Canon 60D takes good photos via live view but over exposes ridiculously when using view finder.

[MNshutterbug]

I sold a lens awhile back on FB market place to someone who bought a 60D at a rummage sale. He knows nothing about cameras or photography. When he offered to buy a macro lens from me I advised him to bring his camera and I could give him a quick lesson. However, every time I tried to take a photo they'd come out way over exposed, even when adjusting the EC to -2. He dropped the camera off with me today so I could spend time with it and try and figure out what's going on. I first did a reset but that made no difference. I then took it outside and messed around some more and found that every photo I took via live view looked good but with the screen closed and looking through the viewfinder, which showed a real dark image, they came out almost bright white. I then did a firmware update and that didn't change anything. This is a real head scratcher for me. Anyone ever heard of such a thing?

[deebatman316]

What lens are you using full name please. Have you tried taking a picture in Full Auto (Green Square, A+). To see if the pictures are still overexposed. Please post an example picture too.

[MNshutterbug]

First off, shooting in full auto pops the flash up even when outdoors while shooting through the viewfinder. Here are a couple examples shooting with a Canon 18 - 55 and Sigma 15 - 600 and as you can see, the lens makes no difference. 

Canon 18 - 55Canon 18 - 55Sigma 150 - 600Sigma 150 - 600

[kvbarkley]

Check to make sure that the lens is actually stopping down when you take a photo. (Look into the lens when you take a shot.) The aperture blades may be sticking.

[MNshutterbug]

If the blades were sticking they should be sticking whether in live view or not though. 

[deebatman316]

Which mode do you get correctly exposed pictures. Live View or viewfinder. These 2 shooting modes use a different way to set exposure.

[MNshutterbug]

As mentioned in the subject line, it's the live view that does things right. 

[deebatman316 · Accepted solution]

There’s something wrong with the exposure chip that meters for the viewfinder. There’s no easy fix for this. The camera will have to be repaired. I don’t believe Canon still services that camera anymore. But you can check with Canon if they still do though. If not you’ll be looking for a new camera.

[MNshutterbug]

That makes sense and for what used DSLRs go for these days, it would be cheaper to buy a different one than to get it repaired. The person that bought it got it at a rummage sale for $30 and now that I explained things to him, he's just happy it works even though he has to use live view. If it was mine, I'd sell it for parts on Ebay. I'm happy with my two 7Ds. Thanks.

[kvbarkley]

"There’s something wrong with the exposure chip that meters for the viewfinder."

This is only the case if the exif reports the over-exposure for the viewfinder case. If the reported exposures for viewfinder and live-view are similar for similar images, it is something else.