topic Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos. in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:33:58 GMT

Bought a refurbed EOS T2i and the flash is too strong and washes out photos. Can't override.

Any options? I'm ready to return it.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:21:50 GMT

There are several options but without knowing your specific settings & the environment you're shooting all I can do is tell you what to read up on.

FEC, Flash Exposure Compensation, which allows you to add or subtract from the standard exposure.

ISO, you might be set to an ISO that's too high for the situation.

Flash Sync Speed. You can select speeds other than the good old standard of 1/60 sec. Different bodies have different maximums but most allow settings from 1/30 to 1/200 sec.

Try them individually & check your results, & mix them together for even more variety of results.

Also note that IF you've set the camera to Av mode & have set it to the maximum aperture the lens goes to (wide open) try setting it to smaller (higher f number) openings.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

ScottyP — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:10:23 GMT

Are you talking about the built-in flash, or a speedlite flash?

Does it do this in "green Square" Program mode, or only in something like Manual or TV or AV?

Does it shoot OK without the flash?

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:22:20 GMT

Green/full auto is always washes out the shot, with pop-up flash. No flash is OK.

This occurs in any other photo mode as well.

I use a 28-135mm lens (3.5-5.6 IS).

In Green/Full Auto Mode ISO is set to Auto.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

ScottyP — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:54:08 GMT

I am not sure what you meant in this last posting.

Can you check to see what ISO setting you have on? If it were on something crazy-high, that could be the problem.

Are you sure you don't have flash exposure compensation dialed up to +3 or something?

Have you tried going into the menu and wiping out all user settings and returning to default? Sometimes you have set something weird by accident and the only way to undo it is to return everything to default.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:16:36 GMT

I think that he/she's saying that they worked several hours to earn the money to buy it but only the minimum of time needed to learn how to use it in the auto mode. Unfortunately buying an expensive camera isn't the path to great photos UNLESS you learn how to use it to it's maximum potential. One very important part of that requires reading & UNDERSTANDING the manual. If you don't understand something DON'T pretend you do or dismiss it as unimportant & ASK ABOUT IT. None of us were born knowing it all, and with camera technology changing so fast it's not easy just staying up to date in our minds. I've already pointed out several variables that can be adjusted & they NEED to be learned well enough to become an instantanous reaction to a bad photo.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:27:45 GMT

I appreciate your direction to various considerations. I was unable to find the adjustments by fiddling with the menu controls on the camera. No question that manual study will be required to implement your suggestions.

I'm not sure who you are directing the 'read the manual' comments. It is true that this is my first time using a Canon user forum. Did I offend you by missing some 'courtesy response' that I am unaware? If so, I apologize for not knowing the protocols at this site. Not sure what occurred that caused you to feel the need to 'school me'.

FYI: I've been with Canon for 25 years and prior to that 10 years of SLR manual film processing and darkroom work. I took photography courses in college. Not unaware of the nuances of manual settings. Exposure, composition and manipulating the film plane are familiar. I don't consider myself a 'lazy beginner'. I've had 5 Canon EOS digital SLR's and 3 film based ones over that time. I switched to Canon from Olympus and Nikon because I liked what the technology offered.

I've never been stumped like this before and never not had a camera work out of the box. My attempt in reaching out is to try and ascertain whether I have a repair/return issue or if there is something I'm missing.

You have pointed out several things for me to look at. I appreciate your efforts to steer me in the proper direction. I'm committed to figuring it out. Perhaps you've labeled me an arrogant beginner. I guess regarding troubleshooting at this level, I may be. Back to the manual cicopro.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:13:11 GMT

I'm sorry about that but your original message & your first response made me feel you didn't think the manual was worth reading. I've progressed through several of the same steps you have including several years of darkroom time in my home. I moved from a pair of A 1's to the 20D as soon as it was available & have been through several more Canon DSLR's along the way. I always download the manuals & study up on all the features & controls before buying & I continue reading the manuals well after thinking I know what every control or personal function does, & I'm still learning. Today's cameraas, even the P & S ones are very complex until you get a handle on the important settings. Having the ability to see the shot just after taking it is just so helpful compared to film that it needs to become second nature as to how to make any exposure corrections quickly to get a better shot. How to change EC, FEC & ISO quickly is at the top of my list of things to learn on any new body I buy & they are what I try to teach others to learn as first steps in the move to digital.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

ScottyP — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:08:13 GMT

HI,

Page 88 or your manual has Flash Exposure Compensation.

