Am I the only one who has found a design fault with the Canon D10. I have found that when using the built in flash I get a large shadow arc at the bottom of the frame. This is obviously caused by the flash catching the end of the lens barrel. It doesn't matter what setting I use on the zoom from 24mm to 70mm, the dark arc is still there. I thought that it was the lens hood which was causing it but I get the problem with or without the lens hood. Any ideas anyone.

It happens with the G5 as well, but usually only in close up shots...I think Canon are expecting (or hoping) evryone who owns one of their cameras is going to pay for one of their speedlight flashes as well... :->

"24-70" as in the 24-70mm f/2.8L lens? If so, then it's no wonder you are getting a shadow arc at the bottom of the frame. The built-in flash on the 10D isn't made to work with large lenses (I think it even says that in the manual). The 24-70L has a filter diameter of something like 77mm, right? The lens is so "fat" that it sticks up into the light path of the flash. Canon probably thought that anyone using the 10D and high-end prosumer/pro lenses would be using an external flash. For the Digital Rebel (300D), they set the internal flash higher. Probably thinking that more point-and-shoot/medium digital camera users would be likely to buy that camera and even if buying L glass, they would be more likely to use the internal flash (since that's what they're use to). Though, I've never seen anything that says whether or not the higher position of the flash helps with the big lenses -=>Donald

What's the difference between a regular light and a speed light? Jinx

The speed light just travels faster, much to the consternation of Albert! ;-)>

Some peoples children. Hehehe. There is no difference between a flash and a speedlight. It's the name that each company gave their line of flashes. Nikon used Speedlight to designate their flashes. Canon used Speedlite. So, if you see a Speedlite then you know it was made by Canon specifically for Canon cameras. Same with Nikon and Speedlights. -=>Donald

Thanks for all your replies. Donalds response was both a comfort and a concern for me. At least it would appear that there is nothing wrong with the camera (all non-flash shots were perfect) and you are right about the size of the 24mm-70m lens. It takes a 77mm filter and obviously the flash is hitting the top of the lens barrel. I haven't been able to find any mention of this in the handbook and I am waiting for Canon technical support to get back to me today with their response. I don't expect it will be any different from Donalds but I will keep you posted. Cheers

Have just spoken to Canon TS and they confirmed what Donald had said about the flash catching the top of the lens barrel. They said it was covered on page 98 of the manual but they didn't admit that it was a faulty design. I would argue there but I now have to go out and buy a Speedlite. I'm not a happy bunny.

I can understand you being upset. Wasn't this one of the lenses they specifically recommended with this camera? Do you use flash a lot? (I do not, so I'm not trying to be funny.) The Canon flashes that meter properly with the digitals cost big bucks. (There are supposed to be very nice...) If you do not use flash very much, you would be cheaper off getting a spare lens. Try e-bay.

wow, that's horrific.

I feel Jack's pain, but this isn't anything new or something specific to the EOS 10D. That's the reason that Canon pro cameras don't have an internal flash (and I'm not talking about just the digital). When I saw the 10D had an internal flash, I realized that they had focused it more to prosumer and consumer. They then put the 300D (Digital Rebel) out which is squarely aimed at the consumer and, from the look of it, has a much higher flash placement than any other Canon EOS camera (though I don't know if it's high enough to clear the big lenses like the 24-70L). With their cameras with built-in flash, I think they made and have always made, the assumption that it was fine. Normal consumers would buy their normal consumer lenses which don't have a problem. If high-end/prosumer users would be paying $1200-4000 for L glass, they'd be using an external flash anyway. Good assumption? Bad assumption? I dunno. I've never use an internal flash on any camera (I can't imagine using a flash that close too and parallel with the viewing axis of a lens, but I dunno what that says - if anything. For the 10D, you have the following options: 1) Canon Speedlights - 550EX (high end) ~$320, 420EX (middle) ~$180, 220EX (low) ~$100. 2) Metz 54MZ series flash with an SCA 3002 series Canon adapter (high end). ~$385 3) Sigma EF-500 DG Super (middle to mid-high end) ~$190. EF-500 DG ST (middle) ~$130. 4) Any "Auto Program" flash - one that has its own sensor and uses that to base the flash exposure on - can be used with the 10D (since it doesn't talk to the camera to figure out exposure). They range from $50-$500. Be aware that the trigger voltage on the flash should be 6Vdc or lower or you risk damaging your camera (there are some old flashes that have trigger voltages in the hundreds of volts). Those prices are new. If the internal flash was all you needed, then I'd look for a used 220EX. Should be able to pick one up for under $70 and it has the functionality of the built-in flash with more versatility and I believe more power. I'm still deciding on which flash I want to get (550EX or Metz 54MZ3). In the meantime, when I know I'll need things like high-speed sync (flash sync up to 1/4000th sec) or other features that have tight integration to the camera, I'll just rent a 550EX. Otherwise, I use my faithful old Cullmann CX35 auto-program flash that I picked up for $60 back when I brought my EOS 630. -=>Donald

Donald raises some interesting points. If it's true that camera manufacturers produce their products with just two markets in mind i.e. The (semi) Pro market and the Amateur market, where does that leave me? I am not a pro, or even a miniscule semi-pro, but I am used to having professional-level equipment such as Hassleblads and Nikon F4's as well as all the associated lenses. I could afford to buy the Canon D10 and the 24-70mm zoom lenses and was really p...ed off when I found that the flash didn't do the job it was supposed to do.

So I am left with two choices. As the D10 is perfect in ever other way I either have to buy, as Donald suggested, a Canon Speedlite propably the 420EX or else buy a smaller (in size) lens such as the 50mm f1.4 where the lens barrel won't get in the way of the flash path. I think it will be the flash.

Jack: I think it has always been true that camera manufacturers have produced their cameras for specific segments. I think it may be divided a little more than those two, with some crossover room but it seems there have always been these 4 categories: Pro/Semi-Pro, Amateur, Novice and Casual. The 10D is a crossover camera that straddels the Pro/Semi-Pro and Amateur line (with, I think, more emphasis on the higher side). I know the Nikon D100 has an internal flash that sits much higher, but again I don't know if it would clear their biggest lenses either. One thing I noticed with this coming Xmas season is the "dumbing down" of photography, so to speak. For instance, the Canon Rebel G kit comes with a 35-80mm f/4-5.6 lens. However, some stores are not specifying them that way. They are being advertised as a Canon Rebel G with 2.3x zoom lens. That's insane! 2.3x what? If you didn't know the 35-80mm part, what the heck are you buying? I will say this, Jack. With the exceptional setup you have, getting an external flash is really the way to go. The light you get from external flash (especially if you get a bracket to get it off the camera) is really much better than from any internal flash (in intensity, coverage, etc). Add in the ability to swivel and elevate the head and add soft boxes, bounces, etc. and it's well worth it. -=>Donald