My Olympus mini mu camera automatically flashes in what I would have considered sufficient light conditions - which of course uses battery unnecessarily. Any suggestions please?

Check Flash Settings:
Ensure that the flash is enabled in your camera settings. Look for a flash icon (usually a lightning bolt symbol) on the camera's display or menu.
If it's set to "off," switch it to "auto" or "on" mode.

Battery Level:
Make sure your camera's batteries are sufficiently charged. Low battery levels can affect flash performance.
If using rechargeable batteries, ensure they are fully charged.

Test Different Modes:
Try capturing photos in different modes (e.g., Auto, Program, or Manual).
Some modes may have specific flash behavior. Experiment to see if the flash works in any of them.

Check Flash Bulb:
Inspect the flash bulb (the small light source) for any damage or debris.
Clean the bulb gently with a soft cloth if needed.

Reset Camera Settings:
Sometimes settings can get stuck. Reset your camera to its default settings.
Refer to your camera's user manual for instructions on how to perform a factory reset.

Test in Different Lighting Conditions:
Try using the flash in various lighting scenarios (bright, low light, indoors, outdoors).
The flash may not activate if there's enough ambient light.

Check for Obstructions:
Ensure there are no obstructions (such as fingers or objects) blocking the flash.
Clean the flash area to remove any dirt or dust.

Update Firmware (if applicable):
Check if there are any firmware updates available for your camera model.
Visit Acer's official website for any available updates.

External Flash (Optional):
If the built-in flash still doesn't work, consider using an external flash (if compatible with your camera).
External flashes provide more power and flexibility.

Professional Service:
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it's advisable to seek professional camera repair.
Contact Acer's customer support or visit an authorized service center.

You can download a manual for the OM-1 from
http://butkus.org/chinon/olympus/olympus_om-1/olympus_om-1.htm

The OM-1MD is the same camera as the OM-1 with the added provision for taking a motor drive to advance the film automatically.

The OM-1n is the same as the OM-1MD with a redesigned film advance lever, a flash ready/sufficient flash LED in the viewfinder, and automatic X-sync regardless of the position of the FP/X switch, when it is used with a T-series flash unit mounted on Flash Shoe 4.

That's your problem

Hi, welcome to FixYa.

There are 3 flash settings for your camera. While you are taking pictures, you set the flash by using the 4-way directional pad.

Push it to the right and make sure the setting shows a down crooked arrow with a circle around it (off), or, to where is says auto. In auto mode, it should only fire if it needs the light.

Thanks for coming to FixYa, and don't forget to rate my answer.

Rob

Sounds like the flash unit is not charging up, or the charge sense circuit is defective. Could be something as simple as a loose solder connection on the PCB. No simple way of fixing it without taking the camera appart and poking around with a DMM or oscilloscope.

It sounds to me like you are not waiting for the camera to charge the flash when turning the camera on or between shots. It seems you are using 1700mAh batteries and most modern digital cameras are better off using 2500mAh batteries. Your camera was released in September 2006 so it is considered "modern". With 1700mAh batteries, your flash (warm-up) recycle time time will be rather long or the amperage may not be enough to fully charge the flash unit. I highly recommend Duracell 2500mAh rechargeable batteries.

The Shooting modes are as follows: Program Auto (Factory default setting) Used for regular photography. The camera automatically makes the settings for natural color balance. Other functions, such as the flash mode and metering, can be adjusted manually. Portrait Suitable for taking a portrait-style shot of a person. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Landscape Suitable for taking photos of landscapes and other outdoor scenes. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Night scene Suitable for shooting pictures in the evening or at night. The camera sets a slower shutter speed than is used in normal shooting. If you take a picture of a street at night in any other mode, the lack of brightness will result in a dark picture with only dots of light showing. In this mode, the true appearance of the street is captured. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. If you use the flash, you can take pictures of both the subject and the background. Self Portrait Enables you to take a picture of yourself while holding the camera. Point the lens towards yourself and the focus will be locked on you. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. The zoom is fixed in the Wide position and cannot be changed.

The Shooting modes are as follows: Program Auto (Factory default setting) Used for regular photography. The camera automatically makes the settings for natural color balance. Other functions, such as the flash mode and metering can be adjusted manually. Portrait Suitable for taking a portrait-style shot of a person. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Landscape Suitable for taking photos of landscapes and other outdoor scenes. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Night scene Suitable for shooting pictures in the evening or at night. The camera sets a slower shutter speed than is used in normal shooting. If you take a picture of a street at night in any other mode, the lack of brightness will result in a dark picture with only dots of light showing. In this mode, the true appearance of the street is captured. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. If you use the flash, you can take pictures of both the subject and the background. Self Portrait Enables you to take a picture of yourself while holding the camera. Point the lens towards yourself and the focus will be locked on you. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. The zoom is fixed in the Wide position and cannot be changed. Portrait + Landscape Portrait + Landscape mode is suitable for taking photos which include both your subject and the landscape. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions.

The Shooting modes are as follows: PROGRAM AUTO (Factory default setting) Used for regular photography. The camera automatically makes the settings for natural color balance. Other functions, such as the flash mode and metering, can be adjusted manually. Portrait Suitable for taking a portrait-style shot of a person. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Landscape Suitable for taking photos of landscapes and other outdoor scenes. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Night scene Suitable for shooting pictures in the evening or at night. The camera sets a slower shutter speed than is used in normal shooting. If you take a picture of a street at night in any other mode, the lack of brightness will result in a dark picture with only dots of light showing. In this mode, the true appearance of the street is captured. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. If you use the flash, you can take pictures of both the subject and the background. Self Portrait Enables you to take a picture of yourself while holding the camera. Point the lens towards yourself and the focus will be locked on you. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. The zoom is fixed in the Wide position and cannot be changed

The shooting modes are described as follows: PROGRAM AUTO (Factory default setting) Program Auto mode is used for regular photography. The camera automatically makes the settings for natural color balance. Other functions, such as the flash mode and metering, can be adjusted manually. Portrait Portrait mode is suitable for taking a portrait-style picture of a person. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Landscape Landscape mode is suitable for taking pictures of landscapes and other outdoor scenes. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. Night scene Night scene mode is suitable for shooting pictures in the evening or at night. The camera sets a slower shutter speed than is used in normal shooting. If you take a picture of a street at night in any other mode, the lack of brightness will result in a dark picture with only dots of light showing. In this mode, the true appearance of the street is captured. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. If you use the flash, you can take pictures of both your subject and the night background. Self-portrait Self-portrait mode enables you to take a picture of yourself while holding the camera. Point the lens towards yourself, and the focus will be locked on you. The camera automatically sets the optimal shooting conditions. The zoom is fixed in the wide position and cannot be changed. QuickTime Movie QuickTime Movie mode lets you record movies. The focus and zoom are locked. If the distance to the subject changes, the focus may be compromised.