How come a lot of flashes appear my dslr whenever I take a picture of something using the flash?

Question

I'm carrying an Olympus E-410 camera. I somehow misplaced the manual of it. Now my problem is how come whenever I use its built in flash a lot of flash appears, it seems like it focusing the object. Can't it flash like just once? Too many flashes is somehow hassle and its a waste of time. Can anyone help me with this problem(photographers out there perhaps or anyone who knows something about SLRs and Olympus)? A quick answer would be very much appreciated! thank you!

Answer 1

There are four things that are done by flash:

1. Main flash - that's when your shutter is open. This is the whole purpose, can't get away from that.

2. Pre-flash - almost as imminent as the main flash. Camera uses a single short flash just before photographing to measure how much light comes back so that it knows how to fire main flash. You can get rid of that by setting the flash on full manual, but then it's your responsibility to measure the light using flash meter or trial and error and setting it to right intensity. Not very practical except in studio environment.

3. Red eye reduction. Flash makes a few bursts before firing to get subjects pupils in their eyes to contract in response to light. That will reduce the chance of subjects having red eyes. It can be turned off in menu. Look for red eye reduction.

4. Focus assistance - flash is used to illuminate the subject while camera is focusing so that it gets a better and faster focus lock. It should also be possible to turn it off in the menus. Look for focus assistance or similar. Some cameras have a dedicated, less intensive light for that, but if your Olympus does not, it may use a flash for it.

So all in all - you can probably reduce it to two flashes. pre-flash and immediately following main flash.

Good luck,

LEM.