Sensor Issues

[JAB]

I have a Canon 60D that is around 4 years old. Recently photos I take in manual settings are very dark and grainy regardless of lighting. Under the same conditions I can shoot in auto mode and the photos are fine. I can take the auto settings and use those same ones in manual and again the photos are dark and grainy. Could there be a problem with the sensor when set to manual.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[xpatUSA]

@JAB,

Could you post two images (not "saved for the web") as examples?

Have you looked at the EXIF data?

cheers,

[pnodrog]

From what you describe it is highly unlikely to be a sensor problem. More likly to be a setting. Check to see if the RAW file is similar for both manual and auto. Also check that the ISO and any exposure compensation are set the same in both manual and auto.

[Colin Southern]

I'd suggest resetting the camera to factory default settings -- and wouldn't be at all surprised if that cured it.

It won't be the sensor as it's the same sensor for both scenarios.

[Glenn NK]

I'd suggest resetting the camera to factory default settings -- and wouldn't be at all surprised if that cured it.

It won't be the sensor as it's the same sensor for both scenarios.

Good advice. And it shouldn't be the meter for similar reasons (same meter for all modes).

This trick of resetting the camera to factory default setting isn't well enough known about, nor is it used enough.

It can solve all sorts of strange maladies. Also taking out and replacing the battery can solve some lockups.

And for a check: take an outdoor shot in the middle of the day with full sun. f/16 with shutter speed @ 1/ISO (sunny 16 rule). The exposure may not be spot on, but should be close.

[dan marchant]

I disagree with resetting the camera as a solution in cases like this because it is a blunt instrument approach. In addition to solving the problem you lose any customisation/user info that you have set up. You also don't actually find out what the cause of the problem was. While working through all the menus/options is undoubtedly more time consuming and boring it will result in you finding the culprit and learning something about how the camera works. Resetting the camera should (IMO) be used as a last resort, not the first resort.

[xpatUSA]

@JAB,

Could you post two images (not "saved for the web") as examples?

Have you looked at the EXIF data?

A great silence from @JAB.

If she/he could post a couple of images or give us a link to where they are, we could see what the camera thought it was set to; might be a bit of a clue there.

I wonder if he/she has more than one lens?

[Black Pearl]

Could it not be as simple as the ISO is set manually to 100 but when the camera is switched to Auto Mode it goes into Auto ISO?

[JAB]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, all appreciated and helpful. I had a Photo Professor from the College I work at go over my camera. She found a setting in Menu that had bumped the f-stop automatically down 3 from what I was shooting. I have not had much time to get out since but from the shots I took out my office window it appears to have solved the problem.

[Polar01]

Now that you know what the cause way, it maybe a great time to look at the manual to see how to make the camera to that, so you will not make that error in the future.

Cheers: Allan