Shadowing when using 40d built in flash?

Hi,

New guy here. I have had my Canon 40d for two years, but I have decided I want to get out of "auto", and learn to use my camera a little better.

I just bought a Canon EFS 17-55 f/2.8 lens for my 40d. I recently used it for the first time with the built-in flash, and my 17-55 lens and discovered shadowing at the bottom of my photos. Prior to getting the 17-55 lens I was using the Canon EF 28-135 f/3.6-5.6 lens that came with my camera, and never had this shadowing problem. I did some experimenting with both lenses, and noticed that I only have the shadowing problem when using the 17-55 lens at distances of less than 12", and no shadowing with the 28-135 at any distances. I experienced shadowing In the baby photo using the 17-55 lens where the distance was 3'-5', however silly me, I left the lens hood on, while indoors. I like the idea of using the built in flash on occasion, but usually I use my Speed lite 430 EX II. To sum up my question, why the shadowing when using the built in flash and the 17-55 lens at close distances, and not with the 28-135 lens?

Regards,

Rick

It might be a shodow of the lens hood. This would be worse with the built-in flash because it is closer to the lens than a flashgun in the hotshoe.

The baby photo had the lens hood on, but no lens hood in the watch photo.

Regards,

Rick

It's the shadow of the lens itself; anything wider than about 24mm, I think, can do this when using the popup flash. It's only one of many reasons you'll hear folks complain about the on-board flashes.

Maybe I should have said Lens/Lenshood. The lens can get in the way all by itself. To prove it just take two shots the same, one with your speedlite and one with the built-in flash.

If this is the reason, then simply shooting from further away might cure the problem.

The curved shape of the shadow does not indicate to you that the lens is blocking the light? Really? The popup is not very tall and it does not take much of a lens to get in the way.

Take a piece of gaffers tape. Cut it to 3" long. Place it over the top of your camera in a U shape.

Go to Amazon.com and buy a Yonguno ETTL shoe flash.

Problem solved.

Good suggestion C-Kid. The OP does state that they have a 430ex. That is the immediate solution.

Ah, crap. I missed that part. That means my solution is even easier

Thanks guys,

It's like I suspected, in both photos the pop up flash threw a shadow of the lens itself, which in the baby photo was compounded by the lens hood. I will have to remember to allow extra distance when using the pop up flash, and really, there is no need to use a lens hood when indoors, especially if a flash is needed.

Regards,

Rick

Distance is not a factor. It is a combination of a physically larger lens and a wider angle that is causing the shading.

As Mike says, this problem has nothing to do with distance from the subject. It's an interplay of the pop-up flash and wider angle of view with shorter focal lengths. The solution is use your 430EX or use a longer focal length

I would not say it has "nothing" to do with it. The watch picture was taken at 55mm. This is within the range of his old lens. Distance from lens to subject definitely came into play on this one. The old lens is 72mm in diameter and the new lens is 77mm. This helps the lens get in the way too. Everything mentioned comes into play one way or another. The fact is the popup is short and the odds of it being shadowed by a lens, with or without a hood, is pretty good.

Dale, you are right. I just tried some sample shots using my 7D/15-85 and the shadow does get bigger when you are closer. It is a combination of all three factors.