Nikon D300 viewfinder problem

Hope someone can help me out with this problem.
Images are to dark (underexposed) when shooting with settings AP, SS or P without covering the viewfinder. When taking the same shot covering the viewfinder the exposure looks OK. In manual exposure settings everything works fine.
I did reset the camera hoping this would solve the problem but it didn't work.
I have the camera for a few months and wasn't aware of this problem until now.
If it isn't some camera setting causing the problem I will have to send it for repair.

Thanks in advance

Hi Jos,

This isn't a malfunction - any SLR will do this if you don't cover the viewfinder with either your eye or a cap (or built-in shutters like pro cameras have). Basically light is "leaking" into the system through the viewfinder and confusing your light meter. That's why the D300 came with the little cap for the viewfinder. And, it's only going to affect automated settings like Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and any program mode. In manual mode you have fixed shutter speed and aperture so you will get correct exposures (assuming you did your metering with something - likely your eye - covering the viewfinder).

By the way - the mirror flips up in Live View mode and effectively blocks any light getting in via the viewfinder - so you won't experience this phenomena with an uncovered viewfinder in Live View mode.

Cheers...

Brad

Jos I have the D300 and I havent had this problem at all even when my eye is not on the eyepiece.It couldnt be the eyepiece if it isnt doing it in all the modes????
A couple of questions
ARE YOU USING SPOT METER
DID YOU DOWNLOAD NEW FIREWARE
TRY DOING A RESET BY PRESSING THE 2 BUTTONS WITH THE GREEN MARKINGS ON THEM.

Hey Avi and Jos,

It wouldn't do it in manual mode. And, the problem will only surface when the backside (viewfinder side) of the camera isn't shaded. So...the problem will seem intermittent. Metering mode (spot vs. matrix vs. center-weighted) won't affect it. What Jos described in his original post really wasn't a malfunction - just normal SLR behaviour.

Brad

Hi Brad,

You are genius, I had this before and it raised thousands of question but I ignore it.

Thanks for both of you

Thanks Brad, you are right about it being a DSLR behavior. It never was this obvious before but this time it was because the camera was placed on a tripod for shooting indoors with the viewfinder faced to a window and with use of the timer function. When I did put the camera to my eye the problem was gone. So I feel pretty stupid but I'm glad I don't have to send it for repair. Thanks again to everyone !