Another SLR Question: What's up with my shutter? PICS

[w74656]

Camera buffs:
Got this old Canon EOS 650 that I'm using to photography class, after my develping my first roll of B/W film, i noticed almost half the pictures were not exposed, completely blank. Yes, I did have my lens cap off

The blank pictures all had shutter speed of 500 or faster and I noticed there's this goo on my shutter, is this normal? Could this be slowing the shutter open/close action down enough so that it won't fully open on time? What do you think?

 

[OZEE]

Not sure what the "goo" is -- could be some old lubrication, could be some other kind of crud. Who knows? What's the camera's history? I don't know that it's normal.

Were the pix taken with flash or available light? Were they just blank or were the partially there (typically the bottom portion of the picture)? Was there any image at all on the negatives?

 

[w74656]

the camera is old, probably bought '89 or so, but otherwise in good condition. It hasn't been used much, and not at all for the last 4 years or so. Pictures that turned out were perfect, and all below a a shutter speed of 500. No flash was used at all, was used, the blanked ones were all outdoors but one. I got the negatives back, as you can see there's spaces in between and lots at the front where there should be pictures, but everything elso looks good.

 

[NogginBoink]

Will the camera take a picture with the camera back open?

If so, point the lens at a bright light, trip the shutter, and see if you see any light through the curtain.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Sounds like the shutter. I would take it to a shop and have them clean/overhaul it.