Default flash settings not right - pictures too dark... need advice please...

[theMusicMan]

Hey All

I am hoping for some advice here as I have a funny feeling either there's something wrong with my camera or - more likely - I am doing something wrong.

I have an Olympus e400 and when I take pics with my built in flash they always seem to come out under-exposed. I always have to use Lightroom to 'up' the exposure in varying amounts. Take a look at this photograph which I took on a plane after talking to some good folk with a gorgeous baby en route yesterday to Dubai. As you can clearly see, the image is massively underexposed.

Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong? I simply set the camera on Automatic, focussed, framed and clicked - that's it. I took three or four pics in similar composition, but each one is similarly under-exposed.

Is there a setting I should use specifically for when using flash? I know I can use Lightroom to fix this - but surely this isn't right and shouldn't the camera correctly expose for this...?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[PapaLazarou]

Try checking you havent set the exposure compensation to a minus amount.

 

[theMusicMan]

Hi PL

Thanks for this tip... I checked on the e400 and it is set right in the middle with no exposure compensation at all. When I take a sample pic at say +2 the exposure looks fine, when I reset it to zero it once again goes under-exposed, and ig I set to -2 - well, that speaks for itself eh!

So, do you feel the camera is not funcitoning correctly and I should return it?

 

[Chillimonster]

Make sure the Flash strength is also set to the Mid point. You can also try increasing the flash strength a little higher. I found increasing mine a couple of points worked wonders on my E-510

 

[natjag]

On the photo posted it's possible the cameras metering system looked at all the white on he cloths and metered for that. Thinking it's a bright scene and reducing the exposure occordingly.
Try getting someone to wear dark cloths, then see what happens. In theory it should over expose due to the darkness of the scene.
It may not be on the most suitable metering setting for you. Have a look in the manual and try different settings. I don't use olympus cameras myself so I can't comment on that make, just a general comments that may help.

 

[Witch]

Silly question I know - but are you 100% certain that the flash is even firing? The picture posted doesn't look like it did. The exif should confirm one way or the other though.