300D - only the top one third of the pic is coming out

Tonight I used my EOS 300D for the first time in a week. Last week my photos came out fine ... except tonight only the top one third of the pic is coming out - the rest of the image was black.

I bought the camera last year October / November - what is the likely cause of this?

Were you in apature priority or anything, becuase it could be a problem with the physical apature.

Can we view a pic with the EXIF info still in tact?

Are you using a Flash and a High Shutter speed? I've seen that before.

Any more details? Need something to go from...

-Johnny

Johnny asked my question. You said you took the pictures at night; using flash? Can you give us your exif info? And perhaps post one of the pics?

Sounds like the shutter isn't moving the entire amount it should. My Drebel shutter was replaced under warranty by Canon when it was 13 months old.

I had exactly the same problem in June except about 1/2 of each image was black. Talked to a local shop who helped me see that the mirror bit wasn't functioning properly - it was getting half out of the way but not all the way so it blocked a portion of the sensor. I had to send it in for service.

They showed me that without a lense, in Tv mode set to a second or two you can actually watch it (the mirror moving and everything) work, or not work as the case may be. (I wasn't worried about dust at this point since I knew it was broken more than I was comfortable trying to repair). It came back with a very clean sensor and a working mirror.

I suppose it coulod also be the shutter but most folks I consulted suggested the mirror was more likely the problem. (the one you see with the lense off).

Hope that helps and you get it working soon!

Criscokid - In a few hours it's light by you so try to take a picture in dayligt whitout flash and see what you get.
If the problem stays then it's likely a shutterproblem, like other members allready mentioned.
If the problem is gone then you had a problem whit flashsync speed or something that was blokking the flash.
The use of a long lens can cause that problem to, in giving you a black part of the picture. Good luck.

I thought it might be something along these lines so to narrow it down I tried a few shots using different modes and just using the inbuilt flash. Just taken a photo in the daylight... and unfortunately the problem still exists.

Off to the camera shop I go

Camera Manufacturer : Canon
Camera Model : Canon EOS 300D DIGITAL
Orientation : top, left
X Resolution : 1/180
Y Resolution : 1/180
Resolution Unit : Inches
Date/Time : 2005:08:20 11:53:45
YCBCr Positioning : Centered
Exposure Time : 1/125 sec
F Number : 8.0
ISO Speed : 100
Exif Version : 0221
Date/Time Original : 2005:08:20 11:53:45
Date/Time Digitized : 2005:08:20 11:53:45
Bits per Sample : 3
Exposure Bias Value : 0.0
Metering Mode : Multi Segment
Flash : Unknown
Focal Length : 55.0 mm
Flash Pix Version : 0100
ColorSpace : 1
Width : 3072 pixels
Height : 2048 pixels
Sensing Method : One-chip color area sensor

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[QUOTE=criscokid]I thought it might be something along these lines so to narrow it down I tried a few shots using different modes and just using the inbuilt flash. Just taken a photo in the daylight... and unfortunately the problem still exists.

Off to the camera shop I go

Sorry that it's still the same and good luck in the camera shop.

Looks like a stuck secondary mirror - Canon will fix it.

Does the Drebel have a mirror lock-up setting? If so try a shot with it locked up and see what you get.

Only if you use one of the hacks.

Terry

I tok the camera in and... yes Canon will be fixing it but it'll take 4 to 6 weeks. I'm devestated!!

4 to 6 weeks is pretty normal for most camera repairs.