Metering Problem?

[sdearth]

I'm afraid that I have a metering problem with my Rebel XT. I'm hoping I'm wrong and that someone can suggest what I've done to my camera.

Yesteday, I started having a lot of trouble getting a correct exposure whil in Av mode. In a brightly lit room, I set the camera on full Auto and the camera meters the scene at 4.0 for 1/60 with ISO 400 and fires the flash. The exposure appears to be correct.

I then set the camera on Av and set the aperture at 4.0. The camera sets the shutter speed at 1/6 at ISO 400 (with flash). This seems like an extraordinarily long exposure at ISO 400 in a brightly lit room. Checking previous photos with similar lighting, these settins seem really out of whack.

Am I wrong, or should I get the camera checked out? Thanks.

[Tee Why]

If it happens again, ther might be an issue, but I doubt it.
Is the metering different? for example in Auto I think it's only evaluative, in the Av mode if you left the metering on partial and the center subject is dark, then the shutter speed will be much longer.

[Livinthalife]

I had the same problem try this, hold your Av button an you should be able to adjust the shutter speed (even though your in Av mode) till the marker is in the middle. I know this what fixed mine. I thought I was having a problem also. Let me know if this is what fixes it.

[MT]

If by full auto you mean 'green box' - doesn't that set the ISO for you as well? Going from memory, full auto uses ISO 400, so if you have ISO 100 in AV mode that exposure would be close (1/60@400 = 1/30/@200 = 1/15@ 100)

[PacAce]

Have you checked to see if you had the exposure compensation set to +1 or +2 by accident? In Av mode (or any other creative modes except manual) the meter should be centered in the middle of the scale (in the viewfinder). If it's off to one side or the other that means that you have EC set, either intentionally or by accident. If the "needle" is not in the center of the exposure scale, turn the dial at the back of the camera to center it. Then try the shot in Av again.

[tzalman]

1/6 @ f4 and ISO 400 is a perfectly reasonable exposure for an interior shot. In full Auto with the flash raised the camera shows settings commensurate for a shot lit by the flash. In Av, even though the flash is raised, the camera exposes according to the ambient (room) light and the flash is reduced to fill-flash. If you shoot in M with the speed set to anything up to 1/200 and aperture 4.0, the flash intensity will be increased to the amount neccessary for proper exposure of the main subject, provided, of course, the subject is within the distance limit. How bright the background is will be determined by the shutter speed.