Canon EOS D60 help

[neonerd]

I got a camera as a gift (grandpa's old camera), because the flash on it wasn't working properly. I'm trying to see if there's anything I can do to fix it myself...

Basically, in full auto mode, if I use flash, then the image comes out black or nearly black. If I don't use flash on the same spot, it comes out normal. I don't think it's firmware based, but anything I can do to fix this without sending the camera in for repair?

EDIT:

Here are two pics I took; One without flash, and one with (sorry for them being a bit blurry; my hands are a bit shaky today )

No Flash
With Flash

 

[casper114]

What kind of camera is it, model? name brand?

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: casper114
What kind of camera is it, model? name brand?

WHat kind of stupid question is that? (sorry) Canon EOS D60 is right in the title.

By saying "If I don't use flash on the same spot" do you mean in another mode than full auto?

 

[casper114]

screw you!
Is it a pop up flash? Try this site http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000xmg

 

[artemedes]

Hmm, the D60 requires a seperate flash unit right (not built-in)? If so it should be easy to find another flash unit that is compatible with EOS. That would be the first thing to check. If the flash isn't firing correctly you would get black or very dark images. It might still flash but not syncing correctly and thus not flashing while the shutter is open. If another flash does the same thing then you will probably have to send it in for service, cause that would mean the camera isn't triggering the flash properly.

I have also read that the canon eos system has pretty tight tolerances on the flash bracket for "trigger voltage". I think it is only 6v. It is common to use 3rd party flash units that send too much voltage through the hot shoe when the flash is triggered and blowing out the hot shoe. Some third party flash units send as much as 24v at trigger.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46599&highlight=trigger+voltage

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

If you are using a non-canon flash be sure to check this link for you flash:
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

 

[neonerd]

I'm using the built in popup flash on it. The problem is not that it's getting stuck...I think artemedes is right; I think the camera isn't triggering the flash properly.

Also getting Err 99's quite often...looks like definately something up with this camera

Any idea how much it would cost if I sent it back in for service (out of warranty)?

 

[Cheesetogo]

Quite likley more than an external flash would. Although, like artemedes said, looking at photos of the d60 it does not look like it has a pop up flash. Are you sure it's the d60? ANyway, I would just get an external flash.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Quite likley more than an external flash would. Although, like artemedes said, looking at photos of the d60 it does not look like it has a pop up flash. Are you sure it's the d60? ANyway, I would just get an external flash.

I would...just I'm getting that Err 99 often too, so it's got to be something else as well...

it is indeed popup flash though

I'll take a picture of the same spot with and without flash, and uploaded to show an example

 

[Cheesetogo]

I'm guessing it would cost between 100-200 dollars to repair. Go to your local camera shop and see how much it is, and then call canon and ask how much it is.

Edit: What does fartkopter mean?

 

[corkyg]

I took over 8000 pictures with the Canon D60, and have replaced it with a 20D. The one thing I learned early on was that the built in pop-up flash really was not very strong. I never used the full auto mode. Always Program or Manual, and I adjusted the exposure accordingly, and it worked fine.

Do you have the manual for the D60? There are lots of tips in it on how to use the built in flash. But - to make a long story short, I got a Canon 420EX flash quite soon.

It is a good, versatile camera, and I gave it to my daughter-in-law and she has taken some marvelous pictures with it. But, she had the benefit of about a 1 week training session with me last December.

I don't understand why so many rude ones try to challenge your question. Oh, well . . .

It's a perfectly valid question, and the stem is right in the subject line as you said.

And for the edification of the so-called experts, the D60 was Canon's 2nd digital SLR - followed the D30. It was succeeded in that category by the D10, and now the D20. The 1D and 1DS are the pro versions.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I took over 8000 pictures with the Canon D60, and have replaced it with a 20D. The one thing I learned early on was that the built in pop-up flash really was not very strong. I never used the full auto mode. Always Program or Manual, and I adjusted the exposure accordingly, and it worked fine.

Do you have the manual for the D60? There are lots of tips in it on how to use the built in flash. But - to make a long story short, I got a Canon 420EX flash quite soon.

It is a good, versatile camera, and I gave it to my daughter-in-law and she has taken some marvelous pictures with it. But, she had the benefit of about a 1 week training session with me last December.

I don't understand why so many rude ones try to challenge your question. Oh, well . . .

It's a perfectly valid question, and the stem is right in the subject line as you said.