Page 144 of your manual has "Clear Settings".

I would try "Clear Settings" first.

Hit the "Menu" button.

Tab across to the 2nd to the last menu screen. (The wrench next to the star).

Tab down to "Clear Settings" and hit the "set" button.

Hit "set" again with the "clear all camera settings" line selected.

Then hit "OK" when it asks you to confirm that is what you want to do.

That should reset any weird setting you might have accidentally activated. See if that helps.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:46:06 GMT

Much Thanks. You are correct in I have more study to do. AND I appreciate the coaching. This hasn't behaved like I have seen before. I want to gather all my resources so I play with it on the transcontinental flight. Five hours of semi-uninterupted study. Thanks Teacher!!!

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:02:24 GMT

Very Specific, thanks. I cleared and reset all settings. Then I turned Exposure Compensation to -2. It was at zero.

My test photos in full auto mode, still are washed out. Will keep adjusting. Any other ideas?

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:22:20 GMT

I just tried all of your good suggestions. Good practice but can't seem to removed the 'washed out' overexposed flash from shots closer than 8'-10'. Your guidance has been helpful in navigating the features. Yes, I'm learning, dammit! Thanks for the reminder. Now to mess with it. This lens worked fine on my T1i and previous models so I don't think it is that. Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks again. The manual is traveling with me tomorrow!

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:48:59 GMT

If I'm reading this correctly you are using AUTO mode. In my experience it makes terrible decisions compared to PROGRAM mode so try that first & see how the 2 compare. I just tried downloading the manual but for some reason it's showing up as blank pages but I'll try again from a different site, but the specs say you have +/- 5 stops of EC available & +/- 2 stops of Flash Exposure Compensation which is the one you need to play with now, but you may be able to combine BOTH (worth trying too). Another thing to try is the different metering modes & lower ISO's. It's not very often that we complain about to much power from the built in flash so I suspect it's just a matter of hitting the right settings.

Also until I download a manual check what speeds you can use while using flash. Many Canon bodies can use up to 1/200 which will cut the light way down compared to 1/30 sec.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:50:51 GMT

OK, I've downloaded the manual from the US site & AUTO mode is even worse than I expected. You have no real control of the shot in AUTO. Things to read were on Pg 61, & 88 (Auto Lighting Optimizer note) but more importantly read vertically down the lists of what can be changed in AUTO & PROGRAM modes in the charts on pages 210 & 211. If I'm reading that chart right you CAN'T change Ec or FEC or the Sync speed or the ISO.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:29:49 GMT

Thanks for directing me so specifically. I did all of those things but it didn't seem to resolve it.

Not sure what to do next. I'll keep reading and hoping.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

dolphinnc-17 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:34:05 GMT

Thanks for staying with me on this one. Yes, it is difficult. I have always had adequate results wtih AUTO on my other camera's and for pedestrian use, it has been fine. I'll try adjusting through the other suggestions you mentioned. My 'in flight' homework. I'll share my findings. I'd like to get it to work in SOME mode!

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

ScottyP — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:02:36 GMT

Try changinging metering to spot metering so it exposes for the subject and not the average brightness of whole scene.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

cicopo — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:25:02 GMT

According to the manual the camera sets all of these things in AUTO mode & they can NOT be changed or fine tuned by the user.

AUTO ISO, Standard Picture Style, Auto White Balance, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Long Exposure Noise Reduction, AI Focus, Auto AF Point Selection, AF Assist beam, Evaluative Metering, Single Shot, Auto Flash & sRGB color space.

The USER has the option to select the file size (or quality), red eye reduction on or off, timer, live view and Periferal Illumination Correction.

In PROGRAM mode the user can adjust just about every thing the camera can do.

Also from what I'm reading I'd say that also applies to using a flash mounted to the hot shoe.

Re: Flash is out of control. Too Bright. Washes out all photos.

ScottyP — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:58:38 GMT

Please get out of Auto.

There is a free 3- minute video tutorial on any camera subject on Google Videos.