www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all

I've just returned from an enjoyable couple of hours at Wisley (nice to see you again Philzoid) and upon putting my 230 photos onto my computer, all but the first 50 of them are black...

I've not seen this before, all was ok in 'the field', I could focus, the shutter worked fine, no reason for alarm. But I have ended up with rather dull, completely black photos.

Any ideas? Please don't say new camera...

Thanks

Lee

And no, the lens cap wasn't still on...

Hi Lee,

I'm not sure if this will help or not as I don't know what camera or computer you're using.

http://www.philmug.ph/forum/f19/fix-iph ... ges-84679/

N

Thanks Nigel,

It's an old Canon EOS 10D and a new Dell Laptop.

Not an apple in sight - still worth a go?

I will try later and report back.

Best wishes

Lee

Hi Lee,

I'm not an expert so really can't say for sure. The 'theory' might be worth adapting to your system, but before doing anything I'd back-up what you've got so far in case it makes matters worse.

Hope all works out OK.
N

Lee Hurrell wrote: all but the first 50 of them are black...

Hi Lee. When you say 'black', do you mean utterly black or a very dark poor quality image? Another question - do you see anything on the screen on the back of the camera in review mode? If you do, then the images are on your card and the transfer to the computer is at fault. If there's nothing on the camera screen then it looks rather gloomy!

The next thing is to see what happens if you take another photo? Does it work - can you see the image? - do you hear the shutter and mirror? One possibility is that the mirror is stuck down. If so, you will not see any 'blink' in the viewfinder, which you should as it lifts. Does your camera let you fire the shutter without a lens in place - if so, look and see what's happening. If it's stuck, a very gentle prod with a cocktail stick or similar may free it (don't touch if you're not sure what you're doing)

hope this helps,
Mike

Hi Mike

Thanks for your reply. They're utterly black. The file size is also about a third of what it should be, so that doesn't look too good. There is no image at all so your theory about the mirror makes sense. There's nothing on the back of the camera to look at in review mode. Unfortunately I don't know what I'm doing so I won't be poking with cocktail sticks just yet! I did try again after I discovered what had happened and it is still taking black images.

So it looks like a cocktail stick or a service...

Best wishes

Lee

Lee Hurrell wrote:Hi Mike

Thanks for your reply. They're utterly black. The file size is also about a third of what it should be, so that doesn't look too good. There is no image at all so your theory about the mirror makes sense. There's nothing on the back of the camera to look at in review mode. Unfortunately I don't know what I'm doing so I won't be poking with cocktail sticks just yet! I did try again after I dscovered what had happened and it is still taking balck images.

So it looks like a cocktail stick or a service...

Best wishes

Lee

Hi Lee - you say they're black, but no image at all? I presume you have a file? If so, can you email one to me to take a look at? The EXIF data might provide some clues (e.g. ridiculously high shutter speed, really low ISO, massively negative exposure compensation etc. etc.).

Also - do you have the problem with a different lens (could be poor contacts)?

Cheers,

- Pete

On a positive note, it's a jolly good thing this happened over the winter, so if you need to you can leave your camera at the local camera shop without worrying too much about what you're not photographing! And you do have 50 photos from Wisley, some of which must be good ...

I visited the Brenne when I was 18 and shot a what I thought was a whole reel of 36 pictures before discovering the film hadn't engaged and I hadn't taken a single frame. In those days, two films had to last me the whole summer. The funny thing is, among the butterflies I lost were my first ever Queen of Spain fritillaries, on a dusty track between fields, and now my memory of those butterflies is more vivid than almost any other memories I have!

Guy

Wow, here I am down in the dumps about losing pictures today and the kindness and advice shown by you guys is very warming.

Pete, thank you, an 'image' is on the way. There are files, just of a plain black image. It's the same lens I've always used and which, until this evening, hasn't been off for a long time.

Guy, you are so right. I was only saying tonight that within a few weeks I should be seeing the first butterfly if the year. A freshly serviced camera would be very good to have ready. It was a gorgeous spring like day today at Wisley.

Two rolls of film for the whole summer? I suppose taking your pragmatic approach, at least you had another 36 frames!

Best wishes,

Lee

I would think if the shutter is stuck you would be getting a very different sound when pressing the shutter button. Does the camera seem any different?

My 10d shutter died on me and it was an expensive repair that wasn't worth doing so had to get a new camera. Fortunately it was just before the 1d mkiii hit the stores or I might have got myself one of those with the duff autofocus! Instead I got a 30d as I needed something quick.

On a positive note I did get about £130 for the 10d despite the repair cost being quoted at over £200 and it only being worth that after the repair!

I am always a little nervous about my sigma 150 dying on me some time soon as it's had issues with a sticky aperture ring for a couple of years now. Trouble is that I'm not sure if the new model is as good as the old one so don't want to replace it!

