Canon EOS 20d Exposure Freakout: Doing a series of group photos, camera on tripod, no change in settings or position or lighting. In a series of photos, exposure varied wildly, from...

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

Doing a series of group photos, camera on tripod, no change in settings or position or lighting. In a series of photos, exposure varied wildly, from correct to somewhat overexposed to totally overexposed. Properties confirm that both aperture and shutter speed contributed to over-exposures. My question is, why? Software malfunction? Worn out camera? Is it fixable, or is it time to shop?

This one worked fine.

Next shot; no setting changes.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Repost with "store original" checked to preserve the Exit data. No one can tell you anything at all from these thumbnails.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Tom.

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

Here are the original photos.

(Download)

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

Thanks! Been reading the forum for a year or two; this is my first issue where I really need some experienced advice.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Tom29520 wrote:

Here are the original photos.

That a one of them anyway.

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

I checked store original on the second post. I'll try again.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

What mode were you shooting in?

#1 f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO 100

#2 f/1.8, 1/25 sec, ISO 100

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Linda From Maine wrote:

What mode were you shooting in?

#1 f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO 100

#2 f/1.8, 1/25 sec, ISO 100

I'm on my phone and can't see the EXIF data myself, but what you posted would certainly explain it. An additional 2 & 1/3 stops from the wider aperture, and 3 more stops from the slower shutter speed. The question is whether there was a camera misfunction or was it user error. Doesn't the EXIF data indicate the mode he was in?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

mwsilvers wrote:

I...Doesn't the EXIF data indicate the mode he was in?

I'm on a Chromebook right now with just a basic exif reader. Only additional info I can see is date and time.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Tom29520 wrote:

I checked store original on the second post. I'll try again.

For the blowout you were shooting in what appears to be bright light and using a 1/25 sec exposure at F1.8 while in "Program" mode.
The properly exposed image was also shot in Program, 6 seconds before the blowout and came out at 1/200 sec and F4. (Both at 100 ISO)
I would venture to say that you have an in-camera metering issue and it may be time to upgrade to a newer camera.

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

Linda From Maine wrote:

What mode were you shooting in?

#1 f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO 100

#2 f/1.8, 1/25 sec, ISO 100

"P" - Program AE Mode. I mentioned tripod because I've bumped the knob in the past and changed mode, but on tripod all I touched was zoom and shutter. Also, mode would not seem to be the problem because exposures varied from good to really lousy and back again several times over a shoot of about 150 photos, with same location, same settings, same lighting, etc. If more samples would help, I've got plenty.

Tom29520 Loc: South Carolina

MT Shooter wrote:

For the blowout you were shooting in what appears to be bright light and using a 1/25 sec exposure at F1.8 while in "Program" mode.
The properly exposed image was also shot in Program, 6 seconds before the blowout and came out at 1/200 sec and F4. (Both at 100 ISO)
I would venture to say that you have an in-camera metering issue and it may be time to upgrade to a newer camera.

Is it the consensus of UHH folks that the camera is a goner? I hope not, but I can't think of any other explanation.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Tom29520 wrote:

Is it the consensus of UHH folks that the camera is a goner? I hope not, but I can't think of any other explanation.

Would exposure lock cause the problem, maybe metering with the lens cap on or pointing at something very dark.

I would have thought in the view finder it would give the selected shutter speed and f-stop before you take the shot. maybe just try some random shots and look carefully at what the metering is saying. With my Pentax when exposure lock is on there is a * in the view finder.
check the manual for your canon.

You could try manual modes see if they are working for you.

kekoakona Loc: Michigan

Tom29520 wrote:

Doing a series of group photos, camera on tripod, no change in settings or position or lighting. In a series of photos, exposure varied wildly, from correct to somewhat overexposed to totally overexposed. Properties confirm that both aperture and shutter speed contributed to over-exposures. My question is, why? Software malfunction? Worn out camera? Is it fixable, or is it time to shop?

Tom,
A little over a month ago my Canon 7D started giving me intermittent exposure problems however my photos came out dark. It wasn't long after that, that I got error 20 messages and the camera failed to work. I had taken about 60,000 photos with it prior to its failure.

I had to send it in to have the shutter replaced. I haven't had any issues since. I sent it to http://www.unitedcamera.com/. They fixed it and got it back to me in a little over a week.