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Hi:

I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the camera.

When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a living
room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim but
adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done in
the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the rest"
..

You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which is
want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
$50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
without any processing.

This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point and
shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
processing them.

My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
from anyone who has experienced this.

Thank you in advance.

I'm probably not the best person to answer as I don't have the 20D -
but *which* `basic zone mode` were you using? I think some of those
modes are weighted towards things that conflict with indoor shooting
under incandescent lighting... Does the camera underexpose outdoor
images as well, in all modes or just some?

Forgive me for saying this, but in my opinion DSLR's like the 20D are
probably not the best choice of camera, if all you want to is print
directly from the memory card, not do any processing, and leave it in
fully auto mode...

But to solve your underexposure problem you *should* be able to do it
by selecting the best mode for that purpose, using a high ISO setting,
and maybe tweaking the brightness/contrast settings (if you can do that
in those 'modes').

If you do a lot of this sort of thing, why not get a decent
on-camera-bounce-flash setup? I presume you don't like the harshness
of direct flash, otherwise the problem would not exist...

Marge wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the camera.
>
> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a living
> room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim but
> adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done in
> the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
> the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the rest"
> .
>
> You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which is
> want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
> brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
> $50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
> without any processing.
>
> This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point and
> shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
> processing them.
>
> My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
> from anyone who has experienced this.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
>
>
>
>
Change the exposure mode from multi point (which exposes for the
brightest part) to another mode like area average or centre average.
While you are at it, change the focus mode from multi point to centre
point and what you point at will be in focus.

If you use the symbols on the dial to help you choose the right
combination, you'll get the results you have. Try using the 'P' mode and
my suggestion. Eventually you will discover the functions allow you to
adjust for contrast and exposure so you can indeed print from the card
and produce very nice results.

Don't be afraid of the custom functions. Just read about them and if you
don't like what you've done, re-set them to defaults and start again.
The 20D is a near perfect camera for shooting at events and printing
from the card to a non-connected printer. It just needs it's custom
functions set for that purpose.

Welcome to the world of ETT-L II. There is a constant undercurrent of
grumping from 20D owners, and some Rebel and 1D mkII owners, too, about
consistent underexposure with either the built in flash or Canon own branded
flashes. There are two solutions, or actually three. Shoot in manual,
using a shoe mounted flash, shoot with your Flash Exposure Compensation
dialed up somewhere between 1 1/3 and 2 stops, or use an non-Canon flash.
My wife and I get abysmal results with Canon flashes ( I won't go into the
details, but the flash defaults to fill with any ambient light at all) and
excellent results with Quantums, which, unfortunately run about $1000 for a
flash set up. But I've heard of others getting excellent results from
Sunpak, Vivitar and Metz flashes, which run somewhere between $150 and $350,
depending on flash power.
BTW, avoid the "Basic" modes, they cripple the camera too much. If you want
the camera to do your thinking for you, use the "program" mode over on the
"Creative" side of the command dial. There, you have options for metering
and exposure, not to mention expanded parameters and custom functions, not
available on the "Basic" modes.

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
"Marge" <> wrote in message
news:Nc-dnenCnM6KMeffRVn-...
> Hi:
>
> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the
> camera.
>
> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a living
> room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim
> but
> adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done
> in
> the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
> the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the
> rest"
> .
>
> You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which is
> want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
> brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
> $50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
> without any processing.
>
> This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point
> and
> shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
> processing them.
>
> My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
> from anyone who has experienced this.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
>
>
>
>

"Marge" <> wrote in message
news:Nc-dnenCnM6KMeffRVn-...
> Hi:
>
> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the
> camera.
>
> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a living
> room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim
> but
> adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done
> in
> the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
> the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the
> rest"
> .
>
> You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which is
> want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
> brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
> $50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
> without any processing.
>
> This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point
> and
> shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
> processing them.
>
> My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
> from anyone who has experienced this.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>

A point 'n shoot the 20D is not. What ISO did the camera set? I have to
wonder how high of an ISO it will automatically set even in room lighting.
Believe it or not, lighting that may appear adequate to our eyes can still
benefit from an external flash. You didn't mention one, so I assume you
weren't using one. The 18-55 lens isn't overly fast, so even wide open it
may require ISO 800 or 1600 w/o any flash.

