Red Light beam question - DSC-W5

[JMRSWR]

I just got the camera running and was taking pictures of my wife and she commented on the HUGE amount of red light coming from the camera while taking her photo. After checking it out there does seem to be quite a bit while the camera focuses (ect.) before a shot......enough to light of a dim room (kind of reminds me of The Terminator).

What is this light for and how / what can I adjust on camera?

Thanks to all who can provide some insight. :)

[David Metsky]

That is the auto-focus assist lamp. It illuminates the subject so that the camera can focus on it better, and it's a very good thing. If it's really annoying to you or your subject you can turn it off via the camera menus. But it will mean that it takes longer for the camera to focus or the camera won't be able to focus correctly.

I don't think there's anyway to adjust the intencity of the auto-focus lamp on this camera, but I'm not that familiar with it. It may be possible.

-dave-