D30 Flash Sync Malfunction

[misko]

Hi,

My D30 suddenly failed to cooperate with my 550EX flashes. Actually, it doesn't work with any flash at all, even with its own built-in one. In the viewfinder display everything looks OK: flash indicator shows the flash is on, shutter speed and aperture are set accordingly, and when I press the shutter button, the flesh fires as it should… but the picture is completely underexposed. It looks as if the flash has fired while the shutter is (still) closed, as a result of mismatched flash synchronization. All exposures taken without flash are normal.

I took my camera to the camera service shop, which is kind of authorized Canon service, but, unfortunately, they were not able to help. The Canon D30 Adjustment Software, albeit recognizing the camera, displays "Cable not attached to camera" message when trying to check any camera setting. The serviceman is now scratching his head and trying to get some explanation from Canon, which doesn't help me much at the moment. Can anyone provide some useful explanation?

Thanks!

Misko

[oops]

I wish I could help, but all I can do is relate a similar experience.

I went to a car show this weekend with the D30, a 420ex flash, and 28-135 IS lens. My first two shots of the day were dismal. I set Av mode 8.0 aperture and the camera seleted 1/200 sync speed on both. My thinking was realistic dof (f8.0) and expose for ambient light (Av mode). The second shot I tried fel and the result was the same.

In desperation ( it was going to be a looong day at this rate ) I set "P" mode and that is the third shot. The camera selected f/4.0 @ 1/60. Needless to say, "P" mode is what I used for the rest of the show and came home with some nice shots.

I read the flash manual twice before the show and decided Av mode was the way to go to expose for ambient light. In retrospect, I probably over estimated the 420ex flash capabilities for f/8.0 exposure. In fact, I need to give up on the "artistic" approaches to exposure and use what I know will work. When I take "me" out of the equation the camera seems to do better.:D

Also, the whole camera, lens, flash combo was so heavy I found in the first two shots that I was smothering virtually every sensor on the front of the camera just trying to keep it supported with my left hand. The "P" mode shot found my left hand in my pocket and sweat popping out on my forehead. Don't know if it was related but I figure there is some important stuff up there I may have been blocking.8)

http://www.pbase.com/image/1084658/medium.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/1084660/medium.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/1084662/medium.jpg

[Uffe]

Misko,

I experienced the same thing from time to time. It appears to be a bug within the camera. I haven't really been able to part from my D30, so I haven't sent it for repair. But I have found a 100% workaround:

Make sure you turn on the flash *after* you turn on the camera. Since I learned that, it hasn't happened again.

The problem appeared for me in P, Av, Tv mode, with flash sync set to both first and second curtain...

Hope this helps you until you can get your camera fixed. If you get any more information, please post it...

Br,

/Uffe.

[misko]

Thanks, both of you, Chris and Uffe, for your replies. As seen from your and my experiences, this evil has many faces. Alas, none of your workarounds works for me. My D30 produces perfectly uniform underexposure in any mode, with any flash attached, in any of both curtain syncs :D. I don't think it is a bug, at least in my case, 'cause my camera worked with flashes flawless for over a year, if you can call D30 well-known erratic flesh exposures that way :D. I guess I'll have to look around for another Canon repair shop. Unfortunately, the next nearest one is 500 Kms from my home :~).

Misko