Help, NEW g2, seem to be getting over exposure in auto mode

[sherrys]

Unless I'm six feet away from my subject or more, the auto flash creates over exposure with white white whites showing up everywhere there is any white.

A warmly lit room becomes glare hell.

Should this be happening in AUTO? Do I need to return this camera?

are there settings I can use to stop this?

Please help. I don't want to have to return this :(

[sherrys]

by playing with flash intensity and WB... but I need ot know if there is something wrong with AF mode. IS the canon Flash on the g2 too intense for anyone else when they are closer than six feet away?

[Eric F.]

The first thing you might like to try would be to forget the AUTO setting on the G2 or G1. Use the "P" Program setting, this will allow you to control some of the functions that might help with this problem. Expierment with the white balance setting or you can note the cameras exposure and then select a AV or TV setting that might help.

Also, the camera does have a range that results in the best exposure with the internal flash. My experience has shown that it is about 8 to 12 feet. Outside of this range the results are disappointing. If you make a lot of indoor pictures it would be worth the cost to get a 420ex and take advantage of the hotshoe. With the external flash you can bounce the flash, and rid yourself of "glare hell". :p

I would not return the G2 because it does not perform in this capacity, internal flash is it's weakest link. IMHO

If your subject does not move try existing light or directed light. You will like the result!:)

[sherrys]

I read your reply right when I got off the phone with Robert From Canon.

He didn't tell me about the 8-12 foot thing.. but he did teach me a little bit about P mode and said he
never uses full Auto for the same reasons we are talking about. :)

the good news is I did buy the camera with a 420EX, and robert also taught me to swivel it side to side as well as up, to avoid bouncing off a white ceiling.

I'm now certain I have MORE to learn, but with both you and Canon, have been pointed in the right direction... Thank you so much. I'll probably have lots more questions later. I am extremely grateful to know someone on this board whose instincts I can clearly trust.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!