20D issues with 28-135mm IS lens?

NewCreation517 · July 14, 2007

Hey all,

So I just bought a Canon 28-135mm with IS, and have been noticing that the pictures I take seem WAY underexposed when shooting on the default mode or on portrait mode.

Example:

Granted it's not a very good photo anyhow, but it serves as a perfect example of how LOTS of my photos are turning out. This was on normal program mode with a Speedlite 430EX and the 28-135mm lens with IS on. Something just doesn't seem right about that ...

sirsloop · July 15, 2007

White cloths in general tend to make underexposed images. It tricks ETTL into thinking its brighter than it really is. Shoot RAW and you can easily bring that one back...

digismile · July 15, 2007

I guess the obvious question would be, are you getting a different result with a different lens in the same lighting condition? Or are all your underexposed photos all flash based? We can't see your EXIF info on your photo, so I can't tell what ISO was used (probably low), and the shutter speed/f-stop combination/

Try taking the same picture in Av mode with your lens wide open and a higher ISO to see if you get a different (and hopefully better) result. In the default mode, the underexposure is fairly normal. The camera will probably be at 1/60 sec or higher (to help eliminate any camera shake) and a modest f-stop to give better depth of field.

I think all your woes are the settings on the camera and not the lens. If you post some more examples with EXIF it will be easier to tell.

pathfinder · July 15, 2007

Turn off Program Mode, leave the flash in ETTL, and put the camera in Manual Mode with a shutter speed less than 1/250th, and an aperture around f5.6 or f8 for ISO 200 and try again.

Program mode is not the best mode for flash on the 20D. It assumes that you want a shutter speed greater than 1/60th to allow hand holding the camera. If the background is already pretty dark, it will allow it to be seriously underexposed.

Av mode will allow you to capture the foreground subject and balance the lighting with the background - BE aware, that it does this by allowing LONG shutter speeds - you MAY need to have your camera on a tripod - verify the shutter speed before shooting with flash in Av mode.

The best source of info re: the EOS system flash is here[/img]

Other links here on dgrin about fill flash...

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=50306&highlight=pathfinder+fill+flash

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=32198&highlight=pathfinder+fill+flash

claudermilk · July 15, 2007

You have a 20D and are still messing around to the left of the geen box?

Stay on the right side of it for best results.

Once the learning curve is climbed, those problems largely disappear.

Khaos · July 20, 2007

claudermilk wrote:

You have a 20D and are still messing around to the left of the geen box? Stay on the right side of it for best results. Once the learning curve is climbed, those problems largely disappear.

nod

Seriously, I still can't understand why Canon even puts these modes on the camera. You are using the camera as a point and shoot. A very expensive point and shoot.

sirsloop · July 21, 2007

Funny thing is I dont think any of my SLR's have EVER been on those modes! HA!

claudermilk · July 23, 2007

I know mine has not.

jdryan3 · July 23, 2007

sirsloop wrote:

Funny thing is I dont think any of my SLR's have EVER been on those modes! HA!

My 300D had it and I used it to get the hang of the settings. What's funny is I had my 5D about 2 weeks before I realized it didn't even have green settings

Red Bull · July 29, 2007

As previously said, don't use any of the settings to the left of the green box. Don't waste your money by using those automatic modes, use it to its full potential!

20D issues with 28-135mm IS lens?

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