These are not random dark images. This is very repeatable. When I use LV, the images are not dark, at least not in Auto mode. When I leave LV off and shoot through the view finder, they are always dark. If I had to guess, I'd say the delay in focusing with LV is 200-500ms...total WAG. I'm sure the delay is shorter than it seems, but it's noticeable.

Over the past year or two, I was getting dark images, but couldn't figure out the cause. Seemed random. Figured out it was the Live View. Using the view finder/objective, only, allows much faster shooting. I'm a neophyte with photography, so forgive the following non-technical explanation. Without LV, there is only a short auto focus upon halfway depressing the capture button, followed by the shutter actuation upon fully depressing the button. With LV on, there is are all sorts of adjustments and delays at halfway depressing the button (before the shutter clicks). However, the pics look fine (not great though) with LV. I updated the firmware and did a full reset. This did not resolve the problem. It happens with either lens and with a fully charged battery. Shooting in Auto mode.