Need help with 300D!!!!

[KCGlamazon]

My speedlite 380ex flash doesn't seem to be working correctly with my 300D. One picture is dark, the next picture is fine. I think it is not flashing at the right moment. I am a freelance wedding photographer and this could be a major problem for that business. If any one could please, please, help me I would really appreciate it. Do I need a new flash, a digital flash or is there something wrong with the camera? I need help.

[tim]

As I understand it, any EX series flash should be ok on that body. Have you noticed any pattern? eg maybe the problem occurs if the scene's very light./dark, or there's something reflective in the frame. Maybe the flash hadn't had time to recharge?

What mode do you shoot in? Manual, aperture priority, etc.

[PacAce]

My speedlite 380ex flash doesn't seem to be working correctly with my 300D. One picture is dark, the next picture is fine. I think it is not flashing at the right moment. I am a freelance wedding photographer and this could be a major problem for that business. If any one could please, please, help me I would really appreciate it. Do I need a new flash, a digital flash or is there something wrong with the camera? I need help.
With the 300D, the flash exposure will be weighted towards your AF point(s). If the subject under the AF point is very light, the picture will lean towards under-exposure. If the subject is very dark, it will lean towards over-exppsure. If the subject is anything other than mid-gray, your best bet is to use FEL (flash exposure lock) since the 300D does not have FEC (flash exposure compensation) and I don't think the 380EX does either.

Just pay attention to what is under the AF point(s) and make the appropriate adjustments to get better flash exposures.

[KCGlamazon]

There is a definite pattern. I have done tests to prove that every first picture I take is always dark then the next picture I take it fine. I don't understand that. I am waiting for the flash to recharge. any way if that is the case the first picture would be fine and then the second picture would be dark. Right? I put the camera on the program setting. I don't mess with anything else. I am not real good with changing aperture and that. I used this same flash on my rebel Ti and never had any problems. I really like using digital but if my pictures are going to suck nobody is going to hire me to take their pictures ever again.

[PacAce]

Can you post samples of your test shots?

[RodneyCyr]

There is a definite pattern. I have done tests to prove that every first picture I take is always dark then the next picture I take it fine. I don't understand that. I am waiting for the flash to recharge. any way if that is the case the first picture would be fine and then the second picture would be dark. Right? I put the camera on the program setting. I don't mess with anything else. I am not real good with changing aperture and that. I used this same flash on my rebel Ti and never had any problems. I really like using digital but if my pictures are going to suck nobody is going to hire me to take their pictures ever again.

I had a similar problem with my Digital Rebel, but not when I was using flash!

I would turn the camera on and take a picture. It would be anything from several-stops underexposed to completely dark. The second and following pictures would be fine. I tested the camera using manual metering modes to eliminate exposure variations due to different AF-points - same problem. I also tried two different lenses - same problem.

The camera is currently being repaired.

[ChrisKolb]

I had this problem once -- it turned out that my wife had attached the flash herself and the contacts weren't quite lining up (although the flash would fire correctly sometimes). I would check that first.

Also, any chance the contacts on your hot shoe or the flash are dirty or oily? Sometimes even some oil that's difficult to see could be causing a problem... carefully running a pencil eraser across them may help.

[KCGlamazon]

Thanks everyone for the information, it was very helpful. I think it does have something to do with my off camera shoe cord. The knob that tightens it doesn't work anymore. I think that the connects aren't staying aligned right. I am glad I posted to the forum. It really helped.