s2 flash question

[handyhaver]

This evening I was taking some pics of my daughter and some horses at the stable where she rides. It had just got dark so I used the flash. She was about 10/12' ft away, and in all pics, it seems the flash would only cover from her chest down, leaving her face darker.

Same problem happened at a wedding I was at last weekend. I was shooting in auto mode. It's as though the flash isn't high enough. I'm pretty sure I had it up all the way.

Anybody have any thoughs or suggestions on this?........................

Mark

[handyhaver]

here are 2 examples, if it worked

[mojos]

try using "SCN: Special Scene Mode:"

Night Snapshot: Fires a flash to illuminate the foreground, while leaving the shutter open just a little longer to properly expose the background, while still making the scene look like a night scene.

[RossW]

The "night snapshot" suggestion sounds like a good one for this sort of shooting, but I agree that the pattern of the illumination indicates the flash isn't aimed correctly... or something is blocking part of it. Since it's the top that's dark, it can't be the lens snout; is the camera strap or a finger getting in the way? When the flash it up is the diffuser face vertical? If not, then I don't think the flash is in fact opening all the way. I've taken a bunch of flash pictures with my S2 and never seen a similar problem with the coverage.

[handyhaver]

there's nothing blocking the flash.....it's just the way they all seem to be coming out. just don't understand it.......somethings not right?? should I take it back?? any suggestions here ???

[nwyman]

there's nothing blocking the flash.....it's just the way they all seem to be coming out. just don't understand it.......somethings not right?? should I take it back?? any suggestions here ???

have you tried calling Canon support? They were very helpful when I had problems with my S2

Nancy

[handyhaver]

not as yet Nancy...thought I would throw it out here first to see if anybody else had this problem, or perhaps I was doing somethig wrong.
The camera is only a week old..don't know if "I" want to start adjusting things. Maybe it was made at 5:00 pm on a Fri................. I would prefer a new one..............

[RossW]

I would take it back, assuming the store has a helpful exchange policy. I think there's clearly something wrong with the flash. If the store questions the return, just show them those photos... it should convince them. They're certainly not representative of flash pictures I seen from two other S2s.

I assume photos taken without flash are OK? It's not some flaw with the sensor, in other words. I can't think of any setting that would cause such a distinct difference in exposure over one photo.

Go PennState!! :-)

[snowrdr]

Same problem happened at a wedding I was at last weekend. I was shooting in auto mode. It's as though the flash isn't high enough. I'm pretty sure I had it up all the way.

Anybody have any thoughs or suggestions on this?........................

Mark

Before you take it back, you might want to try using Flash Exposure lock.
You have to be in P, Av, Tv, or M modes though.

This is supposed to set the exposure correctly when using flash.

You can read about it here under FE Lock:

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/pss2is/206-e.html#015

[handyhaver]

Ross,
I agree and think I'll bring it back this week. If it was a problem with exposure, or locking a setting, I don't see how that would affect the aim. Also, there will be times when I just want to snap some shots in auto...........I don't see it happening with results like this. I should have been able to to take these two shots. The lower halfs seem to be ok. I am far from a expert, but I think there is problem here. I paid a good buck for this camera, it should be right.

Mark

[Alex Debris]

Looks like you had a baseball hat on...... Been there.... done that.

[sonnyJ]

Had similar picture taken of me by friend - He was using the eye piece viewer and I could see the brim of his hat blocking part of the flash - Try holding camera away from you using LCD and try again using EVF - Any difference?

[handyhaver]

Well looks like I'm the fool.......I did have a hat on and I do use the EVF alot..(blush)

I've been taking pics of just about everting laterly and it seems to be working fine...

Love the camera............think I'll keep this one.

Mark

[handyhaver]

here's one without the hat

[RossW]

Yup... that's more like it! (But you wore a baseball cap to a wedding???) :-)

[handyhaver]

no.............but I did alot of zooming I guess out of the range of the flash.........
between the wedding (my bad), and the horse shots (mybad again), thought for sure the camera was messed...

nope, just me

[RossW]

Glad it's sorted out now... I'm sure you'll love the S2, and will have great photos -- properly exposed -- to show us. :-)

[Bentron]

Looks like you had a baseball hat on...... Been there.... done that.

Man nice troubleshooting Alex.

I love the forums.

[handyhaver]

yeah Alex nailed the problem for sure......things are good in s2 land. Glad I past on the pocket camera a few extra bucks