D3400: wish to disable the flash for all modes

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MoreCowbell

New member
With my Nikon D3400, I’d like to disable the flash while choosing any of the modes on the Mode dial. The only things I have discovered that are possible are:


  1. On the Mode dial, the flash can be permanently disabled by selecting the Flash Mode. But this is only for this mode – it doesn’t apply to any others.
  2. If I select (for example) Portrait mode, I can press the ‘i’ button and within that menu turn off the flash. But this setting only holds for that photograph at that time. If I then turn off the camera and then turn it back on, the setting is lost (i.e., the flash mode reverts to Auto).

Ugggh !! I guess I’m, asking for too much. I’m frankly surprised that this camera apparently has no capability to, at the operator’s discretion, disable the flash for any mode. And unfortunately, I have seen nothing in the User’s Manual (136pp) that addresses this, and have found nothing online.
 
N

nickt

Senior Member
Stick around and ask questions and we can help you get out of those automatic scene modes. I don't think your flash will pop up in S,A,M or P modes. P is a nice nearly full automatic mode that won't use flash unless you pop it up. It can also be easily tweaked for the situation. Then you can move on to S or A mode as you learn.
 
Fred Kingston_RIP

Fred Kingston_RIP

Senior Member
You need to explore the manual with regard to Scene settings. Several (Landscape is one) turn the flash OFF... I'm not trying to minimize the value of the D3400 but it is considered an entry level camera. As such, the expectation is that the user is NOT interested in the complexities of photography and Nikon provides the automatic scene features. The camera is doing what the majority of its buyers want when using the automatic modes. The camera does allow you to turn OFF and control the flash in other P,S,A, and M modes...

Maybe it's time for you to consider expanding your photography skills and step away from those automatic Scene modes?
 
M

MoreCowbell

New member
This is in response to all others above, which I appreciate. I called Nikon Tech Support and got a pretty simple answer:

Because the D3400 does have the Save Feature built in, changes to the flash setting within the Auto mode or any of the Scene modes (Portrait, Child, Close-up, Night portrait) are temporary. (Landscape and Sports are flash off only.) They apply to the pictures taken before the camera is shut off. Once the camera is shut off, the settings are lost and mode reverts to Auto.

In the P-S-A-M modes, the default is for the flash to be disabled. Any changes to these via the ‘i’ menu are retained even after the camera is shut off.
The “No Flash” mode
clip_image002.jpg
is essentially the Auto mode with flash disabled.
 
B

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

As others have said, if you really want control of your photos, you really need to dump the scene modes.
 
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