30 Second Rebel XT Help

[ocupopper]

i have had my rebel xt for a couple weeks and just got a chance to take it camping over the weekend and do some outside shoooting for the first time.

i am having this issue in every mode except manual where the camera always wants to take a 30 second exposure until you lock focus on something, there is even a gap between focusing and the 30 second exposure going away.

anytime you just quickly put the camera up to your eye and fire off a shot you get a 30 second exposure regardless of the amount of bright natural sunlight that is available?

does anyone have any advice as to what might be causing this? a setting? a defect, user error or ignorance?

thanks in advance.

[ocupopper]

sorry, for the repost but this is driving me nuts.

i took my camera outside after posting this. clear blue mid-afternoon sky again.

without even looking through the viewfinder, i pointed the camera around and fired off a bunch of shots over the course of a few minutes set to full auto.

at least 1 out of every 10 shots tipped off a 30 second exposure.

has anyone else experienced anything remotely similar to this?

im beginning to think its an actual defect.

[TheObiJuan]

lens cap on?

hehe, had to ask. :p


I have no clue why this is happening. I never experienced this with my 350D. I would seriously put it in Av or Tv and experiment from there.
In Av try f/8, just to get it to take the picture at something other than 30 seconds. nevermind over/underexposure.

I would say check your custom functions, but I don't think this could be a cf issue.

[eagle17]

I just spent a good half hour trying to get this to happen with my xt.

no luck.

Please do not get too upset with my question but they need to be asked.

1. are you sure they are 30" exposures? do they come out all white and over-exposed?

2. could it be a focusing problem? try switching the lens to manual mode and see if you still get the same issue? I use primarily USM and L series glass and even then it can take a few seconds to focus. are you using the kit lens?

3. edit "
also what af mode is it in (one shot, ai focus, ai server)?

and last but not least do you get any err codes in the lcd?

[ocupopper]

thanks for replys. no question is too dumb for me...im pretty new to the game.

the ability to take a proper 30 second exposure is still there...i tried a low light 30 second this morning and it worked fine...these shots are generally all white though.

manual/auto focus both have this happening, only manual shooting mode stops it.

its the kit lens, havent tried it with anything else but will today when i can borrow someones.

no error codes produced. the camera is really acting like it is natural to be doing this.

[Mark_48]

I'll first state that I don't own a 350D nor am I familiar with one, own a 300D and 20D.

1.Try taking out both batteries (main battery and the coin cell) for about 10 minutes or so, reinstall and see if the camera will reset out of the mode its presently in. Also find in the menu settings "Clear All Camera Settings" and perform that function. This should totally reboot/reset the camera to its default state - hopefully operating correctly. If this doesn't help, Step 2.....

2.Having had it for a couple of weeks, what is the return/exchange policy where you bought it? That would be the next thing to pursue. No luck here, on to Step 3....

3.Might be time to call Canon. They will no doubt suggest sending it in for warranty repair.

Good luck!

Mark.........

[eagle17]

I will echo marks reply completely. I have tried several lenses and settings but I still cannot make it occasionally shoot a 30sec exposure unless it is set to do so.

[George Riehm]

Sounds vaguely familiar... Different camera, same symptom... Exposure circuit.

If the reset doesn't work ...Call Canon Service.

[quberoot]

I think you have a faulty camera, my first 350D was also faulty (Not your problem of a 30 second exposure) but had 2 pixels missing and a scratch on the mirror. Canon exchanged bodies, no problems and this one is okay. As for a 30 second exposure, I can't get mine to do this unless I program it to do so, sorry. :confused:

quby

[Mark_48]

I think you have a faulty camera, my first 350D was also faulty (Not your problem of a 30 second exposure) but had 2 pixels missing and a scratch on the mirror. Canon exchanged bodies, no problems and this one is okay. As for a 30 second exposure, I can't get mine to do this unless I program it to do so, sorry. :confused:

quby
It's noble to try to recreate the 30 second exposure problem to help someone out, but wouldn't it be a b_tch if you got it there and couldn't undo it.....nah that wouldn't happen !! :eek: :D

[George Riehm]

I'll first state that I don't own a 350D nor am I familiar with one, own a 300D and 20D.

1.Try taking out both batteries (main battery and the coin cell) for about 10 minutes or so, reinstall and see if the camera will reset out of the mode its presently in. Also find in the menu settings "Clear All Camera Settings" and perform that function. This should totally reboot/reset the camera to its default state - hopefully operating correctly. If this doesn't help, Step 2.....

2.Having had it for a couple of weeks, what is the return/exchange policy where you bought it? That would be the next thing to pursue. No luck here, on to Step 3....

3.Might be time to call Canon. They will no doubt suggest sending it in for warranty repair.

Good luck!

Mark.........

Is that Mark 48 as in torpedo?