Can I tape the mirror in my 7D in the locked position?

robmneilson

robmneilson

Veteran
I just bought a set of Lomo's that have been modified to clear the 7D mirror, BUT I might invest in some anamorphics that may or may not clear the mirror. If I hit live view and lock the mirror, and use gaffers tape to keep it in the up position, could this hurt my camera in any way?

Thanks in advance...

Rob
 
Removing the mirror is risky, but taping it up is a flat-out bad idea. You'd be introducing adhesive to the innards of your camera.
 
pulpfiction007 said:
Yeah...what everyone else said. Don't do it!
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I thought of doing something similar to get an optical viewfinder, but in the end it sounds like a better idea than a carried out idea.

You can always just change to a photo mode and then you have an optical viewfinder for rehearsals etc., but when recording begins you would have to obviously switch back to video mode.
 
I just want to take caution when trying out a new oct 19 lens that may not clear it. I doubt I would keep it up for more than a moment. If only the 7D had a mirror lock button I'd be in business!
 
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robmneilson said:
I just want to take caution when trying out a new oct 19 lens that may not clear it. I doubt I would keep it up for more than a moment. If only the 7D had a mirror lock button I'd be in business!
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Put it in video mode _without_ a lens, the mirror will flip out of the way. I've done it many times.
 
I'm more worried about having a lens in whose element would be in the way of the mirror, and when I remove it having the mirror flip down and get damaged as I take it out.
 
Which lens are you trying? There's only a few lenses out there with a large enough rear element to foul the mirror, and several of them have a metal flange that would prevent the mirror from hitting the element.

BTW, taping the last 3 pins of a teleconverter has been done by photographers for years to allow to AF at f8 or higher. I've done it myself, no big deal. Taping up the mirror is hardly much different.
 
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I've been looking at a lomo squarefront 35mm I've been thinking about buying and I'm not sure if its going to fit. The peice right behind the mount might be a little bit too fat to fit, and the rear element behind it looks like it would be very very close. If I have the mirror up when I put it in, would there be sufficient force to damage the mirror (or the rear lens element) if it swings down when I attempt to unseat the lens?
 
Nope...the mirror will just rest on the rear of the lens. The mirror is very light, part of the reason why the 7D can do 8fps and not sound like a machine gun when doing it. It also cuts down on camera shake. I've had various 1D and 1Ds models, and they are _loud_, mostly due to that mirror.
 
Oh good, it seems to come down so violently that I was worried about breaking it. I've got the squarefront on the way, so we shall see if it will fit.
 
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