Mastering the Nikon D300

1.17. Exposure Delay Mode

The D300 has a Mirror Up mode (MUP) that allows you to raise the mirror with the first shutter release press, then take a picture with the second press. This allows you to use a tripod, raise the mirror, wait for vibrations to die down, then fire the shutter. Significantly sharper images can be the result.

The D300 also has an Exposure delay mode that allows you to raise your mirror between shots, like with MUP mode, but only requires a single shutter button press, instead of two.

In the D200 and D2X, the mirror delay was 1/2 second. So you could frame your subject, press the shutter release, the mirror would raise, and 1/2 second later the shutter would fire. Many have felt that 1/2 second wasn't long enough for vibrations ...