HELP T2i/550D Cannot take photo in with ViewFinder

HELP PLEASE. With my T2i, I cannot take a photo using the ViewFinder. I have the camera set to RAW + JPG. Shooting in TV, AV, or M mode, I set to Live View and take a photo. It shows the image on the LCD and when I press the View Photo button. I half-press the shutter, the shooting info comes up on the screen. I move the ViewFinder to my eye, half press, hear the motor focusing, Full press and get the shutter sound. But, the LCD screen goes black then the LCD screen goes to the shooting info. When I press the View Photo button there is no image recorded of the photo I took. The photos from the Live View are there but nothing from the ViewFinder photos. I disabled Live View and the same thing happens. What am I doing wrong? I set the camera to Factory Default.

Gil

When using live view you can not see anything in the view finder, it should be black. You need to look at your LCD screen and manually focus from there. When you get what you want to take a picture of, click the shutter button.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

You press the live view button first. Next you wait until the live view turns on so you can see it on your LCD screen. Next you manually focus your lens. Next press the shutter button.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

It sounds like your mirror is getting stuck up though I'm not sure why an image wouldnt be recorded even while stuck up after reviewing in live view. Possibly its a shutter or mirror error when switching between live view and the viewfinder. I tried to replicate your situation but after the review I half-press the shutter and it returns to live view again, not the shooting info screen.

Gil Bean wrote in post #14827751
HELP PLEASE. With my T2i, I cannot take a photo using the ViewFinder. I have the camera set to RAW + JPG. Shooting in TV, AV, or M mode, I set to Live View and take a photo. It shows the image on the LCD and when I press the View Photo button. I half-press the shutter, the shooting info comes up on the screen. I move the ViewFinder to my eye, half press, hear the motor focusing, Full press and get the shutter sound. But, the LCD screen goes black then the LCD screen goes to the shooting info. When I press the View Photo button there is no image recorded of the photo I took. The photos from the Live View are there but nothing from the ViewFinder photos. I disabled Live View and the same thing happens. What am I doing wrong? I set the camera to Factory Default.

Gil

Saint728 wrote in post #14827845
When using live view you can not see anything in the view finder, it should be black. You need to look at your LCD screen and manually focus from there. When you get what you want to take a picture of, click the shutter button.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

I think he answered that.... It has me confused, though.

Nature Nut wrote in post #14827872
It sounds like your mirror is getting stuck up though I'm not sure why an image wouldnt be recorded even while stuck up after reviewing in live view. Possibly its a shutter or mirror error when switching between live view and the viewfinder. I tried to replicate your situation but after the review I half-press the shutter and it returns to live view again, not the shooting info screen.

The thing is, I sold him this camera a week or so ago, and it worked perfectly then...
Would it have been shipping messing something up, or is there a setting I'm overlooking?

D. Vance wrote in post #14827901
The thing is, I sold him this camera a week or so ago, and it worked perfectly then...
Would it have been shipping messing something up, or is there a setting I'm overlooking?

I wouldn't think shipping would do much to it. It might be worth checking into the focus type for live view and the time out of the LCD screen settings. Maybe Custom function 11 if the T2i is similar to the T3i setting wise/ under one sub-menu is the LCD on/off button which can be set to the shutter button as well

D. Vance wrote in post #14827884
I think he answered that.... It has me confused, though.

What I was referring to is in live view the view finder will be black as in you can't see through it.

Take care,
Cheers, Patrick

OK. I have Live View disabled. It is in AV mode with flash on and the shooting info is on the LCD screen. I look into the Viewfinder, LCD screen goes black (as it should), I half press the shutter button. The flash stobes, I get a round green circle that focus is achieved. I press the shutter button and the flash fires. Now the LCD screen is black. I fully press the shutter button again, the flash fires and the image is on screen with a 2 second or however long I waited to press the button the second time as the exposure time. What is happening here?

That sounds like mirror lockup is enabled. Check custom function 8 disabled

I Have no idea WTF I did/am doing. Put it in TV mode, snapped off a few at 1/125 in Live View. They came out crystal clear altho f3.5 blinking at me to tell me f stop needs to be larger. SO. It boils down to OPERATOR ERROR. I just have to figure out WHAT error I was/am making.

Nature Nut the CnF key on the Tt1 seems to deal solely with the Display 0 = Enable, 1 = Previous View. I did not see anything about the Shutter button.

I thank ALL of you for your input. Evidently I simply have a setting wrong somewhere Or have not figured this camera out correctly. It MAY BE BOTH

Dann the camera seems to be in excellent shape. Thank you for a very nice camera and a smooth deal.

Again, thank all of you. I will keep you posted with pictures, words, questions, and/or all of the above. Hopefully with photos.

D.Vance, once again, thanks for a great little camera!

Gil

Nature Nut wrote in post #14828189
That sounds like mirror lockup is enabled. Check custom function 8 disabled

Did. Done. Thought that was ONLY for long exposures and Telephoto(?) or cleaning(?). No?

Gil Bean wrote in post #14828461
I Have no idea WTF I did/am doing. Put it in TV mode, snapped off a few at 1/125 in Live View. They came out crystal clear altho f3.5 blinking at me to tell me f stop needs to be larger. SO. It boils down to OPERATOR ERROR. I just have to figure out WHAT error I was/am making.

Nature Nut the CnF key on the Tt1 seems to deal solely with the Display 0 = Enable, 1 = Previous View. I did not see anything about the Shutter button.

I thank ALL of you for your input. Evidently I simply have a setting wrong somewhere Or have not figured this camera out correctly. It MAY BE BOTH

Dann the camera seems to be in excellent shape. Thank you for a very nice camera and a smooth deal.

Again, thank all of you. I will keep you posted with pictures, words, questions, and/or all of the above. Hopefully with photos.

D.Vance, once again, thanks for a great little camera!

Gil

Glad you figured it out!
Was it the mirror lockup?

Gil Bean wrote in post #14828467
Did. Done. Thought that was ONLY for long exposures and Telephoto(?) or cleaning(?). No?

Just for where shake can be an issue like tele or long shots. Cleaning has its own menu.

You can reset all camera default via a menu selection.

In addition, I think (I have the t2i, but am too lazy to take it out), if you use the green (automatic mode) most of the settings are default. This should let you take a picture without the settings or custom functions screwing you up.