D5500 pop up flash question

Hi. I'm new to this forum but have found the various threads very helpful. I have a query 're the pop up flash on my d5500 and would appreciate some help. When in Auto mode, the flash pops up every time I press the exposure button. It only flashes when required so could be said to be working properly. However, I find it annoying to have to keep pushing it back down again. Is this normal behaviour I will have to live with or, if not, any ideas on how to stop it happening. I've been through the various menus and can't find anything which might be the cause.

Welcome to the site!

Try auto mode with flash off. This mode is selected by choosing the the circled lightning bolt with the line through it on the mode dial on the top of the camera.


PS This will have the opposite effect even when need it will not pop up.

Thanks, Needa. Yes, I should have said that if I use auto mode with flash off it doesn't pop up.I should also say that when I use Aperture priority mode it doesn't pop up either. But, I'm still not sure if it's meant to behave as described in my original post

Yes it is working properly in auto mode.

Thank you Bikerbrent. I guess I'll have to live with it - or get more practice using the other modes!

Take a look at P mode. It is a nicer auto mode and it won't automatically pop the flash up every time. You also will get some flexibility to jog the shutter/aperture combination one way or the other. Take pictures, have fun. Start identifying things you would like to improve in your pictures like something came out blurry or too light or too dark. When you start to recognize these situations, its time to move away from Auto and P mode. Read up on exposure basics, exposure triangle, etc. Learning how shutter, aperture and iso all work together will help you understand how to use the less automatic modes.

Thanks Nickt. I am enjoying the learning process and have started experimenting with changing different settings. The tip about P mode is appreciated as I was never entirely sure what that was.

I don't know how clear the user manual is on P, but the quick story is that P is automatic but no flash unless you pop it up. Turning your command wheel in P mode one way or another keeps the automatic exposure the same but shifts the shutter and aperture to different values that will give the same total exposure. You will see a little *P somewhere in the viewfinder. The * shows that you shifted the values. If that is not entirely clear why you might want to do that, here are two newbie links that are very helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T94sdiNjc

Camera Exposure: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed

Thanks Nickt that's very helpful.