Black on the bottom of photos (flash related)

[Marko]

Andrew and Richard have pegged this. This sounds like a classic sync speed issue. Basically you have exceeded the maximum sync speed your flash can sync with your camera.

The exif data on any frame where the band shows will tell you what your shutter speed was for any given shot. Googling your flash's sync speed or checking the manual will tell you what the sync speed is. If the shutter speed is faster than the sync speed your problem is now solved. All you have to do is never exceed that speed and you will never see those bands.

[kat]

Andrew and Richard have pegged this. This sounds like a classic sync speed issue. Basically you have exceeded the maximum sync speed your flash can sync with your camera.

The exif data on any frame where the band shows will tell you what your shutter speed was for any given shot. Googling your flash's sync speed or checking the manual will tell you what the sync speed is. If the shutter speed is faster than the sync speed your problem is now solved. All you have to do is never exceed that speed and you will never see those bands.

Would that happen if your camera is set to auto and it's the camera's flash? Wish I had the camera in front of me.

[Iguanasan]

Would that happen if your camera is set to auto and it's the camera's flash? Wish I had the camera in front of me.

In the case of my Canon Rebel XSi it won't let me go higher than 200, or lower than 1/200 depending on how you look at it. I just can't change the settings to get the on board flash "out of synch".

[Marko]

Would that happen if your camera is set to auto and it's the camera's flash? Wish I had the camera in front of me.

can't be sure about that - but just try it next time u have your camera.

[kat]

LOL..it's not my camera. :P I do know she uses her longer lens and usually close ups of the kids. I told her to throw on her other lens and shot with them for a bit and see if she notices it. Hmm..maybe an excuse for a visit..hahah.

thanks everyone

[Mad Aussie]

Definitely don't rule out the lens hood thing Kat. I know the flash sync is an obvious choice, but I've been fooled by the lens hood on close up shots before.

Some digital camera's won't use above the sync speed anyhow. You choose a higher shutter speed but it defaults to the sync speed when the flash is selected.