EOS 350d - dark photos

[Bobettason]

I've always found that my Canon EOS 350d takes dark photographs unless I'm in bright light or use a flash. As it's my first SLR I'd just assumed that it was because I needed to adjust the shutter speed and iso but I usually still need a tripod as I have to use such slow shutter speeds. I was at a work event last week (indoors) and had both my EOS and my Ixus 850d. At a shutter speed of 1/100 the photo on my EOS was too dark but the same photo on my Ixus was fine. I'm wondering if maybe there's a fault with my EOS??

 

[RobertP]

Welcome to the forums.

A DSLR is not a point and shoot. It has 'auto' settings but they are not intended to work like auto on a point and shoot. There are a lot of things that could cause your problem and they are not camera faults.

Can you post an example picture (or a link to one) that has the exif detail in the file (ie don't use photoshop 'save for web' or similar) and we will try to solve your problem

 

[Canon Bob]

I've had a couple of 350's and found them both to under expose slightly, one more than the other, when using evaluative metering. I've seen threads on another forum stating that this is Canons intention to avoid blowing the highlights....not sure whether this is true.

I think there are a couple of things you could try........

If you want to use evaluative metering then set about +2/3 EV or switch to centre weighted metering. I used centre weighted a lot of the time for unflashed macro shots.

Bob

 

[StewartR]

I think there are a couple of things you could try........

If you want to use evaluative metering then set about +2/3 EV or switch to centre weighted metering. I used centre weighted a lot of the time for unflashed macro shots.

That's not the problem. Look at what the OP says:

I've always found that my Canon EOS 350d takes dark photographs unless I'm in bright light or use a flash.

It looks to me like there's something on the camera that simply isn't set appropriately. For example, is it in manual mode with an inappropriate aperture?

But we really need to know more about how these photos were taken - and preferably to see and example - before we can diagnose the problem properly.

 

[Gary Bagshawe]

You may have adjusted the exposure compensation accidentaly, im forever doing it on my old D60.

 

[Boon]

i also had this problem, but i put it down to using a polariser and being 1 stop under-exposed as i was told to. Today i removed the polariser, and shot all different apertures and speeds, as i have just come in , i haven't downloaded my pics yet, but will let you know the result.

 

[davidbridges]

Ive have the same problem but i get over it, if its low light and i need a quick shutter speed stick it on raw to give me the exposure the camera can't, im not sure how do it but maybe adjust your screen settings on the camera to your computer so you know how bright a shot is before you upload it

 

[leoedin]

It sounds like your in the wrong mode or have accidentally dialled in EC.

The ixus may have a slightly faster lens than your 350 is its just the kit lens. However, the better ISO performance of the 350D will negate that problem. Set the camera to P mode, set an ISO of 200 or 400 (depending how dark it is), and then try taking a picture. If the shutter speed suggested is less than 1/60th or so, raise the ISO to 800.

 

[Gofer]

I've always found that my Canon EOS 350d takes dark photographs unless I'm in bright light or use a flash. As it's my first SLR I'd just assumed that it was because I needed to adjust the shutter speed and iso but I usually still need a tripod as I have to use such slow shutter speeds. I was at a work event last week (indoors) and had both my EOS and my Ixus 850d. At a shutter speed of 1/100 the photo on my EOS was too dark but the same photo on my Ixus was fine. I'm wondering if maybe there's a fault with my EOS??

Bob it's my guess that there's absolutely nothing wrong with your camera whatsoever - at least from an exposure point of view. My 400D also has a tendency to under expose in poor light and I simply compensate by adjusting the exposure compensation. If your 350D is anything like my 400D all you'll need is a half to a full stop to put things right. Altering either the ISO, shutter speed or aperture isn't going to help one iota because the camera will simply adjust the other variables to under expose automatically. You need to kid the camera that there isn't as much light as it thinks there is so it will automatically either open up the aperture, slow the shutter speed, increase the ISO or whatever in order to ensure the sensor gets whatever light is available for longer, and the best way to do that is by exposure compensation.

Steve