How do I force the flash to go off in manual mode? Help!!!

[WayneF]

I never use auto, I've been doing all of this in manual mode.



This just isn't true with my D5100. When my flash is open in manual mode it doesn't always fire. It will be firing fine and then when I changed my perspective slightly it will stop firing completely (even when it's open). I don't know if my camera is bugged or what. I've searched all over the internet and posted on several forums and no one seems to have an answer. I've never had this problem indoors, only outdoors. It's refusing to fire in certain conditions and I've found no way to override this no matter what I try.

OK, sorry then, I will back out. I do not know about that situation. I don't have a D5100, but all my Nikon cameras work as I stated (internal flash fires if door is open).

If you are firing again too quickly, the internal flash will NOT fire if it has not recycled Ready. The Ready LED has to be ON to fire. But if you are waiting 2 or 3 seconds for the Ready LED to be On, my opinion is that it will fire if the internal door is open.

Sorry if this is no help.

 

[WayneF]

D5100 manual (titled D5100 Reference Manual, available from Nikon on line) says on Page 50 that it works exactly as I stated, and as all other models state.

In Auto mode, or any scenic mode, it fires automatically, as it desires (as required, it says).

In A, S, P, M mode, it fires if you open it, but never opens automatically. Says Raise the flash, and it will fire whenever a picture is taken.

 

[algmiyazaki]

My camera must be defective then. I'm not sure if I should bother getting this looked at. It's almost as if the software isn't detecting that the camera is in manual mode and it's still treating the flash as if it's in auto.

 

[WayneF]

My camera must be defective then. I'm not sure if I should bother getting this looked at. It's almost as if the software isn't detecting that the camera is in manual mode and it's still treating the flash as if it's in auto.

It does not sound right. There is a switch to indicate when the door is open, and these switches have been known to give a little trouble. If it thinks the door is shut, it won't fire.

If in warranty, I'd investigate having it checked for repair.

But you need a better hot shoe flash anyway, for bounce, etc, and there are options less expensive than an out of warranty repair.
Any hot shoe flash will always fire if present and enabled (turned on). Then the internal flash is "don't care" for almost all situations.

 

[algmiyazaki]

I'm pretty sure it's still under warranty but I will check. I've been considering getting a hot shoe flash so I might look into this (maybe with a diffuser for macro).

Thanks for your help!

 

[Eyelight]

This won't fix it but may help show if there is a problem.

With camera in manual mode, set the shutter speed to 1/400. Open the flash and the shutter speed should drop to 1/200. If it does not drop, could indicate the camera is not sensing the flash is open.

If while shooting, it does not flash, immediately check the shutter speed. If the camera loses the signal that the flash is open, it will revert back to the manual speed set before the flash was opened.

If by chance you catch the shutter speed changing between 1/200 and 1/400 with the flash open, that would certainly indicate a problem.

 

[algmiyazaki]

Hmmm that is clever. I will give it a try this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Eyelight]

Few other things to keep an eye on are the flash mode indicator, the flash ready indicator and the warning indicator to see that they are all showing the right indication.

 

[aroy]

On further thought, after reading your posts, your flash is behaving erratically. If you can reproduce it repeatedly, then, I think that the camera needs to be sent for checking/repairs.

Unless the point of focus is out of range - too near or too far, the flash always fires in manual mode.

 

[WayneF]

Unless the point of focus is out of range - too near or too far, the flash always fires in manual mode.

It is not about focus point. In camera Manual mode, if the popup door is open, the flash will fire. If in camera Auto mode, it will meter the ambient to determine need for flash.

 

[Eyelight]

Furthering algmiyazaki's question, how do you force the flash to fire in non-macro photography? There are times when I have a shot in shade with bright light behind and so would very much like to force the flash to fire, but it won't. I've never been able to figure this out. Thank you.

Curious @Sandpatch , if your experience with your 5100 is similar to what @algmiyazaki describes, or if when yours does not flash, if covering the lens with hand makes is fire??

 

[Sandpatch]

Curious @Sandpatch , if your experience with your 5100 is similar to what @algmiyazaki describes, or if when yours does not flash, if covering the lens with hand makes is fire??

I'll need to try and work this again and see.

 

[Sandpatch]

I've messed around with this just a bit and it appears that if I switch to P, S or A Mode and raise the flash, it will fire. If I lower the flash on the same shot, it will not pop up and fire. This all assumes that the light is such that the flash could be used. But, I've not done exhaustive testing on this.

 

[WayneF]

I've messed around with this just a bit and it appears that if I switch to P, S or A Mode and raise the flash, it will fire. If I lower the flash on the same shot, it will not pop up and fire. This all assumes that the light is such that the flash could be used. But, I've not done exhaustive testing on this.

In camera A, S, P, or M modes, if the internal flash door is open, it will fire. The ambient light does not matter, or rather, TTL flash mode will meter the flash to match it, but it will fire if open. So, you open the flash when you want it to fire. It will NOT pop open automatically. Maybe you want fill flash in bright sun, so just open the flash door, and use camera mode A, S, P, or M, and it will fire (I would suggest camera P mode in bright sun).

If using a hot shoe flash, if you turn it on, it will fire. Don't turn it on if you don't want it to fire.

In contrast, in camera Auto mode, or most of the Scene modes, the internal flash is instead automatic, and if deemed necessary by the light, then it will pop open and fire. But it is automation instead of choice. There are a few Scene modes where the internal flash won't fire, see the manual.

 

[aroy]

I d3300, at least, there is a mode "Auto" and "No Flash". In the first mode the flash will pop up automatically when needed, and in the second it will not fire.

 

[Sandpatch]

In camera A, S, P, or M modes, if the internal flash door is open, it will fire. ....

Yep, I messed around some more this afternoon after work and you are correct. This is so handy and yet somehow I never understood how to work this in the owner's manual. As an example, I wanted to take a picture of a component in my truck's engine bay. My D5100 didn't think a flash was needed, but I disagreed. I set it to P Mode, raised the flash and got an excellently lit photo.

 

[WayneF]

The Nikon manuals become pretty clear, AFTER you figure out how it works.

There are several icons for flash modes, with no meaning to me.

Using the Built-in Flash: (Auto and Scene Modes)
1 Choose a flash mode.
2 Take pictures.
The flash will pop up as required when the
shutter-release button is pressed halfway, and
fire when a photograph is taken. If the flash does
not pop up automatically, DO NOT attempt to raise it
by hand. Failure to observe this precaution could
damage the flash.


❚❚ Using the Built-in Flash: P, S, A, M, and 0 Modes
1 Raise the flash.
Press the button to raise the flash.
2 Choose a flash mode (P, S, A, and M modes only)
3 Take pictures.
The flash will fire whenever a picture is taken.

That is very clear, if we just realized what they were trying to tell us.

 

[algmiyazaki]

Hi all,

OP here. I was never able to resolve the issue and discovered that my warranty expired, so I purchased a cheap horseshoe flash that was on sale ($50) off Amazon and I am very happy with it for what I use it for (macro).

My best guess is that my camera has a defect in which the built-in flash is not detecting that it's in manual mode, thus still acting like it's in automatic (only firing when it wants) even though it isn't.