OK, it's pretty old now, but I've never had any problems with it until this year when I took it to the Alps. About a fifth of the photos came back with a dark shadow over them. Anyone have any ideas what can have caused this please? I thought perhaps the battery was affected by the cold, but have just shot another roll of film and got the same results. Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

OK, it's pretty old now, but I've never had any problems with it until this year when I took it to the Alps. About a fifth of the photos came back with a dark shadow over them. Anyone have any ideas what can have caused this please? I thought perhaps the battery was affected by the cold, but have just shot another roll of film and got the same results. Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

It seems that your camera suffers from "sticky mirror". The mirror will not go completely up when you expose. I have used a Pentax K2 for several years, and in recent years, the same thing happened to that machine. Did the viewfinder go completely dark after exposing? My advice is to either have it repaired, or look for a new camera. You may be lucky to find a used camera that will suit your lenses, which I was, having bought a Pentax K1000. Since I am not familiar with the Canon system, I am unable to recommend any particular model that will suit your lenses, but, if repairing the camera will set you back too much, keep your eyes open for a new one. Good luck!

Seems your camera suffers from being a canon. They work good but seem to fall apart, get dirty, dusty, have eyecups fall off. Not to mention doors break, sticky mirrors, controls that stop controlling. But thats ok it's a canon and someone will jump right in to tell you how great it is.

Thanks Bjoernowitsch - I will probably look out for a secondhand body. Just wanted to know what the problem was, so thank you for that.
I have to say in defence to Arrowhead that I've had my Canon for nearly 15 years, have used it loads, and this is the first time I've ever had a problem. I've been really pleased with it and will happily get another!

It seems that your camera suffers from "sticky mirror". The mirror will not go completely up when you expose. I have used a Pentax K2 for several years, and in recent years, the same thing happened to that machine. Did the viewfinder go completely dark after exposing? My advice is to either have it repaired, or look for a new camera. You may be lucky to find a used camera that will suit your lenses, which I was, having bought a Pentax K1000. Since I am not familiar with the Canon system, I am unable to recommend any particular model that will suit your lenses, but, if repairing the camera will set you back too much, keep your eyes open for a new one. Good luck!
I don't think this is the mirror. I would say it's the shutter. Do you hear a delayed slap when you shoot? Are you using a flash? Look at you shutter curtains. Do the glide or rub?

In the end with a camera this old and inexpensive I would suggest moving up to the Elan series rather than having it repaired. But sometimes when you have one you just love it doesn't matter the cost. I know.

Well..... funny you should say that. Seems out of the 25,000 plus cameras I sent out for repairs...... canon's were a very small percentage and nikon was only a bit more :) Need I mention the M word .

In your profile you say "professional" .... are you sure about that? The reply surely wasn't and that's what we have to judge your "professionalism" on .

I don't think this is the mirror. I would say it's the shutter. Do you hear a delayed slap when you shoot? Are you using a flash? Look at you shutter curtains. Do the glide or rub?

In the end with a camera this old and inexpensive I would suggest moving up to the Elan series rather than having it repaired. But sometimes when you have one you just love it doesn't matter the cost. I know.

No, what makes me put the blame on the mirror is the blur between the upper black section of the uploaded image and the lower, actual image. The shutter is closer to the film, so there would have had a sharper edge between the black area and the rest of the image, if that had not been working properly.