Canon 60D dark shadow: Hi, I have a Canon 60D. I LOVE taking pictures, but am new to photography. My camera(from the beginning) has had a dark shadow across the picture when taken with...

mommymia

Hi,
I have a Canon 60D. I LOVE taking pictures, but am new to photography.
My camera(from the beginning) has had a dark shadow across the picture when taken with the camera turned the long way, but only the normal way you'd take it. If I flip it the other way with the button on the bottom, no shadow. It does not happen every time, but often & ruins the picture. Anyone else had this problem, or know what it is? It is not my thumb or strap or anything of that sort.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

I have seen this when shutter speed is not the same or slower than the sync speed of the flash.

mommymia

Until recently I had always shot in "idiot mode" :) only now learning a bit about iso's and such, so I'm not sure why the flash, which at that time was just the built in, would be slower than the camera's auto settings. So much to learn. I have a square trade warranty that is up at the end of the year, but hate the thought of parting with my camera for who knows how long.

Thanks for your input.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

The flash is only on for a limited time, if you shutter is open only part of the time the flash fires you get a shadow in the area where the flash was not firing and the sensor was exposed. In auto mode the camera knows the flash will be used and sets the shutter speed accordingly. Look in your manual and look for the sync speed and if you are in Manual mode and using the flash use the recommended shutter speed (usually in the range of 1/125 to 1/250).
If you are going to buy an external flash make sure it is an ETTL flash so it will sync with your settings.

mommymia

Thanks.
Everytime this happened it was on an auto setting though. with the built in flash.
I did buy an external speedlite 580 ex. still learning that too!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mommymia wrote:

Hi,
I have a Canon 60D. I LOVE taking pictures, but am new to photography.
My camera(from the beginning) has had a dark shadow across the picture when taken with the camera turned the long way, but only the normal way you'd take it. If I flip it the other way with the button on the bottom, no shadow. It does not happen every time, but often & ruins the picture. Anyone else had this problem, or know what it is? It is not my thumb or strap or anything of that sort.

So it doesn't do it every time, and it never does it with the shutter button toward the bottom. That's a tough one. Have you tried different lenses or different focal lengths with that lens?

mommymia

I do have another lens, but almost never use it. I can't remember if it happened with that one as well or not, but I have tried the current one at all different focal lengths. It is very strange indeed.
The lens I use is a Canon esf 18-135mm IS

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

jrb1213 wrote:

The flash is only on for a limited time, if you sh... (show quote)

All of this info is spot on correct, however in looking at the photo I'm not sure that this is a shutter sync problem. Usually with a sync problem the dark area would be pretty much parallel to the side of the frame, not on a diagonal as in this image. Also, camera orientation wouldn't be a factor; the out of sync should happen regardless of the camera being held in landscape or portrait mode. I'll admit, I'd be (am) perplexed over this result as well. I'll be interested in responses.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

Photographer Jim wrote:

All of this info is spot on correct, however in looking at the photo I'm not sure that this is a shutter sync problem. Usually with a sync problem the dark area would be pretty much parallel to the side of the frame, not on a diagonal as in this image. Also, camera orientation wouldn't be a factor; the out of sync should happen regardless of the camera being held in landscape or portrait mode. I'll admit, I'd be (am) perplexed over this result as well. I'll be interested in responses.

Was the photo straightened and cropped?
I'd be interested in seeing sequential photos with the same settings one vetical and one horizontal, where the dark band shows up.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I agree, if it is a sync problem, the dark area would be parallel to the frame.

If it only happens sometimes when in portrait mode, it could be your strap is falling in front of the flash and blocking it partially. You state that isn't a problem, but something is falling in front of the flash and that seems a likely scenario.

You might also try looking at the camera face in portrait mode and see if there is anything physically that might be slipping or not in the proper position.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I'm wondering if it might be worth taking the lens off, set the camera to the sensor cleaning so the mirror is in lock up position, then while looking into the lens opening, rotate the camera to see if anything is loose and dropping down in front of the sensor?

I'm also thinking it might be good to check for a loose blade in the lens iris.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

jdubu wrote:

I agree, if it is a sync problem, the dark area would be parallel to the frame.

If it only happens sometimes when in portrait mode, it could be your strap is falling in front of the flash and blocking it partially.

Also check how you hold the camera it could also be your hand.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

jdubu wrote:

I agree, if it is a sync problem, the dark area would be parallel to the frame.

If it only happens sometimes when in portrait mode, it could be your strap is falling in front of the flash and blocking it partially. You state that isn't a problem, but something is falling in front of the flash and that seems a likely scenario.

That sure would be the simplest explanation. Lets all hope for Mommamia's sake that it turns out to be so.

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

Photographer Jim wrote:

That sure would be the simplest explanation. Lets all hope for Mommamia's sake that it turns out to be so.

:thumbup:
Lets hope.

mommymia

It is definitely not the strap, nor my hand (which the first few times It happened I thought that is what it must be) But I have been very conscious of how I hold it & even worn the strap around my neck. I will take off the lens as suggested.
Thanks everyone