Hi Lee - the EXIF data looks fine to me (thx for the files!). I'll post the data here just in case anyone thinks differently.

Assuming the lens is OK, I can only assume that either the shutter isn't opening (but, as FISHiEE points out, you'd expect a different sound when you taking a photo) or that the sensor isn't registering any light. Unfortunately, this sounds like it needs to go to a Canon repair centre for a proper analysis
Cheers,

- Pete

FISHiEE wrote:I am always a little nervous about my sigma 150 dying on me some time soon as it's had issues with a sticky aperture ring for a couple of years now.

Lisa had that with her Sigma 150, it was a very expensive repair, and has now started doing it again.


Sadly Lee, throwing money at a old 10D just isn't worth it. A used model at London Camera exchange is only £79.99, and any repair will be £150 plus.

Some used options http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Secondhand-Se ... esults=250

Even the current Canon entry models are light years ahead of the old 10D. I'm emotionally attached to one that I still use for infrared photography, it really is a dinosaur.

Regards Gruditch

Thank you all for your advice.

The shutter seems to be working normally and the camera is just as I would expect apart from the end result, with and without the lens. So I suspect it is somehow lack of light getting to the sensor.

Seeing as these things happen for a reason, perhaps it is time for a new one. I had the 10D second hand in 2009.

Gary, perhaps slightly above entry level, what (Canon) model(s) would you suggest I start looking at?

Best wishes,

Lee

You've probably thought of this already but it could possibly be the memory card rather than the camera. Professionals recommend that you format your card every time you empty it. I do it and I've never "touch wood" lost a shot yet. If the problem occurs again when you use a different "freshly formatted" card then sadly it's most likely that your camera has developed a problem.

I hope it turns out to be something simple like this.

B'saurus

I too would be trying a new or different (formatted) memory card Lee, make sure you also have a fully charged camera battery, and also reset all your camera settings to factory default before you try the new card out, just see how this goes.

If however all else fails and you need to upgrade to a new (used!) camera, then check out MPB Photographic or Camera Jungle, both are used specialists and I'm certain you'll find what you need at a sensible price.

Bill

Thanks Rex and Bill, I will try this tonight - I hadn't considered the memory card

I've been doing some web "window shopping" and am quite taken with a Canon 600D... One for the wish list.

Best wishes,

Lee

Lee,

If you do decide to go for a used Canon 600D well MPB Photographic currently have 10 in stock from £299 up to £329 depending on condition...and they have a Mint- model advertised with a shutter count of 142 which means that this camera is virtually unused

Bill

From the replies above, It's not looking good, I'm afraid.

When you press the shutter, most of the noise is from the mirror assembly. The shutter itself may not be opening.

You could check this by using the [Sensor Clean] feature (p.156 in the manual] basically, press menu then find [Sensor Clean] and press set. Confirm on the next screen that appears, when the mirror should lift and the shutter open. Look into the lens throat and you should see the surface of the sensor. If you only see the shutter blades, then it's not working.

my Nikon sensor looks like this (Canon should be very similar):
If the shutter is not opening then I would doubt it is an economic repair.

Mike

Hi Lee,



If you don't get it sorted out, your options are either to buy used, it is a buyers market at the moment. You will get a lot of camera for a few hundred quid. Or you can take a look at the somewhat confusing, currant model line up.



Canon often overlap some of there models. I remember a while back, the 500D, 550D, and 600D were all available new at the same time. But in fact the 550D was a replacement for the 500D, and the 600D a replacement for the 550D.



The current line up is at entry level the 1200D at £349, but the older 1100D is still available at £209. Both of these would be a massive update on the old 10D.



The 700D is next in the line up, at £469.99, again the older model 600D at £339 is still available. The 100D at £379, is a compacted version of the 700D, I've had some time with one of these. If your a travel photographer, without any big lenses, this is a wonderful camera. The one I had a go with, was bought by someone who's old 30D had died, it knocked spots of the 30D, and that was a great camera only six years ago.



At £854.99 for the new 70D, we are starting to get a bit expensive now, but I'm lead to believe that this one will out preform my 7D which is still a current model, and higher in the range, but has been around since 2009. The older 60D is still listed as available by Canon, but I don't think there are many about.



Obviously there are the full frame bodies, and the 1D series in the range to, but we are talking serious £s



If you are looking to buy new, to be brutally honest, anything, even the older entry model 1100D would be way better than your old 10D. I loved the little 100D, although it did look a little silly on some of my big lenses. If I was on a budget, I would probably go for the bigger bodied 700D, the touch screen alone is worth the extra £110 over the 600D.



If you could afford it, go for the 70D.

Regards Gruditch

Thanks Gary, just what I wanted, a no-nonsense guide.

I'd sort of got to the same thought, but the 700D, there's something to else think about about.

Thanks again,

Lee