FLASH MODES
FLASH RANGE - AUTO-RECORDING MODE
To set the flash mode, simply press the flash mode button (1) on the back of the camera until the desired mode is displayed.
Autoflash - the flash fires automatically in low-light and backlit conditions.
Fill-flash- the flash fires with each exposure regardless of the amount of ambient light. Fill-flash can be used to reduce harsh shadows caused by strong direct light or sunshine.
The camera will automatically control the flash output. For well-exposed images, the subject must be within the flash range. Because of the optical system, the flash range is not the same at the lens’ wide-angle position as it is at the telephoto position.
Wide-angle position | 0.5m | ~ 3.5m | (1.6 ft. ~ 11.5 ft.) |
Telephoto position | 0.9m | ~ 3.0m | (3.0 ft. ~ 9.8 ft.) |
At the wide-angle lens position, when using the flash with subjects closer than 1m (3ft.), vignetting can occur. A slight shadow or shading may be apparent at the bottom of a horizontal image.
FLASH SIGNALS
The orange flash lamp next to the viewfinder indicates the status of the flash. When the lamp glows steadily, the flash is charged and ready to fire. When the lamps blinks quickly, the flash is charging and the shutter will not release. The flash lamp is also used as a camera-shake warning, see below.
Flash cancel - the flash will not fire. Use flash cancel when flash photography is prohibited, natural light is desired to illuminate the subject, or the subject is beyond the flash range. The camera-shake warning may appear when flash cancel is selected (p. 31).
Red-eye reduction - the flash fires twice before the main flash burst to reduce red-eye; an effect caused by light reflected from the retina. Use in low-light conditions when taking photographs of people or animals. The pre- flashes contract the pupils of the subject’s eyes.
Autoflash
Fill-flash
Flash cancel
Autoflash with red-eye reduction
Fill-flash with red-eye reduction
CAMERA-SHAKE WARNING
If the shutter speed falls below the point where the camera can be safely hand held, the camera-shake warning will appear on the LCD monitor and the orange focus lamp will blink slowly. Camera shake is slight blurring caused by subtle hand motion and is more pronounced at the telephoto setting of the lens than at the wide-angle setting. Although the warning appears, the shutter can still be released. If the warning appears, the following steps can be taken:
•Place the camera on a tripod.
•Use the built-in flash.
•Zoom the lens towards the wide-angle position until the warning disappears.
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