Weird Canon XTi problem - half overexposure

[wmspringer]

Having a weird problem today...hopefully this is the correct forum.

Was taking some test shots to figure out my lighting for some photos tomorrow, and I keep getting half the photo way over-exposed while the other half is correct. On testing, I find:

1) It's always the top half of the sensor, regardless of how the camera is oriented or positioned

2) It only happens when using the studio flash, regardless of how that flash is positioned. I don't see it if I only use my 430EX. I don't see it if I put the camera on auto.

3) I get the same problem with several different lenses, different shutter speeds, different apertures, with or without a lens hood.

Any ideas?

 

[usayit]

Shutter setting is over sync speed?

With 430EX, the camera either decides to stay under sync speed or the flash goes into High sync thus you don't see the issue.

 

[Dao]

Agree with usayit. Is the shutter speed is faster than 1/200 on the shots?

 

[wmspringer]

That's probably it; I was using 1/250 and 1/500. I'm new to studio lighting, so that didn't even occur to me. Thanks!

 

[frXnz kafka]

The flash and ambient were exposing the top half, and just the ambient was exposing the bottom half.