420EX

I have been using this flash with my G-5 for a few months, when all of a sudden, the pictures start turning out black. The flash is going off, but doesn't appear to be synced with the shutter...Help??

Post a photo with full EXIF info and maybe we can diagnose something.

If they are completely blank......is it possible you have left the lens cap on?


Sorry just had to


I'll get my coat

Being the total neophite that I am, how do you post full EXIF data?

And yes, I did take the lens cap off - I use the LCS 90% of the time, so I rarely have that problem...

The EXIF data will show up when you look at the "Properties" of a picture from Zoom Browser.

Here is the EXIF info for a picture (if you can call it that!) that I attempted to take - it was almost solid black...

File Name
IMG_3456.JPG
Camera Model Name
Canon PowerShot G5
Shooting Date/Time
11/18/04 2:09:45 PM
Shooting Mode
Program AE
Photo Effect Mode
Off
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/60
Av( Aperture Value )
2.8
Metering Mode
Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
50
Lens
7.2 - 28.8 mm
Focal Length
20.7 mm
Digital Zoom
None
Image Size
1600x1200
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
On
Flash Type
External E-TTL
Flash Exposure Compensation
-1
Shutter curtain sync
1st-curtain sync
White Balance
Auto
AF Mode
Single AF
File Size
133KB
File Number
134-3456
Drive Mode
Single-frame shooting
Owner's Name

Why is flash exposure compensation -1? Hit the FUNC button and change that back to 0. This may not make a big difference, but you never know. What type of scene were you shooting? If the subject was quite far off and you were shooting with FEC -1, then maybe you could get a black shot if the scene was very dark.

I doubt this is the answer. You might just have a screwed camera, since I can't see anything else in the EXIF data.

Sorry.

I had been playing with the FEC and had not put it back to 0 for this particular shot. The scene was simply one of my sons toys on the floor of the living room, so there should have been only a minimal impact.

As for the camera being screwed, it works fine in with the built in flash, and used to work ok with the external.... Any other thoughts?

How about making sure the "Flash Adjust" under the record menu is set to "Auto"?

Just a guess . . . i'm new at this too

or cleaning off the contacts for the flash shoe...