Help Please! (dark photos with flash)

Jonathan Consiglio wrote in post #2400992
It was set at zero.. I just checked. It was in Program mode. I don't use that setting, so I don't know. I'd say it was the ISO at 100?? Guess it doesn't matter since you got rid of it.

PacAce wrote in post #2401444
I guess it's a moot point now since the OP sold the camera.

True, I did get rid of it. I would like to still know what the problem is though so if I run into something similar in the future I will at least have an idea of what could be wrong. I am excited for my 20d, but I am also a little sad... the Xt was my first Dslr.

I know longer have an XT but does it have the "slide" switch on the hot shoe that makes contact when you insert the external flash in the shoe? I know some cameras have it but as I said I don't know about the XT.. Gerry

ggw2000 wrote in post #2403260
I know longer have an XT but does it have the "slide" switch on the hot shoe that makes contact when you insert the external flash in the shoe? I know some cameras have it but as I said I don't know about the XT.. Gerry

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. I have the camera right here so I can look at it if you tell me what you mean. Sorry.

Sublimejoe wrote in post #2403221
True, I did get rid of it. I would like to still know what the problem is though so if I run into something similar in the future I will at least have an idea of what could be wrong. I am excited for my 20d, but I am also a little sad... the Xt was my first Dslr.

Since you don't have the camera anymore and the flash was working with your Boss' camera, I can only assume that there was something wrong with your camera. And if that was the case, we can only speculate on what the problem was but you won't be able to verify that, though, without the camera.

PacAce wrote in post #2403531
Since you don't have the camera anymore and the flash was working with your Boss' camera, I can only assume that there was something wrong with your camera. And if that was the case, we can only speculate on what the problem was but you won't be able to verify that, though, without the camera.

True true. I jsut finished boxing it up and sending it out. I believe the guy who bought it is going to send it out to Canon to be repaired. I will keep this thread open and keep everyone posted on the outcome.

yes, xt does have a switch that turns off built in flash when something goes into the shoe. the xt did seem to be broken a bit, as that switch was probably broken along the way

what was the wb set on was it flash??????????

Ok. I sold my 350d and bought a 20d. I am having the exact same issue with the 430ex and 20d as I was before. So either there is a problem with a flash, or I am an idiot.

Like I said earlier, I have reset all of the settings on the flash back to Default so that should not be the issue. I just took a picture with all of the exact same settings as another picture that I took in the past. The old one looks great, the one I just took looks horrible. I am in the process of trying to upload it so you can see them side by side.

Please help me before I go and spend another several hundred dollars trying to fix this

Problem Solved... Flash is broken! Simple enough right.

Can I ask something stupid: are you tightening the wheel at the base of the flash? This happened to a friend of mine once and in her case, just like in yours, the EXIF indicated that the flash fired and she saw it fire as well, just like you did. Turned out she didn't tighten the wheel. Just a thought.

dazzlebea wrote in post #2422088
Can I ask something stupid: are you tightening the wheel at the base of the flash? This happened to a friend of mine once and in her case, just like in yours, the EXIF indicated that the flash fired and she saw it fire as well, just like you did. Turned out she didn't tighten the wheel. Just a thought.

YEah, definetely tightening it all the way

I guess I am going to have to just send it out while I am away. I guess that is one less thing to pack though right.

Did you buy a new flash, or do you still have the one when you started the thread? Are you shooting with ISO 100 or 200 on the new 20D??

Jonathan Consiglio wrote in post #2425204
Did you buy a new flash, or do you still have the one when you started the thread? Are you shooting with ISO 100 or 200 on the new 20D??

Still have the same 430ex that I had before. Here is a photo I took at ISO 200 with the on board flash:

http://www.flickr.com/​photo_exif.gne?id=3271​70911


I am tired of messing with my 430 when my photos clearly look better with the onboard. I think soon I shall resort to using it as a windsock on my car antenna... sans the ability for it to catch wind... or be used as a sock.

Second thought, maybe I will just get it fixed instead.

So you got rid of the Rebel and bought a 20D, right? I meant camera..not flash..in my post above. How do you like it compared to the Rebel. Mine has served me well... Normally I spend a few minutes on the forum when I'm just hanging out, but this one.... I've asked a few friends about this, but I haven't run in to anyone that's had this problem. What setting do you have the flash set to? Is it every shot that comes out dark? Are you shooting RAW or JPEG? What setting is the camera on? Have you gone by a camera store and tried another flash? Are you bouncing it off of the ceiling or a wall, or are you pointing it right at the subject? I use my 580 so much at home that this would drive me insane! I wish I could be more help..

Jonathan Consiglio wrote in post #2437312
So you got rid of the Rebel and bought a 20D, right? I meant camera..not flash..in my post above. How do you like it compared to the Rebel. Mine has served me well... Normally I spend a few minutes on the forum when I'm just hanging out, but this one.... I've asked a few friends about this, but I haven't run in to anyone that's had this problem. What setting do you have the flash set to? Is it every shot that comes out dark? Are you shooting RAW or JPEG? What setting is the camera on? Have you gone by a camera store and tried another flash? Are you bouncing it off of the ceiling or a wall, or are you pointing it right at the subject? I use my 580 so much at home that this would drive me insane! I wish I could be more help..

Hey Johnathan, thanks for your interest in helping! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Yeah, I sold the rebel and bought a 20d, turns out that my problem was the 430ex flash and not the body... so I lost some $$ selling the body but I am pretty used to loosing tons of money on everything I sell (motor swapped Hondas ) so it could be worse hahaha.

I took my body and flash to two different camera shops so I could try out a brand new 430ex on my 20d. Seems to be that the flash is the problem. We set both flashes (mine and a brand new 430) to the exact same settings and put the camera on a tripod; my photos came out extremely dark, while the ones with the new 430 came out perfectly exposed.

Yeah it definetly drove me insane while I was trying to figure out what the problem was. At least now I know what it is and I can stop wasting my time trying to use the 430. Only problem is that I leave for Europe on Wednesday and now I dont have a flash to bring with me. I am although very impressed with the on board flash on the 20d. Here is a photo I took over the weekend using the onboard. The bokeh has turned out wonderful again using my 50 f/1.8... in my opinion at least: