topic Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

stevet1 — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:06:15 GMT

I discovered this quite by accident. This might be old hat for some, but it was new to me.

If you are in a high dynamic range situation, and want to take a 3 shot auto exposed bracketed shot at different exposures, you can let your camera do your work for you by setting a 2 second time delay. You press the shutter button once, wait 2 seconds, and the camera will take 3 shots in quick succession. This minimizes the risk of you shifting position between the 3 shots, and also minimizes the risk of shutter shock if you would normally press the shutter button 3 times.

My camera (a T8i) has a Basic Scene Mode that will also do this. It takes 3 shots in quick succession and processes the HDR in camera.

This is for people who want to manually do the HDR processing themselves in an editor program like DPP4 or others.

Here's a 3-exposure bracketed shot I took this morning at a 2-stop separation. I was able to bring out the blue in the sky and the green in the grass (which was quite whited out in the normal exposure).

bracketed2.JPG

Steve Thomas

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Jkarl — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:42:06 GMT

Nice to know. I have a T8i and it is a very good general carry camera.

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

stevet1 — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:56:54 GMT

Jkarl,

Is the T8i the only camera you have?

The T8i is mine.

There's not many of us.

Steve Thomas

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Jkarl — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:05:32 GMT

I have the T8i and a R5and a R6ii. I find myself caring the T8i for walk-around due to its light weight and capabilities.

I was wondering was the T8i only made for a short time,iI got mine in 2024 to get back into photography replacing 10D.

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Jkarl — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:41:47 GMT

It is the photographer not the equipment. I learned quite a few things here on the forum from you and others

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 01:09:00 GMT

Does the T8i allow mirror lockup? It’s a good way to capture those landscape photos with less camera shake.
Assuming that you’re using a quality tripod.

HDR images are a good way to capture the Moon.

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Jkarl — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 02:30:33 GMT

Yes it does have mirror lock so you can use live view.

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

stevet1 — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:31:08 GMT

This very intereresting. When using the T8i,

If I enable mirror lockup with the 2 second time delay, in viewfinder shooting, the camera does not automatically fire off 3 shots. I have to manually press the shutter 3 times.

When using Live View, the camera does fire 3 shots automatically.

Maybe in Live View, the mirror is already raised, so enabling mirror lockup has no effect anyway.

If I disable the mirror lockup, 3 shots are automatically fired, regardless of whether I'm using the viewfinder, or in Live View.

Locking the controls has no effect.

Steve Thomas

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:09:11 GMT

“

This very intereresting. When using the T8i,

If I enable mirror lockup with the 2 second time delay, in viewfinder shooting, the camera does not automatically fire off 3 shots. I have to manually press the shutter 3 times.

When using Live View, the camera does fire 3 shots automatically. “

Now you’ve got me wondering. 🧐 Did use the OVF or LV?

I am going to have to break out my DSLR and play around with mirror lockup again. I would use it mostly to capture photos for image stacking for noise reduction, AEB for HDR images.

When using Live View, you should be able to change the shutter mode. You can meter a static scene in two ways. I am typically pre focused with AF off.

One, using he meters sensor as you would shooting with the OVF. Note, this causes the mirror to drop for metering, and then raise again to capture the image. Supposedly more accurate metering, but with a more vibration.

Two, you can meter off the sensor. The mirror stays raised, and a minimum of vibration. This was my preferred method to capture image stacks for post processing.

I think I would use either ARB or the internal interval timer. It works a little differently on MILC bodies because there’s no mirror.

Re: T8i AEB and 2 second time delay

stevet1 — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:35:08 GMT

Waddizzle,

I woke up this morning and slapped my forehead, and said, "You dummy. That's the way it's supposed to work. You press the shutter once to raise the mirror, and a second time to actually take the picture."

In Live View, you press the Live View button to raise the mirror, and it stays raised up until you leave Live View.

I need to think before I speak.

Steve Thomas