Hi, I'm new on this forum but not new on the website itself. I enjoy reading the "on field" report of all the cameras, but I'm still surprised on this continuous complain about the supposed Canon's lack of a MLU button - which is present in other brand's reviews as well (see the latest Pentax K7). "Canon should learn"... nothing imho. The MLU button on latest Canon cameras is called Q (quick access button) (wrong, now corrected - that's only for the quick control access and it's not customizable) or Live View, or custom modes C1/C2/C3. There's really no reason at all to complain, because you can have EXACTLY the same functionality. With one button press (which is not the "print button", it's called "live view" button in record mode...) you have LV. You dont want the annoying, dreadful screen on while shooting? You dont want to change mode? Use the Q button.... exactly the same. But more versatile (corrected: Well, you're just too picky )
Just my 2 cents
Luc

No way can I get MLU in one button press on my 5D. Yes, I can go through menus and turn MLU on, but I can't do it instantly for a single image, with the camera reverting to "normal" right afterward.

Eric

Well, I hope the LL reviewer is not complaining about 4 years old Canon cameras, is he?
Luc

He's been complaining a lot longer than that. And, while we're at it, does the 5D Mk II still have a "direct print" button, which I'm sure nobody has ever used on a DSLR?


Eric

Repeat after me class. Live View is not an adequete replacement for MLU.

If you believe that it is, you likely haven't used it in the real world.

Michael

Very true, but if anyone who routinely requires MLU while shooting with Canon
needs to take more than a couple of seconds to effect this operation via the menu
them they have larger problems than MLU :>))


Mark

There are work-arounds.

There are alternatives.

Then, there's the real thing – which Canon refuses to give us, for no apparent reason other than stubbornness.

Michael

Mark,

Five years ago I would have agreed with you.

However, for those of us who are *ahem* "of a certain age" and require reading glasses, the menu-fiddling required to effect MLU is truly a PITA. Why can't I hit a single button/switch by touch like I can with my 33 year old Minolta SRT-101? It's not rocket science; "we have the technology" to quote a rather bad American TV show.

If I can't have a dedicated MLU button, Canon should at least make either the * button or the direct print button programmable with MLU and other functions. If I could get one-button MLU + 2 sec timer delay, I'd be a very happy man.

Paul

I would love an MLU button on my camera. I think it would be even better if the buttons were programmable to whatever function you would like them to be. As a programmer myself, I can't imagine this would be too difficult of a feature to add.

If Leica ever gets around to releasing the S2, you'll see they have gone with this approach.
From a quick hands-on a week or so ago, I believe the rep demonstrated the ability for the user to
assign each of the 4 main buttons to a function that is buried in the menu such as mirror lockup
or exposure compensation.

Mark

Well Liveview is not a MLU, it is a lot better :-P

I wonder how many Canon Owners have actually used the Direct Print Button, I haven't....

There is no technical reason why this button cannot be re-mapped

Maybe someone has used it as "Live view" button...
This "direct print" complaining is always funny to me
And anyway, I meant complaining now about 4 years old cameras. He still complains about the 7D... come on.
Luc

The apparent reason to me is that live view button (I repeat it: LIVE VIEW BUTTON - no "print button" for heaven's sake, that's in play mode only! is enough satisfying that they don't need to add another button for MLU. A customizable button would be great (it's not there actually, despite what I erroneously wrote in my OP and now corrected) but I mean, does anyone really believe that Canon should listen to who complains about the "lcd screen on" when the mirror is up? Come on guys... That's the "real thing" imho.
Luc

Agree, actually the Q button is for the quick menu but it's not customizable.
Luc

I really fail to understand what's the problem with the live view button. One button, you press it, the mirror goes up, with the bonus that you can still see what's going on on the LCD screen. I beg for an explanation: anything wrong with this?
Thx
Luc

Nothing wrong with Live View as live view. It's my personal preference to have a dedicated MLU, the same way that some photographers prefer to use graduated neutral density (corrected) filters instead of HDR, primes instead of zooms, film instead of digital, tripod instead of hand-held, or large format instead of 135 format.

