Black bottom of photos issue

Hello...

I am relatively new to photography. I have a degree in video, but photography is a new aspect for me. I have a Canon 60d and I have a Neewer TT 560 Speedlite flash. One of my biggest issues is that I get black at the bottom of the screen and sometimes my flash won't connect to my flash and it comes out really dark (I am aware that the Canon 60d sucks at picking up light).

I have tried to research Canon 60d's picture qualities and researching everything I can on pictures, but I am still confused as to what I am overly doing wrong and nothing really has helped. I know that it is a Shutter Speed issue, but AV mode doesn't have a setting for the shutter speed and when I changed the AEB setting to a positive number it takes a really long time to take the photo and makes it really blurry (which is another issue I am having).

I am wondering if anyone could help me out with this as I am just stuck on what to do.

After typing this up and testing my camera some more, I was able to get some images working while some still had the black bottom. I just moved my camera (panned 90 degrees) and below is the results.

I am so confused. Any help on how to alleviate this would be very appreciated.

Thanks! (More images can be attached if needed)

The focal plane shutter of cameras like the 60D has two curtains which move vertically just in front of the sensor, to either admit or block light coming from the lens. When the shutter operates, the first curtain opens and exposes the sensor to light. Then the second curtain comes across after the set shutter speed has passed, and blocks it off again. For speeds faster than the flash synch speed of 1/250 sec, the second curtain starts to move before the first curtain has cleared the sensor. To get the highest speeds, it's as if a slit moves across the sensor.

That's OK for continuous lighting (except it can cause distortion of moving subjects), but it's a massive problem with flash, which is pretty much instantaneous. Because at speeds higher than the synch speed, there is always going to be part of one or other of the curtains covering the sensor when the flash fires, causing the black areas you have noted.

Normally with a dedicated flashgun, the camera is automatically set to the flash synch speed or lower, so it's puzzling why you are getting this. Were you using the studio flashes seen in some of the pictures?

Either way you have to make sure the shutter speed is 1/250 or less.

By the way most photographers including me, like yourself, have learned about this the hard way.

John is correct that the you need to use a shutter speed of 1/250th or slower in order to not have the effect you are seeing. Note that the Neewer TT 560 is a completely manual flash unit and the camera has no way to know that a flash has be attached. That said, you need to use "M" mode on your camera and set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually. If you bought a dedicated EOS flash (that is designed to work automatically with your camera), it would be much easier to use than this completely manual unit. There is much to learn using flash, but for indoors, try using 1/125th / F5.6, & 400 ISO as a starting point for setting on the camera (M mode), and adjust the flash power, on the Neewer, so that to provides a acceptable image.

Note that only the aperture and ISO impact the flash exposure (as long as the shutter speed does not exceed the maximum sync speed of 1/250th). Best of luck.

@zeke_wolf, I realised that your problem had something to do with your shutter but @John Seaman and @Ken Katz nailed it as far as I'm concerned. I'd just like to add this:

- The Neewer TT 560 Speedlite flash retails for about $33 (Amazon)

- the 430EX II Canon flash, fully compatible (including automatic modes) with current Canon cameras - including the 60D - retails for about @250 (Amazon), so there's a big price diffference; there are cheaper Canon flashes and more expensive ones, check here for a comparison.

You can go the 'manual flash settings' route using your Neewer TT 560, but it might well be worth saving up and buying a 2nd hand 430 EX II Canon flash (or something similar) on E-bay. These are going for between $80 and $120.

Yes, it's an extra layout. The value - as I see it - are that:

- a Canon flash will always connect with a Canon camera

- there will be no shutter problems (black lines)

- depending on which camera shooting mode you're in, the flash will adjust its output accordingly

- you can always choose whether to let the camera and flash work (in synchronization) automatically together or choose your manual flash settings

Reading between the lines, my impression is that you'd just like to be able to take good flash photos with as little technical hassle as possible. If this is true, then consider buying a 2nd hand Canon flash. It will just work with your camera in automatic or manual modes

Personally, I really wouldn't like to have to keep thinking about (manual) flash speeds, shutter speeds and shutter curtains (though I occasionally do:)). Sure there are relevant camera/flash modes, but in very simple terms, I just want a flash to work when I take a photo. In other words, I want my camera and my flash to communicate with each other!

I have a a Canon Speedlite 580 EXII (the 'big brother' of the 430EX II). I hardly ever use it but whenever I need it, it always just works. I used it on my (very old) Canon 40D and it still works just fine with my much newer Canon 6D.

I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't do or what you can and can't afford. I'm just giving some you some options.