Mark

Marge wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the
> camera.
>
> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a
> living room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The
> lighting is dim but adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps.
> All the shooting is done in the Basic Zone Modes where everything is
> set automatically. To quote from the manual "You just press the
> shutter button, and the camera does the rest" .
>

I have a 20D and I would not recommend it for a point and shoot camera.
I love my camera, but why spend all that money if you just want a point and
shoot?

That said, I often use the "P" function and have no problem with
exposure. In fact I don't have problems with exposure on any of the
settings.

Did the flash activate? What mode setting were you using. It may not
have been a good choice for the situation. Could you post a couple of
photos as they were prior to any editing and provide us a link so we could
see them?

Are you sure they really are underexposed. Did you try printing one?


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

I can vouche for that! I am contemplating switching the 580 to manual or
just slap on the ole Vivitar 285HV. That has no problem lighting up any
subject or room.


"Skip M" <> wrote in message
news:aNBee.1361$eU.616@fed1read07...
> Welcome to the world of ETT-L II. There is a constant undercurrent of
> grumping from 20D owners, and some Rebel and 1D mkII owners, too, about
> consistent underexposure with either the built in flash or Canon own
> branded flashes. There are two solutions, or actually three. Shoot in
> manual, using a shoe mounted flash, shoot with your Flash Exposure
> Compensation dialed up somewhere between 1 1/3 and 2 stops, or use an
> non-Canon flash. My wife and I get abysmal results with Canon flashes ( I
> won't go into the details, but the flash defaults to fill with any ambient
> light at all) and excellent results with Quantums, which, unfortunately
> run about $1000 for a flash set up. But I've heard of others getting
> excellent results from Sunpak, Vivitar and Metz flashes, which run
> somewhere between $150 and $350, depending on flash power.
> BTW, avoid the "Basic" modes, they cripple the camera too much. If you
> want the camera to do your thinking for you, use the "program" mode over
> on the "Creative" side of the command dial. There, you have options for
> metering and exposure, not to mention expanded parameters and custom
> functions, not available on the "Basic" modes.
>
> --
> Skip Middleton
> http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
> "Marge" <> wrote in message
> news:Nc-dnenCnM6KMeffRVn-...
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the
>> camera.
>>
>> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a
>> living
>> room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim
>> but
>> adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done
>> in
>> the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
>> the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the
>> rest"
>> .
>>
>> You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which
>> is
>> want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
>> brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
>> $50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
>> without any processing.
>>
>> This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point
>> and
>> shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
>> processing them.
>>
>> My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
>> from anyone who has experienced this.
>>
>> Thank you in advance.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

I've has this same problem when using the flash.
Exposures always seem too dark.
This if from the on board flash or a 380EX.
Seems like Photoshop has to help.
Did we get "bum" units??
My old G3 still works great with the buit in flash or the 380EX attached to
the hotshoe.



"Marge" <> wrote in message
news:Nc-dnenCnM6KMeffRVn-...
> Hi:
>
> I have a Canon 20D with the 18-55mm lens that was supplied with the
> camera.
>
> When taking pictures at family birthday parties and gatherings in a living
> room and dining room my pictures come out very dark. The lighting is dim
> but
> adequate with overhead lighting and table lamps. All the shooting is done
> in
> the Basic Zone Modes where everything is set automatically. To quote from
> the manual "You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the
> rest"
> .
>
> You certainly cannot print directly from the memory card however, which is
> want I want to do. Every picture has to be processed to increase the
> brightness. I've taken pictures in the same surroundings before with a
> $50.00 digital camera and the pictures come out bright enough to print
> without any processing.
>
> This is not a simple camera but at these affairs I'm using it as a point
> and
> shoot. I take about one hundred pictures and I don't want to spend hours
> processing them.
>
> My question is whether it's me or the camera? I would appreciate feedback
> from anyone who has experienced this.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
>
>
>
>