300D bottom 2/3 no exposure??? as if bottom 2/3 obscured

In the midst of taking pictues the other evening our 300D decided to quit working properly. The only thing I can think of that may or may not be relevant is that we were using our 420EX Speedlight flash and taking some pictures in action/burst mode.

Here is a link to one of the pictures:

http://www.ourstillwaters.org/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Camera-Problem&id=IMG_2300_cameraproblem

I would appreciate any ideas at all. I've attempted many searches to find if anyone else has had a similar problem but so far am not finding anything. Searching for things like 'no exposure' doesn't quite do the job. If anyone can point me toward anything, we'd really appreciate it.
(Of course we did try the image sensor cleaning to no effect.)

Thanks,
Joel

I suspect you problem may be that the mirror is not lifting fast enough and blocking light from the sensor, I had a similar problem with my 350 when it was really cold and found it was the mirror.

Check the forum search as I think it is a known problem with the 300

Simon
--
http://storksb.smugmug.com

I'm not a specialist, but I would suspect that the mirror isn't opening fully !?!
--
Robert Gravel
http://www.pbase.com/rgravel

Mirror failure = $200

plastic pin broke. This was Canon's way to save money and to create planned obsolescence!

We need the EXIF data to really know what is going on. Looks to me that you exceeded the sync speed of the Rebel, which I think is 1/200 seconds. If you want to shoot at a shutter speed faster than this, you must set the flash to FP mode, which allows the flash to sync to the camera at any shutter speed. The reason the top portion is properly illuminated but the bottom is not is due to the loss of this synchronization.

Try taking a few shots at shutter speeds of less than 1/200 seconds and you should be fine. Then test your flash at faster shutter speeds, but with the flash set to FP mode (hope this is supported on your flash unit, I have the 550 and the 580).

All the best,

jim

.
--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
photography workshop schedule at:
http://www.pbase.com/sandman3/schedule

Only a mirror problem if you get the same results with no flash too. I think this is a flash synchronization problem and not a camera malfunction, rather user error. Sure hope so ~ no repair bill!

All the best,

jim

.
--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
photography workshop schedule at:
http://www.pbase.com/sandman3/schedule

Could be you are at the wrong shutter speed while using the flash.

Right. Same problem at any shutter speed, flash or no flash.

I never thought of the mirror not opening fast enough - I've been off worrying that I have one of these CCD failures in humid/hot environments. Mirror problem seems to make more sense.

Any possibility of a fix in the field - it'll be a month before I get home and can do something about it :-(.

Joel

Ok. Thanks to the comments I did some searches on mirror problems and as you guys already know... this camera has that problem.

So I put it into image sensor mode, saw that the sub mirror wasn't up.
I took a long clean utensil and flipped it up to the primary mirror.

Now it seems to be stuck to the primary mirror (doesn't unflip on its own). Probably the pin problem. But hey. AF doesn't work, but MF does. And no glue. At least it appears that we can take pictures and decide what to do when we get home.

I appreciate the comments. And quick turnaround too!

(Now to fix the keyboard glitch on her laptop... .)

Joel

Well that's it then. Mirror failure. Well good luck on getting some shots while you are on location and best wishes on a speedy repair when you return.

All the best,

jim
--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
photography workshop schedule at:
http://www.pbase.com/sandman3/schedule