I'm using the P mode, and have it auto focus...I used full auto mode for the sole purpose of testing the flash... Since full auto should adjust everything for you, and all you have to do is press a button...leaves no margin of human error in there

Here are two pics I took; One without flash, and one with (sorry for them being a bit blurry; my hands are a bit shaky today )

No Flash
With Flash

 

[neonerd]

picture doesn't tell anybody anything?

Does anyone have a remote idea of how much it could potentially cost to repair this?

 

[Cheesetogo]

Like I guessed above, $100-$200 probably to completly repair the camera, although possibly more (maybe 300). DOes the flash actually go off? If it doesn't, the second picture is darker because the camera is choosing a faster shutter speed, thinking it will get the flash to lighten up the picture.

By the way, what does the word at the top of your sig mean?

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Like I guessed above, $100-$200 probably to completly repair the camera, although possibly more (maybe 300). DOes the flash actually go off? If it doesn't, the second picture is darker because the camera is choosing a faster shutter speed, thinking it will get the flash to lighten up the picture.

By the way, what does the word at the top of your sig mean?

Flash goes off, and it's definately a faster shutter speed; I think it's dark because it's not triggering the flash correctly.

Didn't see you give an estimate above

Word in my sig isn't a real word...just phonetically spells out "FARTKOPTER" in russian

I'm hoping it won't cost more than $150 or so

 

[Cheesetogo]

I would recommend calling up canon and camera shops in your area to see how much it would cost. I bet it could be done for ~150.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
I would recommend calling up canon and camera shops in your area to see how much it would cost. I bet it could be done for ~150.

Just called canon, and they said it's something wrong with the unit (gee, thanks), and I can send it in to them for a price. The guy said if I send it in, they'll give me a call telling me how much it'll cost. If I like the price, I'll pay it. If not, they'll ship it back to me free of charge. Sounds like a plan

 

[Lemodular]

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Like I guessed above, $100-$200 probably to completly repair the camera, although possibly more (maybe 300). DOes the flash actually go off? If it doesn't, the second picture is darker because the camera is choosing a faster shutter speed, thinking it will get the flash to lighten up the picture.

By the way, what does the word at the top of your sig mean?

Thant's excatly what's happening. The camera thinks there will be a flash and compensated for the exposure. The error code 99 iseems to be a system error (see here)

A friend of mine just RMA'd a Canon for similar reasons.

I hope you get it fixed soon (esp. if you are the same Neonerd at bbzzdd)

................ sorry for the rerun, i'm a slow typer...........

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Lemodular

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
Like I guessed above, $100-$200 probably to completly repair the camera, although possibly more (maybe 300). DOes the flash actually go off? If it doesn't, the second picture is darker because the camera is choosing a faster shutter speed, thinking it will get the flash to lighten up the picture.

By the way, what does the word at the top of your sig mean?

Thant's excatly what's happening. The camera thinks there will be a flash and compensated for the exposure. The error code 99 iseems to be a system error (see here)

A friend of mine just RMA'd a Canon for similar reasons.

I hope you get it fixed soon (esp. if you are the same Neonerd at bbzzdd)

................ sorry for the rerun, i'm a slow typer...........

No worries

I'll be shipping this to Canon next week, so hopefully I can get an estimate by the end of next week

 

[Penth]

you may want to check the output level of the flash. The camera may be leaving the shutter open for much longer on the shot without the flash because the light meter tells it how long to stay open based on the amount of light coming into the sensor. If the shutter is expecting to receive all the light from a powerful flash and not getting very much, it would make for very dark pictures. I found on my cameras that outdoor shots with low light always came out much brighter without the flash on.

 

[corkyg]

After seeing the pics, my sense is that the flash is not synch'd with the shutter. What ISO are you using?

If you really want good, competent advice on the D60, go to this forum and you should get the right answer.

DPR

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: corkyg
After seeing the pics, my sense is that the flash is not synch'd with the shutter. What ISO are you using?

If you really want good, competent advice on the D60, go to this forum and you should get the right answer.

DPR

yeah i also think that there is a sync problem. if the flash seems normall bright, i don't think the camera is overcompensating for the amount of extra light that is coming in.

i'd try it with an external flash before letting canon take a crack at it. if an external flash gets it right, better to just buy that and keep it than spend the money on getting an inferior pop up flash working right.

 

[corkyg]

Right - and here are a bunch of folks with the same problem. Bottom line is - full auto does not work well with any flash.

DPR

Just click the GO button after getting a "Not Authorized" message. It works.