Michael J. Farkas |
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Canon EOS 20D & 580EX - Underexposed pictures !!!
I have read all the advice that everyone has given regarding this problem. No matter what I do I get very underexposed picture. I would think that it is my newly arrival in the dSLR arena. I am a recent graduate from the P & S catagory.My problem is that when I use the Built in flash I have no problem with exposure. When I put on the 580EX Speedlite is when the nightmere begins. I am desperately seeking any tips, settings advice, and other that will keep me sane during this low point in my amateur days as a dSLR user.
March 23, 2005
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Kix Pix |
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Perhaps a re-read of the manual would help to answer this. Not to sound as if you haven't, but I read mine about a dozen times in the first two months. There are several books, I'm not sure if there is a Magic Lantern Guide for your flash, chances are it is. These can be helpful.
It's really hard to provide any essential tips without knowing your shooting settings and information. You may have a manual override on your flash to which you can increase the output, this could help you.
March 22, 2005
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esta |
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are you sure your settings on the flash are correct? whats the magic lantern guide and about how much is it.
March 23, 2005
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Jon Close |
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Uploading a sample photo would help. Include all pertinent data (exposure mode, ISO, shutter/aperture settings, flash settings, etc.).
March 23, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Shot in Office
Michael J. Farkas
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Here is an example of the images I have been getting using the 580EX:
March 23, 2005
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Peter K. Burian |
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Michael: Problem is we have no idea what camera settings you used. Program mode? f/5.6 at 1.125 sec? f/22 at 1/160 sec? Any + or - exposure compensation set? On the camera or the flash unit? There is no way to diagnose a problem without knowing all the facts. If you use a Photoshop program, you can find info on settings using File . File Info > EXIF data. Peter Burian
March 23, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Peter -
Here are the settings:
Exposure time 1/60
F: 5.6
ISO 400
Shutter: 0.00 sec
Aperture: 5.0
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: unidentified
Focal Length: 47 mm
Flash Pix Version: 0100If you need anything more - I am eager to provide. I am very troubled that it just keeps happening no matter what I try. I have even used the Full Auto looking for some kind of resolution. Thanks for the help. Mike
March 25, 2005
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Christopher A. Vedros |
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I wonder why it would say "Flash: unidentified". Does anyone know if that's normal? When I look at the properties for images taken with my Digital Rebel and 420EX, it recognizes the flash as an "external E-TTL".
March 26, 2005
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Peter K. Burian |
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Yes, the data should say something about the flash unit. Mike: Try this. Set the camera for Program (P) mode. Take a photo and check the exposure. If still dark,you'll need to set a + exposure compensation on your flash unit. I don't have a 580EX but it should have a plus and minus button. Press the + button and set +1. Take a picture again. You may need to leave your flash permanently set for +1, or whatever + amount seems to produce the best results. (Without excessively bright highlights.) Peter Burian
March 26, 2005
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Gary L. |
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if all else has failed I suggest you send it in for servicing....it sounds like the problem is with your flash or your camera for that matter.
knowing that the flash is not flash is not being recogninzed it very well could be your camera or the connecting pins on your flash or hot shoe
March 27, 2005
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Lisa Carpenter |
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I am still checking this one out!
March 30, 2005
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Terry L. Stafford |
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I have the same problem with my 20D. With any setting, if I'm using flash, 580EX and 420EX wireless, I have to go way overboard on exposure to get it to look near normal and that seems to yellow everything out terribly. Even using all the manual white balance settings won't cut it. Doing product photos I have to ensure the room is full of natural light. Sucks. I hope Canon can figure that out on the next firmware upgrade.
April 01, 2005
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Lisa Carpenter |
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Has anyone gotten any helpful information from Canon regarding this?
April 01, 2005
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David M. Albertson |
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Your flash is saying unidentified so I would check and make sure the contacts were in the shoe all the way in.
Also check your settings on the camera and see if the flash is firing off the 2nd shutter. Or the flash is not set correctly. If all has been checked then it could be the camera shoe is faulty.
April 02, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Everyone - Thanks for your thoughts and help. I still have not been able to correct this. It may be service time. The curious thing is that when I leave it in P mode, and take the same picture, with the same settings (but with no flash - external or built in) I get a closer to normal exposed image. I had a friend try the flash on his 10D and he took great pics no problem. I guess at this point I am leaning toward the hotshoe/hotshoe terminals theory. Can you imagine, brand new and broke. Both - my camera, or the flash. Go figure, Again thanks for the help - I will keep you posted.
