@TCampbell wrote:
It looks like the shutter is sticking.
The shutter doors work like a set of blinds -- it's not a solid piece, it's a series of blades that fold and unfold. There are two of them referred to as "curtains" or "doors".
See this video if you want to see how it works:
But one more thing to keep in mind is that the image project into the camera is rotated 180º... everything is upside down and backwards. So if you see something at the "top" edge of your image, it's actually at the "bottom" edge in the camera.
If the shutter is sticking then the "first curtain" isn't completely getting out of the way... the final shutter blade is just slightly blocking the sensor.
This is not something you can service yourself... thought you might be able to see it inside your camera if you set a very slow shutter speed (say, 1 second) and look inside the camera as it takes a shot. You would need to contact Canon service.
Shutters are one part in the camera which is known to wear with age. The expected life of your shutter is about 100,000 actuations... but many last much much longer than that. You can check the shutter count using a utility (I use a uitlity made by "Dire Studio" called -- only enough -- "Shutter Count") Your shutter may simply be approaching the end of it's life.
While Canon can replace a shutter, you may decide that the camera is old enough that you'd rather upgrade. If you do this, ask Canon service about their Loyalty Program. They let you trade-in your current camera for a significant discount on a newer model. "Which" models are available as choices vary... so you have to ask them for details. But the Loyalty Program is typically the least expensive way to upgrade.
I agree.
