On auto mode on my Nikon D5100 my flash appears to be disabled. It works in manual but not auto, where if I look at the settings ('i') flash is showing as off. As far as I was aware I couldn't disable flash in auto so I'm v. Confused and frustrated. It's now operating like the flash off auto mode. Can anyone help? Pleeaase? I'm in Madagascar and missing out on lots of amazing photo opportunities!! Thanks in advance!

Cllaire,

As a quick band aid to your problem, I have two thoughts:

1. If you have your User's Manual available, read page 38. If not, in Auto Mode, press the i button once or twice depending upon where you are. Place the cursor in the information display and toggle over to and highlight the flash mode icon. Press ok and then select your preferred mode and hit ok again. You may have had the flash off.

2. In auto mode the flash only works when the camera calls for the additional light. So, it's possible that the scene isn't dark enough to call for flash.

Good luck and hopefully someone with more experience with "Auto Mode" and flash can confirm or supplement these recommendations.

jP

UPDATE: so it appears that my camera isn't recognizing when I change between the different modes, portrait and landscape are skipped entirely when I change te dual. It thinks manual is auto etc... Seems like a software problem but any advice is still gratefully appreciated!!!

P.S. thanks for your help JP. It thinks 'auto' is 'auto flash off' which explains the odd behaviour but I can't switch the flash on in this mode. I'm sure I'll manage, there'll just be a few blurry lemurs at the end of the trip!

Have you tried a hard reset? Also, check your firmware version. The most current for the D5100 is v1.01. You can also try to re-flash the firmware if it's already the current version. Otherwise, it will need to be sent off to Nikon repair. Good luck.

--Ben

Hi Ben, is there a way I can do that without a computer? Access is more than a little limited out here!

HI Claire

Assuming that you are still wrestling with this, you can do the hard reset without a computer, but you can't update the firmware.

I agree that you should try the "two button" reset. It will reset any menu items that you have stored, and it will put your camera back to factory settings. The reset buttons are the "i or information" button and the "menu" button. Hold them both down at the same time. You will probably get a message on the display that asks if you really want to that. Answer OK or whatever allows it to proceed. After the reset, I would probably take the battery out for about 30 seconds, but don't ask me why.

Let us know if that works. If not, maybe we can suggest a way that you can get the Lemurs in focus by using P (Program Mode) and Auto-ISO by choosing ISO 100 with a maximum ISO of up to ISO 3200 with a minimum shutter speed of 1/60. That would be my preference anyway over flash if it's a possibility.

Good luck.

jP

Claire, if you want an "auto mode" but don't want to use flash, you can use Program mode (P) - and it should also adjust your ISO and exposure to get the shot, but you will to pay attention to the shutter speed in lower light to make sure you won't get blur due to camera shake during a longish exposure, especially if you are not using external camera support.

If you WANT flash in Program, just pop it up, it should fire when popped up. It should flash "HI" when it detects overexposure.

(As I understand auto mode, it will determing exposure and will use flash whenever it feels light levels are too low for handholding. Not sure why you are not getting it (the flash) to work in Auto mode.)

(When you have a chance, you might consider resetting to factory and see if that clears it up.)

In case you need the manual: http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D5100_EN.pdf

What flash mode are you using?


Anthony

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Hi Clare,

Is your camera by any chance set to "continuous" shooting mode in the Release menu? (Info screen, fourth item down on the right side, icon that looks like three overlapping windows).
Does you camera continue to take pictures for as long as you have your finger on the shutter button?

I believe that the flash is disabled when you're in this mode, because the flash can't keep up with the frame rate when you are shooting multiple images in a burst. If you want your flash to operate automatically you would set your release mode to "S" (single), where you only get one shot for each press of the shutter release button.

You mentioned that you are taking wildlife pictures, so perhaps you wanted to catch all of the action and so had it in "continuous" mode.

Just a guess...

Regards,
Fred

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