30D Shutter problem

Hey guys, I did a quick search but didn't find what I was looking for and thought it might be best to just ask.

My Brother has an older 30D and it has started doing something weird.

If you select any of the program modes that automatically adjust the settings, it will set the Shutter speed to a extremely slow setting and so every picture then becomes over exposed.

But if you select any of the manual modes Av, Tv, fully manual, it does not do it.

Besides for just using manual all the time, what could be causing this issue?

Do you think a firmware update may fix this problem or is this just a sign that the camera either needs to be retired or used only as a manual settings training aid.

Any help offered/suggested would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

There could be quite a list of reasons to explain the behavior. What would be very beneficial would be an image you have taken in "P" or "full auto" where the over exposure has coccured. Make sure in posting the image the EXIF information is attached. That would enable us to determine the settings used by the camera.

Until you get that done, yes, I would flash the firmware. Doing that has often taken care of strange issues that are often hard to pin down.

make sure he is not set to SPOT metering and shooting a "Black" dog in the daylight.. (I have seen this many times)

tell your brother its time to get a new camera !

Before re-flashing you might just try a full reset. Pull both batteries for a few seconds and let everything return back to factory settings. I suspect some custom function was inadvertently set.

Well tried the battery reset, had to redo the time/date.... still taking over exposed pictures.

I went thru the camera and it doesn't look like anything is changed from what the reset should have made the camera do from the factory.

The Firmware revision is 1.0.6. (just did a quick check on the firmware link at the top of this section and this is the updated firmware version).

I will post some images when I get back home, but in the mean time I will list what I am doing and what exposure settings the camera is selecting.

Lens is a Sigma 18-200mm lens set at 50mm and I am taking a picture of a remote control on a bed under a two CFL bulb ceiling fan.

P- with CM (camera mounted) flash 1/60th f5.0
P- without flash 30" f5.0
Green Rectangle - with CM flash 1/60th f5.0
portrait - with CM flash 1/60th f5.0
Landscape without flash 13" f5.0
Macro (flower) - with CM Flash 1/60th f5.0
Sports - without flash 10" f5.0
night - with CM flash 2" f5.0

Thru out all of these settings, there is a 9 in the lower right hand corner of the view finder (maybe that will help)?

Also what I find strange is that when you select Tv, and increase or decrease the shutter speed, the Aperture stays at f5.0. I thought that the camera should adjust this as the shutter speed changes.

I also tried it with the Canon 22-55mm kit lens and the same thing happened at 50mm.

Don't know if that helps until I can upload the pictures but I am hoping so.

I do want to say thanks for the already helpful insights into this issue. It is much appreciated.