5dii and ettl/430ex2

Hi all.. just recently picked up a 5d2 and getting the hang of it

Ive noticed using ettl underexposes my images, therefore I have to use flash compensate +1 or even +2 to get a properly exposed image..

What am I doing wrong? lol

Which exposure mode are you using?

(I have the same combo and it works well for me)

manual, 1/100, f/1.8 on ettl.. images waaay underexposed

doesnt seem to matter what my exposure settings are, ettl without exposure compensation under exposes but about 2 stops

The subject or the background/ambient is u/e?
Can you post a pic with complete EXIF intact please?

Do you have E-TTL set to evaluative or average on the C.Fn flash settings?

sorry I dont have a CF card yet, will do as soon as get one and evaluative

Curious. But I would suggest cancelling all custom flash functions and starting from scratch.

Also, I assume the FEC setting is centred before you apply compensation and not already to the left, i.e. -2 stops?

The FEC actually does help? So it's not just that you are outside the range of the flash?

I usually dial in a little extra on the flash (like +1/3 or +2/3) but it usually leaves the highlights slightly overexposed which is what I want: shooting in raw it gives me ETTR.

I have found spot exposure works nicely for portraits have you tried that? Focus on an eye and crop later. Worth a try.

Post a pic as suggested and there are people here who can probably determine if you have a screwy setting by accident.

Is the flash giving you the green "exposure OK" signal?