Strange shadows/dark spots w/built-in flash

[cybersue]

I have been experiencing strange dark shadows when using the built-in flash on my Digital Rebel. They appear mostly when I'm shooting vertically and can appear to be a long, narrow, dark intrusion across the image diagonally, or may encroach completely from one side and cover the image. I don't remember this happening on horizontal shots.

Has anyone encountered this problem, and do you know what's causing it? I am standing a decent distance away from my subjects when I experience this, and I'm using the basic lens that came with the camera--not a long lens that would intrude on the flash space.

I'd appreciate any clues! Thanks.

[griff2]

Silly question, but have you checked where you're strap is when you rotate the camera?

[Dante King]

not only strap, but what lens are you using. A long lens with built in flash will casue shadows from the lens barrel.

[Dante King]

Welcome to POTN cybersue!!!

[CyberPet]

Could you post an example?

[cybersue]

Thanks for the welcome and the solicitous questions. I'm 99 percent sure it's not my strap in this case. I'm using the 18-55 lens that is fairly standard when you purchase the camera. I may have been zooming in a bit, however.

I'm attempting now to upload a horizontal and vertical examle of the strange shadow.
It seems I was only able to upload one of the photos, so I'll create another posting to show the rather dramatic vertical shadow.

[cybersue]

Here's the vertical one.

[PacAce]

If there's nothing obstructing the flash, then it must be inside the flash (behind the flash lens). Maybe a piece of loose wiring? That may explain why it's more prevalent in your vertical shots.

[Big John]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure it's not your hand or fingers?

I had some similar problems and it turns out that when I switched the camera to vertical sometimes my fingers or knuckles would obscure part of the flash. I was holding the camera body with one hand and then holding the lens with the other.I have now learned to hold my camera differently because of this.

[cybersue]

Big John, I certainly don't take it the wrong way. It's very foreign to me to have a flash so close to an SLR lens, so I will try to pay attention to this idea and see if I can catch myself making shadows! Thanks.

[napolar]

cybersue, This too may sound odd, but do you wear large rings? Maybe it is a piece of jewlery on your hand, I was just looking at the shadow's shape and got to thinking... Good luck, let us know what you find.

[felix21685]

if it is inside the flash can you see anything if you look at the flash unit?

what if you take some thick fabric and set off the flash can you see any parts that dont get flashed?
very odd shadow ..slightly curved but weird overall shape..

[Lotto]

That is very strange. Hard for me to explain how the shadows appear at the lower right both vertical and horizontal shots.