Flash doesn't work right

Hi,

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, sometimes with lines, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open). To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see this link for further info and a simple fix that may help.

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, sometimes with lines, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open). To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see this link for further info and a simple fix that may help.

1. You could try pressing the reset button. 2. You could press the "delete" button to change the flash mode when you first turn the camera on. 3.=Please check your flash setting to make sure that you don’t have the camera on forced flash mode (indicated by the lightning bolt with the plus sign in the upper right corner).
Using this setting in strong lighting conditions would result in a picture with too much
light.

4. If all else fails, you can call 1-800-521-2010

Set the ISO to a lower number and make sure your "exposure compensation" is at "0" or lower if you prefer.

Double-check your flash settings. You mentioned the camera is in Auto mode, but the flash has separate settings from the camera's shooting mode. With the camera in shooting mode AUTO check the Flash settings (Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill-In, Off) It may be set to 'fill' causing your photos to be too bright.

Also, depending on how close you are to your subject the flash may not be needed. Using the flash when too close to your subject (less then 3 ft.) will cause bright/white photos. Turn the flash OFF if you are taking macro or photos closer then 3ft.

If neither of these fix your problem, turn the flash mode OFF, and camera shooting mode to AUTO and in a naturally well lit area, take a photo, if the photo is still too bright, you may have something mechanically wrong with your camera.

You need to change the flash mode. It sounds like you may have "Flash On" (which seems to be a flash-fill mode) when what you need is "Auto Flash". To change the flash mode, press the flash button, then use the right/left arrows to highlight the right option, then menu/OK to select and save the option. Let me know if you need a link to the user manual for more details.

Make sure that the exposure compensation is at zero. If that does not work, make sure that the flash is on automatic brightness. Check the manual if you do not know how to do either one of these.

u might want to try and put a coffee filter over your flash when you take pictures to make the flash less bright. it sounds really silly but it actually works.

learning to use light metering correctly can have its challenge.
the manual will guide you on how to set up to read light from the subject. spot metering a dark area will cause general overexposure, or a washed out look. spot metering a bright area will cause a dark image. if you are on spot meter and shoot two people standing together against a bright lit background, your meter will see between them if they are centered, and read all that bright background, setting the camera to a less sensitive combination of aperture / shutter speed, resulting in a dark image. use field averaging meter setting and be sure you are metering the subject and not the background. try shooting a wall that is fairly clear of other colors and uniform it light hitting it, you should have a correctly exposed image. since it works in other modes (at least 1, anyway) then it is unlikely you have an exposure compensation issue. that is the only other non defect issue that would cause your problem.
once you confirm that you have these settings correct and still get a dark image, its time to have it serviced.
good luck
mark