Why is it I get dark pictures?

Question

I have recently bought the Canon rebel 400, I bought it with the lens accompanied, I use the 380ex speedlight, as the manual says it is compatible with all ex series. Why is it I get dark pictures, I set my camera to manual, 60/8 and let the flash fill in as much as it conciders needed, evaluation at "partial metering"

Answer 1

It's because you're in "manual" mode.
For the flash to work properly, both the camera and flash need to be able to adjust the amount of light the camera gets. The camera does that by adjusting shutter speed and aperture, the flash by adjusting it's light output. By setting manual mode, you're not allowing the camera to adjust, and the pictures are dark because you're trying to get the flash to light more than it's capable of at the aperture you selected.

Use the camera in "P" (program) mode and you'll get much better results. The camera knows when the flash is attached, so it'll automatically select a shutter speed that syncs to the flash, then vary the aperture as needed to work properly with the flash. It'll also warn you in P mode if the combination of ISO speed, aperture, and flash output isn't enough to properly expose the scene.
You can also use the "dummy" mode (the little square) and let the camera set everything including the ISO -- but I prefer P so I can at least set my own ISO speed to avoid noise.

With the flash on, using Av or Tv modes (shutter speed or aperture priority), the flash will act as "fill" rather than the main light source -- these are good for outdoors in bright sun to fill in shadows, or to brighten up backlit scenes. But they won't work so well for indoor flash-only pictures -- that's not what they're for.

Take a few minutes to read your manuals -- both the camera and flash. It actually does a pretty good job explaining the various modes using the flash and how they work.

Answer 2

Well, you really don't give enough information for me to answer this. I'm a professional photographer who uses the Canon digital camera system. Assuming that the flash is working properly, my best guess would be that your subject matter is too far from the flash for it to light it properly, given the aperture that you've set. I guess 60 is 1/60th second shutter speed and 8 is an aperture of f8. If you set the camera to P (program) is the photo still dark? I use the 580EX, but I'm sure it's similar to the 380EX. Be sure the "mode" button on the back of the flash is set to ETTL, not one of the lower power settings. Also be sure that you haven't set exposure compensation, by way of the button and dial on the back of the flash, to something less than "0"

I just thought of something else that might help you. If the scene you are trying to photograph includes lots of white or lightly colored objects, the camera meter may be trying to record it as gray, so it is underexposing the scene. If that's the case, dial in positive exposure compensation on the camera body. Or change the aperture to f 5.6 or a smaller number to allow more light into the picture.

I sure hope this helps!

Answer 3

Greg's suggestion is good, make sure you haven't set the flash for minus compensation, and your subject is close enough.

I shoot Nikon, not Canon, so take this with a grain of salt, but I thought flashes work on manual the same as on program, in either TTL or manual. But try it out on P anyway to see the results. F8 might be too fast, try shooting wide open.

Answer 4

Try changing the EV setting or ISO setting. The lens attachment will drop the effective F/stop and the flash may not be compensating. Excpet light loss of at least 1 whole F/stop.

Answer 5

Try using a higher speed film. If of course you have a film camera. Also adjust your aperture to a larger one like 4 0r 5.6.
It is important also to know the limitations of your flash. Like how far it can carry. (Distance) . Keep well within that range.
Good luck my friend

Answer 6

you get light pictures by gently pressing the button so u could take light pictures