camera trouble

Giselle

It is really dark when I look thru the viewfinder. Has anyone had this problem, what happened and can it be fixed?

Seymore

This opens more questions, at least for me... So allow me to ask:

- Is this the case with all your lenses, when mounted?
- What camera body are we dealing with?
- How old is the body?
- Anything special happen with the body lately? Dropped? Near water? Let someone else use it? Ect... (?)

Let us know...

DJTHEMAC

Giselle wrote:

It is really dark when I look thru the viewfinder. Has anyone had this problem, what happened and can it be fixed?

Is there a lense cap on?

ziggy53

Giselle wrote:

It is really dark when I look thru the viewfinder. Has anyone had this problem, what happened and can it be fixed?

According to your profile, you are shooting with the Canon 350D/XT.

Is there any other indication of a problem, like is the image shifted in the frame? Is the image cut off or cropped?

Does the view brighten if you remove the lens?

Does the problem occur with one lens or all lenses?

With the lens removed, shine a small LED flashlight into the viewfinder and look into the camera. Anything unusual?

If you set the camera on "Sensor clean" mode and look inside (with the lens removed), does anything look out of ordinary?

Start with these issues and then we can proceed to more tests if necessary.

Giselle

oh thanks, it was the lens cap!!
I wish... but I have been known to be that blonde! it looks the same no matter what lens I put on or take off. There is no image shift. The camera is a few years old, so it could just be dying of old age. No one else has used it lately. I havent looked inside yet, as soon as the baby takes a nap I'll do that.

hesaias

Giselle wrote:

oh thanks, it was the lens cap!!
I wish... but I have been known to be that blonde! it looks the same no matter what lens I put on or take off. There is no image shift. The camera is a few years old, so it could just be dying of old age. No one else has used it lately. I havent looked inside yet, as soon as the baby takes a nap I'll do that.

The mirror may be stuck up. An SLR body should reflect through the lens from the viewfinder. If its dark, something is obstructing the mirror, or the mirror is stuck in the up position.