how to change g6 shutter speed on auto mode

[Chris Sawatsky]

Hi I recently got a canon g6 and I'm having some trouble with it.
If I take a photo with the mode dial on auto, the flash goes, then the LCD screen goes black for 2-3 seconds, then the image shows up

if I hold the camera perfectly still during the black screen period, and the subject holds perfectly still during the black screen period, the photo is fine. But if either one moves after the flash goes off, there are trails in the photo, as per the attached example

It seems to me that the shutter is staying open too long like if I were trying to do some sort of fancy time-lapse stuff

I'm not a camera expert so I need things explained to me in detail :)

I looked in the manual and couldn't quite find what I was looking for, likely because I don't know the terminology.

I don't think it did this when I first got it a few weeks ago, so I may have buggered up some settings somewhere.

any help is much appreciated!

[Bryan Bedell]

Sounds like maybe it's shooting "night scene" when set for auto... there have been other reports on this group about the mode dial being out of whack, maybe that's the problem... since "night scene" is three clicks clockwise from "AUTO", try clicking three clicks the other way (to "Av") and see if that works as auto should.

or i guess the easier way to check is just look at the screen... when it's set to "AUTO" does it actually say "AUTO" on the top right corner of the screen, or is it the night scene icon (person w/star)?

It sounds like a slow-sync flash: the flash is firing, then the shutter's staying open to expose the background) which can be turned on in some modes (and it's always on in Night Scene), but as far as i can tell, you can't use that in AUTO.

B.

[Chris Sawatsky]

hmm it did say auto on the screen, but I wheeled the dial over to Av and then back to auto, now it's working fine...

I did do this a few other times without getting it working, so I dunno what's going on. I'll update if it reverts to not working again. Thanks for the help!

[rpolitsr]

Welcome Chris

I read the EXIF data (the settings of your camera when you shot the picture) on your picture file:
Camera Model Name: Canon PowerShot G6
Shooting Date/Time: 24/09/2006 0:56:37
Shooting Mode: Program AE
Tv (Shutter Speed): 0.8 sec.
Av (Aperture Value): f 2.0
Light Metering: Evaluative
Flash: On
Flash Type: Built-In Flash

The exif data shows that you shot in P instead of Auto.
P mode is next to Auto so I hope it was just a mistake and not a real issue. (Or perhaps the dial was half the way between Auto and P)

By the way, note the date (it was the future!). If you correctly set the date on your camera before, it is time to replace the lithium date battery. (G6 user’s guide pg. 26 and 191). This battery will not affect the Auto or P issues we are talking about.

[Bryan Bedell]

hmm it did say auto on the screen, but I wheeled the dial over to Av and then back to auto, now it's working fine...

I did do this a few other times without getting it working, so I dunno what's going on. I'll update if it reverts to not working again. Thanks for the help!

Is the G6 new? If it continues to shoot in the wrong mode, or that dial is acting weird, exchange it or have it serviced, I've been on this list for almost a year and maybe 2-3 people have reported similar problems with their new G6 and exchanged them, so it's not unheard of.

B.

[Chris Sawatsky]

ah yes, on careful inspection it seems that the mode dial is a bit sensitive on this camera, I'll make note to watch the screen. I do have extended warranty on it, as I got it as a floor model, so if it acts up further I'll have it replaced

Thanks for the notes on the EXIF info, I've set the date now and will watch it to see if I need a new battery!

[Papaw]

I have seen where someone can get the EXIF data from the picture file from a post and just wondering how you can do this.
Thanks in advance.

[rpolitsr]

Read this thread Exif Data ? ? ?
I use Opanda. It works for me

[Papaw]

I downloaded it but can't get it to work on Netscape. Do you have to use IE?