is to use the Exposure Delay feature which you can set to 1, 2, or 3 seconds. You still touch the release button twice but the delay is not imposed on the first touch. Alternatively, if you touch the release only once when in Mirror Up mode, the camera will take the picture anyway if you wait for 30 seconds. That's probably not anyone's first choice.

If you customize your My Menu by placing the Exposure Delay function in its list then things are as convenient as they need to be. It will be the quickest thing on your long to-do list when you are exercising maximum control over every aspect of the shooting session.

 

[A Owens]

In their review of the D810, DPR says of the EFC implementation a sentence which I do not understand and wonder if it is wrong:

"...electronic first curtain doesn't reduce shutter shock unless a delay is added between the shutter opening & initiation of exposure via the electronic curtain (since the shutter has to open). Perhaps they were unwilling to add this delay."

My question is whether the operator is able to add that delay between the shutter mechanically opening and the exposure electronically beginning. Surely there is no point to the EFC unless this is possible.

Thanks for the rep.ly

Shutter shock is small in comparison to mirror shock.

Yes, that would seem to be the case.

So yes, if you are refining your technique to the point where the tiny bump from the shutter will make a difference in your results,

yes, I think that is the whole purpose behind EFC.

you'll want to also eliminate the larger bump from the mirror as well.

And for that we have MLU.

In all cases, two things are mandatory in the D810 in order to activate EFC: enable EFC in the menu, and set Mirror Up mode on the release dial. These can be placed in My Menu but there is zero downside to leaving the EFC setting always active. It does not come into play unless you also engage M-Up.

That makes sense.

• If you are using a remote trigger that is plugged into the 10-pin socket, you are all set. Simply touch the release button twice. Note that some people, including the DPR reviewer, have stated the opinion that this is a major inconvenience. However if you can count to two you should be qualified to proceed.

I agree with you. Pushing twice is no hardship.

But to clarify; is the mirror already up before you press twice? So the first press opens the mechanical shutter (given that the mirror is already up) and the second electronically fires up the sensor to commence the exposure?

• If you are using the built in shutter release you have two options. The one that makes the most sense is to use the Exposure Delay feature which you can set to 1, 2, or 3 seconds. You still touch the release button twice but the delay is not imposed on the first touch. Alternatively, if you touch the release only once when in Mirror Up mode, the camera will take the picture anyway if you wait for 30 seconds. That's probably not anyone's first choice.

If you customize your My Menu by placing the Exposure Delay function in its list then things are as convenient as they need to be. It will be the quickest thing on your long to-do list when you are exercising maximum control over every aspect of the shooting session.

 

[LeonD]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

 

[A Owens]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

Yes, of course that is right now I think about it. Thanks.

So the first shutter press opens the shutter and the second press turns on the sensor?

 

[toomanycanons]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

Yes, of course that is right now I think about it. Thanks.

So the first shutter press opens the shutter and the second press turns on the sensor?

 

[toomanycanons]

I just know it.

 

[A Owens]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

Yes, of course that is right now I think about it. Thanks.

So the first shutter press opens the shutter and the second press turns on the sensor?

 

[toomanycanons]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

Yes, of course that is right now I think about it. Thanks.

So the first shutter press opens the shutter and the second press turns on the sensor?

 

[A Owens]

I believe if you are in Live View Mode, the mirror is already up. I think if you're in Viewfinder Mode, the first shutter press raises the mirror.

Yes, of course that is right now I think about it. Thanks.

So the first shutter press opens the shutter and the second press turns on the sensor?

 

[PatMann]

D810 Viewfinder mode with MUP and shutter delay to 3 seconds.

Press once - mirror up, mechanical shutter opens, viewfinder blacks out.

Wait less than 30 seconds (auto exposure at 30 seconds)

Press second time - shutter delay starts, at end of delay time EFC shutter activates, at end of exposure mechanical shutter closes, mirror filps back up.

I know because I tried it watching through the front of the camera with lens off. Shutter opens to expose the sensor when mirror flips up in MUP mode.

Exposures tested with stopwatch on phone. EFC shutter released to take photo 3 seconds after I pressed the shutter release the second time.

Glad to be of service. Answered a question for me as well.

 

[toomanycanons]

D810 Viewfinder mode with MUP and shutter delay to 3 seconds.

Press once - mirror up, mechanical shutter opens, viewfinder blacks out.

Wait less than 30 seconds (auto exposure at 30 seconds)

Press second time - shutter delay starts, at end of delay time EFC shutter activates, at end of exposure mechanical shutter closes, mirror filps back up.

I know because I tried it watching through the front of the camera with lens off. Shutter opens to expose the sensor when mirror flips up in MUP mode.

Exposures tested with stopwatch on phone. EFC shutter released to take photo 3 seconds after I pressed the shutter release the second time.

Glad to be of service. Answered a question for me as well.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

I thought this had been answered, so perhaps I'm saying the same thing as elsewhere in this thread.

With the D810, EFC only works in conjunction with Mup and Live View at the same time. I use a remote release to shoot sitting birds with the camera on a tripod for this. (Easier on the D850 with the tilting screen).

Put the camera in Live View, get focused and ... press shutter release (preferably remotely). The mirror is already up (you enter Live View, the mirror is up) and the shutter is open. With EFC, an electronic start to the exposure happens rather than the mirror dropping down again and back up with a closing and opening of the shutter.

It's kind of what you would expect to happen when taking a shot in Live View. Without it, the mirror drops and the shutter closes and opens for each shot. With it, the sensor simply starts recording, and when done the shutter closes.

 

[PatMann]

In my test, EFC clearly worked without live view in MUP mode. Shutter was delayed by the shutter delay, there was no shutter sound when the exposure started.

 

[PatMann]

My test confirms what Mansurov says in his post, that EFCS works with or without live view in MUP mode. The shutter delay was irrelevant except in delay between the second release press and the exposure. If you have no shutter delay, the second press starts the EFCS immediately. First press, mirror up and mechanical first curtain. Second press, EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mirror down. If you wait 30 seconds the mirror will come back down automatically with no second press of the release according to the manual.

I assume a remote release would do the same - I used the on-camera shutter release in the test.

 

[PatMann]

First press raises the mirror and opens the mechanical first curtain. There goes the shutter shock. Second press starts EFCS, with further shutter delay if shutter delay set.

 

[PatMann]

MUP + EFCS on is the requirement, not live view. Two shutter presses for each exposure - first MUP + mechanical shutter open, second EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mirror down.

 

[toomanycanons]

My test confirms what Mansurov says in his post, that EFCS works with or without live view in MUP mode. The shutter delay was irrelevant except in delay between the second release press and the exposure. If you have no shutter delay, the second press starts the EFCS immediately. First press, mirror up and mechanical first curtain. Second press, EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mirror down. If you wait 30 seconds the mirror will come back down automatically with no second press of the release according to the manual.

I assume a remote release would do the same - I used the on-camera shutter release in the test.

 

[JimKasson]

MUP + EFCS on is the requirement, not live view. Two shutter presses for each exposure - first MUP + mechanical shutter open, second EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mirror down.

That's what happens when you're not in live view. When you are in live view: Two shutter presses for each exposure. First -- no movement at all, second -- EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mechanical shutter wind to open.

Jim

 

[toomanycanons]

MUP + EFCS on is the requirement, not live view. Two shutter presses for each exposure - first MUP + mechanical shutter open, second EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mirror down.

That's what happens when you're not in live view. When you are in live view: Two shutter presses for each exposure. First -- no movement at all, second -- EFCS, mechanical shutter close, mechanical shutter wind to open.

Jim