Why does my D70 use the flash even in bright sunlight?

[Photodude]

My D70 uses the flash even in bright sunlit outdoor conditions in Automatic mode?

Is this normal?

[Matt. K]

Photodude
It is normal for the flash to pop up in auto mode and add a bit of fill flash. This is something the camera handles very well. I am not sure exactly what the conditions need to be for the camera to do this...maybe when the shutter speed starts to drop due to falling light levels.

[sirhc55]

Photodude - do you have the flash up when outside in auto mode or is it popping up on its own?

Chris

[Raydar]

If you are using programme mode, it’s tying to fill flash!!!!
Another reason I don’t use any of the auto modes

Cheers
Ray

[atencati]

My D70 uses the flash even in bright sunlit outdoor conditions in Automatic mode?

Is this normal?

Yes. It is normal, to answer your question. You can turn off the flash if not wanted by holding down the flash buton and rotating the command dial until the flash sign is croosed out.

A

[Photodude]

Thanks all for the informative replies

[nodrog_reversed]

Hi,

I'll just add another comment for what it may be worth. This comes from my experience with a little camera that gets used in auto/program modes a fair bit (because it isn't a D70 - sobs over his keyboard as he ponders getting a "real" camera).

It seems that if you have a "darker" subject/area in the picture big enough to cover the metering area the camera is using then the flash may fire as even though you see the overall scene as bright enough. Of course if you're using spot metering it can be even easier to cause this effect.

So if you are in a point and shoot mode you can fool the camera by metering off a brighter area (half press) and then compose and take the shot.

Cheers,
Gordon.

[Matt. K]

Raydar
The flash will not pop up in Program mode unless you pop it up by pressing the flash button. However...it will pop up in Auto mode when the camera decides it s required.

[Raydar]

You right mate

I’ll have to play around with the setting in the A, P modes just to see what they will do.
Just as what has been happening in the other thread.

Cheers
Ray

[dooda]

I have a difficult time with the flash. It seems that every time I use it in low light situations or even for fill it blows the colors off of the face. I try dialing down the flash EV but it doesn't seem to do the job either.

One of my problems I think might be that the LCD is too bright. I'm going to dial it down a tad today I think.