Canon PowerShot A85 - Flash generating dark photos

People ,

Recently (3 months ago) I bought a Canon PS A85 and it was working just fine in any mode (P,Tv,Av,M).

Now, mysteriously, if I use the Flash (even in the Auto mode) the photos are always dark, really dark. I've tried ajusting the exposure, light metering mode, ISO speed, tone and Fhash output, but was unsucessful.

If I take them in the Manual mode (with Flash) the result is ok. Another thing, if I take the photos with the Flash Off in any mode, the result is ok (Auto light compensation seems to work ok without the Flash).

I tried the Reset to default function, but nothing changed.

Any sugestions?

Thank you very much.

Xavier, Absalao

I've got the same problem.....

What did you?
Is there a hardware or software problem?
Is your problem solved?

Tethys

the photo was out of the flash's range?
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http://www.a80.fotopic.net
Yoko Dam

I also got the same problem, is any body there to solve this problem.

Please do reply me.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

I think the bulb of flash is going to die or caused by the weak range of built-in flashs on all P&S digital cameras.

I use Photoshop to adjust Shadows/Highlights of dark picture. Here is an example to see what were hidden inside the dark side.

Original:



After post-processing:

Hello ALL,

Sorry I missed the original post four months ago. I hope each of you who posted in this thread found a satisfactory solution to his or her flash issue(s). I will respond to the posts in reverse order:

To linkingtw:

Thanks for posting your original flash photo with the post-processing result. Your results demonstrate the limitations of built-in flashes on compact digital cameras while simultaneously showing potential beneficial effects of post-processing. You did a very good job of post-processing to bring up the out-of-flash-range areas some fifteen or more meters away. Your flash performed correctly according to its limitations.

To ALL:

I don't have the PowerShot 85's flash specs in front of me, but I believe the A85's maximum flash range to be aproximately three to four meters at wide angle and less than that at telephoto.

To Shoaib Danish:

We can't determine the cause(s) of your dark flash photos without examples. There may or may not be a problem with the camera. Please check your owner's guide for the maximum flash range and post an example or two of specific "dark flash photo" problems you are experiencing.

To Yoko Dam:

Yep. We are on the same page. If the cameras in question are functioning properly, the dark flash photos may well indicate that flash subjects were beyond the range of the flash.

To Tethys:

Please see my above response to Shoaib Danish.

To Absalao Xavier:

Again, I'm sorry I missed your original post. Hope you found a satisfactory solution to the problem. As you described the issue, I suspect there may be a camera problem requiring inspection and/or repair by a qualified camera repair technician.

Best,

Bob

To All:

As soon as I post a response to an indicated problem, other possibilities enter my mind. Here are things to check based on features of my PowerShot S50. Some features may not be available on your PowerShot A85:

1 The flash output settings range from -2EV to +2EV in 1/3 steps. A setting of -1/3 or more will significantly darken a flash photo.

2 Exposure compensation may be set to -1/3, -2/3, or more. This would simulate reduced flash output.

3 The white balance (color temperature) setting could also impact your flash results. Set your camera's white balance setting to flash (5500 degrees Kelvin) for best results.

4 Your camera's ISO setting also affects flash output. As with film photography, a higher ISO setting will effectively increase flash range (at the expense of photo quality). A lower ISO setting will increase photo quality at the expense of reduced flash range.

Hope this helps.

Bob

To Absalao Xavier:

CORRECTION:

You state that flash photos made in Manual Mode on your Canon Powershot A85 do NOT exhibit the dark flash problem. Therefore, I am inclined to believe your "dark flash photo" issue most likely relates to a negative flash output setting (given a range of -2EV to +2EV in 1/3 steps), or to an exposure compensation of -1/3 step or more.

Perhaps you will be so kind as to let us know what you discovered. Thanks!

Bob

Let me explain my problem. I took a photo of an object from one meter with the Auto mode with flash on. It was as dark as there is no light in the room. Then I took the photo of same object with flash off. Result of second attempt was good, and bright but the first one, it was really dark. One more thing I think in Auto mode every settings become to its auto mode (For example ISO, Exposure.....). When I took the photo with flash on, the flash beam was as bright as it used to be but the image was dark.

I could not attached my images, otherwise I think it would be very easy for u to understand my problem.

Best Regards

To Shoaib Danish:

Thanks for supplying additional information about the apparent flash problem. From what you have written I am still guessing at the nature of the problem. Therefore, my conclusions may not be correct and helpful, but I HOPE I am pointing you in the direction of a solution to the issue.

Let me ask some questions:

Is your Auto Mode flash issue a continuing problem, one that occurs with each flash photo, or are you describing a single flash photo problem? And, does the problem occur in other modes besides Auto, or is the issue limited to Auto Mode? Next, did you have the flash set to full power or other, and did you use exposure compensation to lighten or darken your photos?

You state you took a second photo (presumably also in Auto Mode, but with the flash off) in which the result was good and bright. I conclude, perhaps incorrectly, that in your first image with flash, you may not have allowed time for your camera to focus and respond with confirmation lights. Just for fun, try a similar flash photo where you make certain the camera has focused and produced confirmation lights for focus and flash.

Another possibility for a darker than normal photo with flash is that the camera batteries have not had time to fully recycle and recharge from a previous image, or even that you are very near the end of the batteries' charge.

Let me know if this helps, please.

