Built-In Flash Trying to Overtake Speedlite..

W

watsee

New member
Hi all,

Total newbie to photography as a whole (starting a night course in a few weeks). Currently using a Nikon D3200 with a kit lens and external flashgun, full spec on my profile.

I was out last night trying to take photos in low/no light. Essentially I was trying to take photos of a local landmark from a slight distance (I'd say 80m or so), from a location which was pitch black - however the landmark was illuminated. My D3200 was complaining in each mode that the subject was too dark and even when attaching my speedlite (which I have tested indoors and works perfectly) the built in flash was trying to open. It was as though the camera wasn't picking up my speedlite was attached.

I removed and reattached the Speedlite numerous times, it was securely attached. I turned the flash off in the camera settings & even put fresh batteries into the Speedlite - all to no avail. The built in flash was not powerful enough to capture the subject correctly.

Any suggestions? Is there a setting to override the built in flash or is this simply down to the method in which I was trying to take the shot? Please excuse any ignorance or complete misunderstanding as I have said, I am completely new to this world.

Thanks
 
S

Skwaz

Senior Member
Hi wastsee , are you in Auto or any of the scene modes because in these the flash will try to fire
You need to use P,A,S, or Manual hope this helps
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum,flash is not something i use but what does spring to mind is are you using a fully compatible flash unit,also 80mt sounds a bit optimistic but as i say not my area.
 
W

watsee

New member
Unfortunately, I have not been using Auto or scene modes. I have usually been living in S at the moment. However in a fit of frustration I believe I tried every mode when trying to get the speedlite to function - everytime the built in flash tried popping up.

Is this simply a case of the lighting being too poor & being too far away from the subject? I briefly got the Speedlite working when I was up close to more well-lit subjects, so personally am thinking perhaps this is the issue. Although I'm purely making assumptions.
 
S

skater

New member
Which flash are you using? A 'dumb' flash (as I think of it, that's probably not the right term) won't be detected by the camera, so it'll think you want the built-in flash. You have to use a mode that disables the automatic built-in flash and set the shutter speed and aperture to account for the flash. I would've thought S mode would do that.
 
R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
What flash make/model are you trying to use? This flash is direct mounted the the camera's hot shoe, correct?


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Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
RocketCowboy said:
What flash make/model are you trying to use?
Click to expand...
This, I think, is the $64,000 question...

If you're shooting in P, S, A, or M with a hot-shoe mounted flash and the on-board pop-up flash still tries to deploy, that's a clear indicator the camera body and hot-shoe mounted flash are not communicating. If the camera body and flash are not communicating my first guess would be the flash is not compatible, assuming it's in proper working order. Which brings us to Charlie's question about what flash unit in particular you're using.
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