Can I recover these images???

Don't you have any program that can read out the EXIF from the original iamge? If you don't know how to post the original image with EXIF untouched, you could at least take a screenshot of the EXIF information and upload that image instead.

I know how to upload images into these posts, but I can't figure out how to post a copy of the EXIF data. I'm sure this is easy to do, but I haven't ever done it. How can I paste that info into a post here?

Thanks

Your program may not have a good way to allow you to copy the EXIF information as text. That was why I suggested that you try posting it as a screenshot, i.e. as an image.

Thanks.

Here is the information.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

All reasonable values. Nothing that indicates that a camera setting was wrong enough to generate almost black images.

Problems with shutter, mirror or lens diaphragm could result in almost black images, but I would have expected the camera to generate an error message if it suffered a mechanical problem.

The EXIF indicated focal length 300mm, but your signature doesn't mention any lens capable of 300mm without a tele converter. Did you switch lenses during the evening, and only had this problem with a specific lens?

I borrowed a 300mm f2.8 lens for the evening. I had it on my 40d all night and did not switch.

Do all of the resulting files look exactly the same?

What is the time span on the black photos? Minutes apart? 20 minutes? 2 minutes?

They do all look exactly the same. I didn't think to check the time, but now that I do it says they were all taken within about 2 minutes of eachother, but that isn't possible. There is no way I took that many shots in 2 minutes. I would have had to hold the button down continuously for quite a while for that to be the case, and I don't shoot in anything larger than about 4-5 shot bursts at the most.

Maybe I didn't really lose as many files as I originally thought. Maybe it just duplicated a couple of files a bunch of times for some reason.

Do you remember to format the card in camera each time you start with an "empty" card? It kind of sounds like a bunch of lost pieces on the card kind of like when you have to defragment your computer's hard drive. Maybe not, but just an idea!

I'll try that.

Thanks.

mattyv53 wrote in post #8751375
They do all look exactly the same. I didn't think to check the time, but now that I do it says they were all taken within about 2 minutes of eachother, but that isn't possible. There is no way I took that many shots in 2 minutes. I would have had to hold the button down continuously for quite a while for that to be the case, and I don't shoot in anything larger than about 4-5 shot bursts at the most.

Maybe I didn't really lose as many files as I originally thought. Maybe it just duplicated a couple of files a bunch of times for some reason.

Maybe you set the camera down or put it in your bag and the shutter butter got pressed and held down accidentally for a couple of minutes?

In between matches perhaps?