April 06, 2005
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David M. Albertson |
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Michael I feel for you, It would be a nightmare like dream have to send in the camera and dealing with all that. I think the shoe on your camera is faulty also. Dave
April 07, 2005
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Christopher A. Vedros |
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Michael,
I don't know if you bought your gear from a local shop or online, etc. But before you ship your camera and/or flash off for service, try this. Find a pro camera shop in your area. Not just a store that sells cameras like Target or Best Buy, but a real camera shop where you could find things like Canon L-series lenses and Cokin filters and Kodak Portra film. Bring your camera and flash there and ask one of the staff if they will take a look at it for you. Since it's digital, it's not a big deal to snap off a few shots and see if they came out. They'll probably help you out and save you some time & postage. There's a pro shop near my office and the guys there do stuff like that all the time. Good luck.
April 07, 2005
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Deidre McClain |
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Well, Michael, having the same underexposed problems; I asked a photography teacher to come to my place to see what was going on. (I too thought I was on the precipice of losing my sanity!) I was getting underexposure with 2 580's! The problem seems to be when the 20D is in Program mode. Don't know why the camera always sets to 1/60 in P with flash, but it does and thus has a larger aperature and lets in too much ambient and gets yellow. We eventually figured it out in Manual, but it sure felt great hearing his explitives in frustration- (agony is so comforted with company!)I'm taking my stuff to a Canon sponsored digital seminar and will try to get more answers. The teacher also was frustrated that the 580 sends out a tremendous narrow shot of light so there's a ton of shadow, so if the ceilings are not white or too high to bounce; you need to get creative with softening the light. So, long story short, ISO 200 and meter; then go manual. It does seems to do great outdoors. Guess the only good thing is that seeing the (over 400) trys instantly quickens the learning curve! ha!
April 07, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Hello again everyone. I finally broke down and sent my camera with flash to an auth, Canon shop. They are so close to me here in NJ, it was easy to run it over. I will hopefully have an answer to all my agony. Once again I tried a lot of your ideas and I appreciate the interest and feedback that you provided. Being fairly new to the dSLR game I am sure I will be on here alot for helpful advice. I have seen some of the courses that can be taken through this site, such as Peter K. Burian offers and I intend to sign up for a few. Thanks gain all !!!! Mike
April 09, 2005
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David M. Albertson |
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Mike the shutter speed was 0.00 ?
Is this correct guys? I though you would have a reading here.
April 09, 2005
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Jennifer Hopper |
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I was wondering about that as well (and the camera not recognizing the flash). May be that both are issues. Please do tell us what the camera shop says. This is intriguing (that's probably an understatement for the guy going through this).
April 10, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Hi all. As promised. Here is the very sshort list of what was wrong...Can anyone say "hotshoe". For those of you that suspected that - You win. My camera, with speedlite, is taking great pictures now. I am very impressed actually. I am very pleased with my purchase. I am very glad that I have started my way in graduate school (jump from point and shoot to dSLR) I had no idea of what a great picture was. Thanks again all for your suggestions and advice. Mike
April 17, 2005
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David M. Albertson |
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Thanks for posting back with what was wrong and I am glad everything is working for you now.
What exactly was the issue?
Someone forgot to solder a wire or something?
April 17, 2005
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Michael J. Farkas |
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Dave, They never gave me that detailed of a description. The only phrase was "replaced top cover unit" I could inquire further perhaps. I am just happy that my equipment is up and running like it should be. Mike
April 19, 2005
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Janet L. DeBlaay |
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Mike,
I'm having the drastic underexposure problems with my Canon Digital Rebel and Promaster D 7500 DX external flash. When I shoot indoors or outside with flash, my images are terribly underexposed. Lately, I've been shooting in RAW so that I can change the exposure in Photoshop up to 2 stops. I've been shooting in Manual mode at the widest aperture (usually 4.0 or 4.5) and 1/60 sec and at least 400 ISO. I can see the flash go off, but still the image is dark. What's wrong with this picture?
Jan
June 10, 2005
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Matt |
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I've had the EXACT same issue with both my Canon 20D and Canon digital rebel. Extremely dark images, sometimes a yellow hue, regardless of what setting they are on. Even outdoor images look different. Ironically I have a canon 10D that takes some of the best images I've ever seen on a camera, so go figure. Canon reps told me everything from I needed to update the firmware, to changing settings, all kinds of silly things that were not the issue. Factory service has had the 20D for about a week now, and hopefully they resolve the issue like they did for the gentleman above. If you have this issue with the 20D, save yourself alot of time and agony and get it sent in to the service center. I'll post again when I get it back.
June 11, 2005
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