Bob

Thanx Bob,

You are really helpful. First of all, I will answer your questions. You asked that am I having the problem for auto mode or for all modes, my answer is yes I am having that problem for all modes. And this problems is not for one photo only, I am having this problem for more than 2 weaks. The exposure and brightness all set to auto mode(For every mode). And about the focus and readiness of flash beam, while shooting, I always give a proper time to my camera to focus the image and that time simply gives the time to flash to readjust it self. Now about the batteries, currently I am using the rechargeable batteries. After your suggestion, I recharged all sets of my batteries and then test them but the result was same. I could not find any address of canon to contact about this problem. Anxiously waiting for your reply.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

To Shoaib Danish:

Shoaib Danish said:

Shoaib Danish said:

You are really helpful.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I genuinely try to help. Hopefully I am giving you useful information that will eliminate some possibile causes of your issue NOT a result of camera malfunction. I am quickly reaching the end of non-camera causes for the problem, however.

Thanks for responding to my questions. Okay, we can eliminate batteries as a possible source of the flash issue. Thanks also for clarifying that the flash problem exists in all modes (M, Tv, Av, P and scene modes) as well as AUTO.

I asked whether exposure compensation or flash exposure compensation had been used in the photos. Poorly worded question. From a series of comparison flash vs non-flash photos just completed today in AUTO mode on my S50, I observe that neither exposure compensation nor flash exposure compensation is possible in AUTO mode. On the S50 these features are only available in M, Tv, Av, P, and C for Custom mode. That should be the case also on your A85. Which eliminates one more possible cause of "dark flash photos".

This morning, in an attempt to replicate the "dark flash photo" problem, I set my S50 to AUTO mode and took three sets of photos, two of each scene, one with flash and one without flash for each set. Some observations:

My camera selected only one setting, 1/60th @ F2.8, for the flash photos. It selected two different settings, 1/8th @ F3.5 or 1/8th @ F2.8 for the non-flash photos. (Note: I was careful to select subjects with enough contrast to ensure the camera focused properly. Only when it gave me a green exposure and focus confirmation light did I take my photos.) The flash functioned as designed. The flash photos were correctly or very slightly overexposed depending on subject distance and the scene being photographed, (from under a meter to three meters). Corresponding non-flash photos ranged from underexposed by as much as two or more stops to almost dead–on perfect exposure, again depending on the brightness of the subject and ambient light around it.

As noted, my camera's flash performed according to design and the non-flash photos also seem to be exposed according to design. Guessing, I'd say the AUTO 1/8th second exposure is designed to minimize hand-held motion blur while allowing more than normal light to hit the sensor. Does a setting of 1/8th @ F3.5 or 1/8th @ F 2.8 properly expose every photo? NO. Of course not. Depending on the brightness of the scene being shot, these settings may result in non-flash photos that are overexposed, correctly exposed, or significantly underexposed. Interesting, perhaps, but not the issue.

Bottom line: I am not a qualified camera repair technician/repairman. Especially since the "dark flash photo" problem has just occurred withing the past two weeks, and since it is a recurring issure in all modes, I suggest your camera will need to be inspected by a properly qualified technician, by someone who has the necessary training, tools, and parts to make any required repair. If your camera is still under warranty, I suggest you visit Canon's web site for location and terms of available repair service. Alternatively, you may want to seek out a local repair shop and technician.

Best,

Bob

Hi Bob,

One more thing, some one said to me that it may be a problem with the shutter speed of the camera. But I am not agree with him. Infact I lost my data cable of camera, that's why I can not transfer my images, tomorrow I will attach the sample images. I think there is nothing left in the issue to discuss because you tried to explain every thing. But just to clearify my problem, I will do that. Thanx again.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

Hi again Shoaib,

Thanks. I'll take a look tomorrow.

bob

Hi Bob,

First of all, I must appologise for the delay in my mail. Due to some problems, I could not get images from my camera A85. Now, I got them and sending you. There was one more problme , and that was that I can not attach the images so, I have to upload them on a separate server. Now, I am giving you the paths of those sample images. I shoot them yesterday night in my room, in the light of one tube light.

Image With Flash:



Image Without Flash:



Both images were shoot from the same distance, and of same object. The mode was auto. The only difference for the setting was, for one image flash was off and the for the other one flash was on. The image which was shooted without flash, it was much brighter and acceptable as compared to the image with flash.

Once again, I am sorry for the delay in my reply. But I am expecting an instant response from your side. Thanks a lot for your help.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

Hi Bob,
I am waiting for your reply. Can u reply me? I will be thankful to you.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

Hello once again, Shoib,

Sorry for the delay in my reply. JUST saw your message from three days ago -- the one with examples. By the way, I sincerely appreciate your including examples. I, at least, find examples show the nature of problems much better than I can explain them to others.

Well, throw out anything and everything I said earlier about possible non-camera flash problems. Your completely dark flash photo (flash photo example) looks like all those award winning photos lost when 35mm photographers took photos with the lens cap on. No light at all reached the film -- or, in this case, the sensor.

Unhappily, this definitely is a camera problem requiring repair -- or camera replacement if repair is not cost-effective -- by a qualified repair technician.

Good luck!

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanx for your time. In fact I am almost agreed with you and planning to take my camera to a dealer of canon in my town. Wish me luck . And once again thanx for your time.

Best Regards
Shoaib Danish

Looks like the flash synch is off. There is detail in the first shot (looks just like the second if you adjust levels). Indicates to me that the flash (which I assume is working, is firing before or after the shutter opens and closes. The other possibility is that the pre-flash isn't metering the exposure correctly. Seems like its more likely to be the synch though.

Since I believe you said these were taken on auto it wouldn't be affected by the slow synch setting, though you might want to play with that just as a test. Otherwise it seems as the previous poster said that you're in need of a repair.