Nikon D850 Mirror Pre-Up and Exposure Delay: Model-Specific Settings to Reduce Camera Shake

When to Consider Mup on the D850

Nikon lists Mup as a release mode to reduce blur caused by camera movement when the mirror rises, citing shooting situations sensitive to slight movement, such as telephoto or close-up shots. Nikon Digitutor explains using a telephoto landscape as an example: waiting for the vibration after the mirror rises to subside before starting the exposure can reduce blur caused by this action. The materials do not provide a risk shutter range or percentage of image quality loss that applies to all DSLRs.〔G-MLU-01〕〔G-MLU-03〕

Operation Sequence and Limitations of the D850

Hold the release mode dial lock and turn to Mup. Half-press the shutter to complete focus and exposure settings, then fully press to raise the mirror; when the control panel shows "Z," press fully again to take the shot. In Live View, there is no need to raise the mirror first; the first full press will take the shot. After the mirror rises, you cannot compose through the optical viewfinder, nor will autofocus or metering be performed; if there is no operation for about 30 seconds, the camera will automatically shoot.〔G-MLU-02〕

Optional Exposure Delay and Trigger Recommendations

If you want to wait a while after the mirror rises, the D850's d5 Exposure Delay Mode can be set for approximately 0.2–3 seconds; Nikon Digitutor also links the delay length to waiting for vibration to subside. The manual recommends gently pressing the shutter and using a tripod; Digitutor notes that a remote cable can reduce shake caused by pressing the body button directly. The Nikon manual further suggests referring to d6 Electronic front-curtain shutter to further reduce blur. All of the above are instructions for the D850 and should not be directly applied to other models or rewritten as "all tripods must have stabilization turned off."〔G-MLU-03〕〔G-MLU-04〕