HELP!-350XT only takes 25% of a picture

Anyone come across this problem yet? What's the fix?

Thanks,
Frank

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Any errors on the screen? Error 99 by any chance?

Tried with a difference lens on?

i had same problem on occasion...I just slowed shutter speed and it gets better or stops. Then it stops doing it.

Does it keep doing that no matter what?

What do you get when you shoot without flash?

-js

I was going to say "flash at too fast a shutter speed", but I see the shot was taken at 1/60 based on the EXIF data. So I'll guess that either your mirror or your shutter is broken. Take off the lens and look in the front as you take a long exposure (10 sec. or slower, or "B" and see if both are clearing the sensor. It's also possible that your flash sync switch is off; try testing this by setting second curtain sync, if it's available on the 350D.

looks a lot like a very sticky shutter there... it needs to be sent in...

as for flash sync issues, come on guys, there's an overexposed window there, there's no way it's too high of a shutter speed (different reason than jon, hopefully easier to understand too)

basroil wrote in post #5027821
looks a lot like a very sticky shutter there... it needs to be sent in...

as for flash sync issues, come on guys, there's an overexposed window there, there's no way it's too high of a shutter speed (different reason than jon, hopefully easier to understand too)

yep...now that you mention the window.

I tried a different lens. Autofocus will not work now, but I get a full picture in manual focus.

Frank

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how old is the camera? that sucks...

fetoma wrote in post #5027840
I tried a different lens. Autofocus will not work now, but I get a full picture in manual focus.

Frank

OK, there are two differences from the first pic. Flash is off and you're using a different lens.

Next: try flash with this lens and the other lens with no flash.

Looks like a flash issue. I don't see how a shutter problem could depend on the lens mounted...

-js

Go back to the original lens, and try mirror lock-up. If my memory serves me, it's CF 7. This will help you rule out the mirror not flipping all the way up before the image is caprtured.

I also thought it might be a shutter curtain sync issue, but at 1/60, doubtful.

The secondary mirror's broken, then. It was hanging down in the first shot; it's been pushed up and isn't deploying when the primary mirror returns to its rest position. Used to happen to the 300D when it got old.

Jon,

Are you referring to the pin that holds it in? What is the fix?

Frank

Unfortunately, a new mirror box from Canon. ISTR it was running people $200 or so.

Ouch! Mirror box assemblies aren't cheap and are very painful to replace since all the other parts of the camera are essentially just bolted onto it.

I do remember someone making their own spring for the 300D sub mirror when it failed... seemed to work ok.