Help!! EOS 5D Mark IV manual mode not working, black screen

[Shamaegan]

Hi! I need help. No matter what I do for manual mode on my mark iv 5D it won’t work at all. Please help me. I’m trying to capture more movement with a higher shutter speed to catch toddlers running, flinging snow or glitter, tball etc. any time I use manual, no matter what, my photo is black. Why? Here’s for reference of what I took a picture of, my settings, & what it turned out like on my camera. It literally looks like my screen is off. But if I switch to auto it takes it perfectly. But you can’t have high shutter speed on auto. 

 

 

 

[kvbarkley · Accepted solution]

You don't want to reset the general camera settings, but the custom function:

[March411 · Accepted solution]

Shamaega, welcome to the community.

You've received some excellent feedback from our members regarding the reason your images are black. I used the 5D Mk IV for many years and with some education and practice I can guarantee you it will produce beautiful images. The settings used in manual caused the images to be dark. 

First I would suggest downloading and reviewing the manual, click the link below for the downloadable PDF for the 5D Mk IV.

https://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/0300024970/09/eos5d-mk4-im10-en.pdf

This is a link to the 5D Mk IV guide: https://www.eos-magazine.com/ebook-previews/Beginners-guide-Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-IV-preview.pdf

I would suggest reviewing page 7. This will explain how to place the camera into auto-mode. Take some pictures in this mode and then review the same information on you LCD for the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture the camera used to capture the image. This will give you a starting point in the learning process. Additionally I would use this same process in different environments, outdoors, early mornings and evening and different indoor environments. Doing this will allow you how to differentiate how to set up the camera when shooting manual. 

This video is a bit long but I believe it will really assist you in perfecting how you use your camera.

  

THIS IMAGE CAME OFF MY 5D Mk IV on an overcast day. I shot in manual, these were the settings: f6.3 @ 1/1000sec - ISO 1000

[stevet1]

Shamaegan,

Is your camera always choosing f/11, no matter what you do or what kind of environment you are shooting in?

Steve Thomas

[Shamaegan]

Thank you very much! And yes ! I’m grateful for their feedback!

[deebatman316]

A regular factory reset doesn’t work for Custom Functions. Those must be cleared from the Custom Functions menu. Check page 481 of the manual to reset the camera’s Custom Functions. This will bring everything back to default EXCEPT CF 3. Is this camera new to you by any chance? EOS 5D Mark IV Manual 

[Shamaegan]

Yes in manual and TV. I will try outside tomorrow and see if it helps!

[stevet1]

Shamaegan,

Based on your picture, 1/500 and f/11 is still going to give you a dark picture indoors. I don't think even an ISO of 3200 is going to help.

I'm just not sure why the camera chose f/11 for the aperture. Maybe it's got something to with the AI Focus setting. That's a kind of hybrid focus setting.

I'd try One Shot or AI Servo myself. See if it makes any difference.

Steve Thomas

[deebatman316]

The OP was using ISO 32,000 not ISO 3,200. And yes the camera can go even higher all the way up to ISO 102,400.