A dedicated MLU fits the way that I work, which may not fit the way that you work. It's as simple as that.

Paul

Hear, hear! That's exactly the way I feel. I have no interest whatever in "Live View" (although I'm forced to use it on my G10 because the optical viewfinder is so dismal).


Eric

First time, didn't get it. Second time, compromise. Third time, stubbornness.

Fourth time, passive aggressiveness.

Not slamming Canon, but yes, corporations can cop a 'tude.

Yes. Listen to the customers and they might not go looking elseware for what they want. I'm sure a tiny little bit of code would enable a custom function to have 'Live view" with the LCD off which would effectively be MLU

I really fail to understand what's the problem with the live view button. One button, you press it, the mirror goes up, with the bonus that you can still see what's going on on the LCD screen. I beg for an explanation: anything wrong with this?

It's simple. Live View turns on the LCD. One often uses MLU when shooting in low light conditions. Having the rear LCD light up, when you don't want it to has two problems associated with it.

1: It can ruin your dark adapted vision.

2: It can reveal your presence to others.

If I wanted to turn on a bright light when shooting, I would. I don't.

The solution is simple. No need for another button. Just make the mirror go up when the variable self timer is activated. This is what most companies do, and it works very well. Canon has custom functions for choosing between non-fat and regular milk when brewing a Latte, so why not this?

Michael

- reply removed -

If the scene is dark, the lcd can't be so bright, and anyway with the mirror up you're looking at the scene, not at the screen neither the viewfinder.... that's what your eyes are adapting to.



Oh come on, Canon should add a MLU button for photographers who are in COMPLETE darkness and, with their big camera and tripod, and some minimum necessary room around them, stay 100% unnoticed? How do you think people can't see you with lcd off :-?



A "bright" light? in low light? I mean, one thing is the light you're photographing, if that's dim, the lcd screen will be dim. if the scene is bright and you are in dim light, you'll see bright light anyway in the scene... what difference would make a bright lcd?



Now, I'm not sure but you may have a point here, timed MLU might be missing in canon cameras. I'll take a look.

Luc

I agree that Canon should provide a way to use a button for this function, and am not clear why they are so anal about it. I know the majority of those buying the cameras never utilize mirror lockup, but there are plenty that do and I'm sure engineering the ability to customize a button wouldn't be a daunting task at all.

That being said however, I found in my recent trip (which is the first time I've used the Canon gear exclusively and left the MF gear behind) I never once had to go into the custom settings to get mirror lockup. The new custom 1-3 settings on the 5Dmk2 are amazingly useful. I have C3 so when I select it my camera goes to AV mode, spot meter mode, f/8, mirror lockup, self timer of 10 seconds, +2/3 stop exp. compensation. C2 is the same thing except it also has auto bracketing enabled. I also had C1 setup with a standard mode but with 1/3 stop Exp Compensation.

I also found that I was using live view 10x focusing on every image when I was on a tripod. Once the image is focused, no need to lock up the mirror, just start the timer. So for me it worked great.

So while I agree Canon should address this for those who have different needs or different workflows, or just different preferences, the current system is so much better than it was a few years ago I'm pretty content with it.

Two other problems are increased battery usage, and possibly more image noise from the sensor heating up.



Exactly. And that's what Canon used to do with film bodies such as the EOS 5.

Though there are those of us who do not like using the self-timer in lieu of a cable release. I only use the self-timer if I have foolishly left my cable release in another bag.

I'm with Michael on this, all the way. It's absolutely stupid not to respect the user enough to provide this option. The default for the print button can remain as is, but should be user programmable. Period. Canon (IMO) does not make one more printer sale, generate more ink sales, or paper sales, by disrespectfully ignoring user requests of something so easy for them to do and so useful to the user.

IMHO, of course.