2 second self-timer in M mode? why?

[claysu]

im using a canon xsi along with a 50mm 1.8.

id like to shoot a self portrait, but i dont have a remote for my setup yet. im shooting in M mode, but when i click over to the drive mode menu to find the self timer, i only have the option for either a 2 second self-timer or continuous self timer.

i can for the life of me figure out why i cant change the 2 second self-timer to something like 10 seconds. shouldnt my camera be able to do that? what am i missing here?

thanks!

[RichardTaylor]

Have you tried setting the drive mode to 10 second self timer instead if the 2 second self timer (the remote is optional)?

See page 53 of the (English) user guide.

[claysu]

haha, yes well thats the thing, when i scroll over the drive mode settings, there is no option to change it from 2 to 10 seconds delay. i thought there would be arrows to increase or decrease time as i scrolled over similar to that of the continuous self timer option. ive consulted the manual and all i can get out of it is confusion about 'using self timer with mirror lock'.

insights?

[Vagebond]

When you press the button for shooting mode (page 53) you see 5 options: 1 single shooting, 2 continuous shooting, 3 self-timer/remote control, 4 self-timer 2 sec., 5 self-timer continuous.

Number 3 is the 10 second self-timer if you press the shutter release button, and/or the camera responds to the wireless remote control. When you press the shutter button you'll see the count-down on the bottom right of the LCD.

[inkista]

It sounds like you've got Mirror Lockup on. With long exposures for night time or macro shooting, the vibration from the mirrorbox swinging out of the way can actually register in the shot, so MLU lets you separate the two things: the mirror box can be set to swing up and out of the way, but then the camera waits either for the 2-second timer, or for you to mash the shutter button again to trip the opening of the shutter.

Take a spin through the custom functions to see if you've got mirror lock-up turned on. It should be C.Fn III -9.

The thing is, if you have MLU on, you'd probably have noticed you have to hit the shutter button twice to take a picture.

[claysu]

thanks! MLU was not up, but self-timer/remote control function does the trick. thanks everybody!

[PotatoEYE]

Thanks, I really struggled to find it as well!