Shadow at Bottom of Photo

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I have a 18-105mm lens attached to my 5100. I do not have an external flash and use the built-in pop-up flash. When I am zoomed all the way out, I get a shadow at the base of my photos from the lens. Do I have a problem or is an external flash required for any lens larger than the stock 18-55mm?

Can you perhaps post an example pic? I am not sure i understand when you say, "i get a shadow at the base of my photos from the lens". Your lens is casting a shadow? Anyhow, please post a pic in order for us to see what is going on. Thanks so much

Thanks. Is this "shadow" on every picture, no matter what kind of light you are in? Also, does it only occur when fully zoomed out?

Take off the lens hood and do not use too wide angle on your lens. Or buy and external flash that sits higher above the lens.
What you see is the shadow of the lens that got in the way of the flash.

The shadow used to be larger when I used the lens hood. I was always under the impression that I could use any lens with these cameras and did not need to buy an external flash. Is this incorrect? Is this camera and built in flash only good with an 18-55mm lens?

Horns82 said:

The shadow used to be larger when I used the lens hood. I was always under the impression that I could use any lens with these cameras and did not need to buy an external flash. Is this incorrect? Is this camera and built in flash only good with an 18-55mm lens?

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So you are not using the lens hood, but still getting the shadow??

AC016 said:

So you are not using the lens hood, but still getting the shadow??

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Correct

Horns82 said:

Correct

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I suggest you follow what Marcel said, get an external flash. Here is an article talking about what you are experiencing: Lens Shadows

Perhaps try and demo some flashes in your local store to see if the issue will go away with an external flash - different models will give different results of course.

OK...Horns82...think about this for a moment. You're using a zoom lens, right? That means when it's all the way out, the lens body is longer than it is when it's all the way in. So this tells me you want to take a picture of something that's far away from you. OK, now...that little built in flash is good for about 10 feet at most. Pretty useless using that flash with a zoom lens, yes? You want an external flash mounted in the hot shoe for anything over 10-12 ft. I would recommend the SB700 Nikon flash. It can even be used off camera. Hope this helps explain the shadow in your pictures.

You'll get that shadow with most zoom lenses beyond a certain length when they zoom out if you use the built in flash - only way to avoid it without buying an external flash, is get closer to your subject and pull your zoom in.

However that's not always possible, so an external flash will be needed - the SB700 is the 'future proof' one to aim for, but if you can't afford it, head the 'starter' SB400 - nifty little lens and you can use the bounce feature to throw light a bit better on your subject.