Canon Digital Rebel XT 350D extremely overexposed in sun or overcast

[petey23]

I've had my 350D for almost 10 years now and in the last 6 months any pictures I take in bright or overcast outdoor light have been coming out extremely overexposed. I generally shoot in Av mode (aperture priority). I know some of this is the result of bright outdoor light, but it is SO over-exposed that even stopping down 2 full stops won't fix it. Instead, I have to set up brackets down to -4 stops, and usually the -4 stopped photo will turn out reasonably well.

Any ideas what could be wrong, or initial steps I might go through to try to fix it or diagnose? I just shot some photos inside and they turned out great without stopping down, so I will try to take a bunch of photos in the next couple of days and investigate when it has problems more precisely.

Thanks!

 

[CameraClicker]

Time for repair/replacement. The shutter is closing too slowly.

 

[Overread18 6]

A few thoughts:

1) Check that you've not got exposure compensation enabled (it doesn't sound like it since you're shooting in AV mode and already stopping down several stops).

2) Re-set to factory settings through them menu - you might have enabled a feature that is causing the problem (flash exposure compensation could be another if you're using a flash outside for fill light, but then having it overexpose and thus blow out the shot).

3) If the above options don't work it could be that there is a fault on the camera, 10 years of solid good use on a 350D is a long time on the rebel series cameras and it could be that time is taking its toll. Considering its age chances are you could get a second hand rebel series of a higher level or a new camera body for less than most repairs would cost.

 

[petey23]

Hi overread and CameraClicker,

Thanks for the suggestions. I've reset to the factory settings and will go out and test it tomorrow since it's already dark here. Hoping it is not time for a replacement just yet--I just moved to Kenya and I would hate to try to find a used Canon body here. Will report back once I've tested it a little.

Thanks again!

 

[Overread18 6]

Oh Kenya! Heading out for the safari?
And yeah I can guess that that market might be more tricky to purchase in; new might be ok - but yeah the second hand market might be much smaller - guess it depends a lot where abouts you are in the country too.

 

[Vince.1551]

Try Mara Intrepid if you are going for a safari camp


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[petey23]

No, not a safari. Well, I probably (hopefully) will do that too! But I moved here for a year for work. Just arrived two weeks ago and remembered this problem when I was taking pictures from the top of the Kenyatta International Conference Center in downtown Nairobi. Realized I should have dealt with this before leaving the US but it slipped my mind while trying to get other things done!

 

[CameraClicker]

Figure out how much it is over exposing by, then use Manual mode and adjust accordingly.