DSC - H3 (Flash)

[JamieD]

I bought this camera (Sony DSC - H3) about a month ago. This is my first experience with a digital camera. The camera is great so far, I'm just having problems with the flash. I CAN NOT GET THE FLASH TO WORK! The flash worked when we first got the camera, but now we can't get it to turn on. We probably played with some settings that won't allow it back on. I can get it to show on the screen that it is turned on (flash always on), but it will not flash when I try to take a picture. I have been through the manual (it's not very detailed) but still can't get the flash to work. Any help anyone could give me would be great.

Also, I guess I do have one other problem. It seems that pictues will be blurry if there is the slightest movement. This is also very annoying to say the least. The only way I can take a picture when there is the slightest amount of movement (and I mean VERY SLIGHT movement) is to have the camera set to the sports mode. When the camera is in sports mode, I then don't have enough light and can't see the picture very good. My son wrestles, and even when we are in the gym, the sports mode takes VERY dark pictures. Again, I have been through the manual, but it may as well be written in a foreign language.

If anyone has suggestions for me, I would greatly appreciate it. I could also send/post a few pictures for examples if that would make it easier to see what my problems are.

Thanks

[Sintares]

To avoid blurr due to subject movement you need a faster shutter speed, which normally means you need more light.

Since gyms are poorly lit ( for a camera ) since you can't increase the lighting you need to either open the lens the widest it can go (lower f-stop number, ie F3.5 is wider (more light gets in) than F4.4 etc) or increase the ISO, whichs amps the signal from the sensor but adds noise to the picture(speckles and random blobs) , just like turning up a weak radio signal, the music gets louder but so does the hiss and static.

As you zoom in the lens lets in less light, ie at wide angle its F3.5 and drops to F4.4 as you zoom, so thats another thing to consider.

You will need to see how much noise you can stand in a picture, since the noise increases rapidly as the ISO increases, the larger you want to print the more noticable it can be.

You can buy software to "smooth" out the noise, Noise Ninja, Noiseware etc but obviously that in itself will smooth out some details as well.

[PH81]

I bought this camera (Sony DSC - H3) about a month ago. This is my first experience with a digital camera. The camera is great so far, I'm just having problems with the flash. I CAN NOT GET THE FLASH TO WORK! The flash worked when we first got the camera, but now we can't get it to turn on. We probably played with some settings that won't allow it back on. I can get it to show on the screen that it is turned on (flash always on), but it will not flash when I try to take a picture. I have been through the manual (it's not very detailed) but still can't get the flash to work. Any help anyone could give me would be great.

Not sure if this is the reason... I just came across it, and haven't really looked into it yet: On page 30 of the handbook, there's a table of what functions are available depending on which scene selection you are using. The flash is one of these functions. Maybe you're using one where the flash isn't available.

[PH81]

Oh! Now that I have actually LOOKED at my camera (I've only just got it recently too, and have only used it the one occasion really - no playing with it in spare time), I found I couldn't change flash setting either. Just wouldn't let me... couldn't even get it to pop up.

SO - what I did was just reset the settings... in the main settings there's an "Initialize" function - basically resetting everything to the original, factory settings. It's all working properly again now. I have no idea what I did to it to make it not work to start with...

[PH81]

LOL - another discovery: you can't change the flash settings on Burst mode... so that's probably all it is!

[JamieD]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've tried the initialize thing. Camera still won't produce a flash, it doesn't pop up. I have set the camera flash to "always on". It is not in burst mode either. When I try to take a picture, I hold the button halfway down to focus. I get the warning symbol on the screen "vibrations warning indicator" wich, according to the manual, "camera shake may occur due to insufficient light. Use the flash, turn on the anit-blur function, or mount the camera on a tripod to secure the camera."

I have set the flash to both "always on" and "auto", doesn't work.
I have set the anti-blur function.
I have placed the camera on the counter so it won't move.

I have had enough of this camera at this point. Any other ideas what I might not be looking at?

[bascom]

Where did you buy the camera? Can you ask the store for help? Or call Sony support?

[ado]

I have a Sony DSC H3 as well.

Flash worked perfectly for about one month. After that would not pop up automatically.

Spoke with Sony and they suggested I send it of under warranty to repair centre...its in the mail this weekend.

ado

[quickmike]

I have the sony dsc h3 and have had the same problem.

My guess is that you are using it in cold weather? I had a problem with my flash not popping up when it was supposed to and I figured out that the green greasy stuff in the flash door latch gets thick really easy in cold weather and doesnt allow it to release the latch when it should. As soon as I warmed up the camera inside the house, it was fine.

Maybe not the same reason yours is doing that, but I figured I would throw it out there.

[irwell]

I have the sony dsc h3 and have had the same problem.

My guess is that you are using it in cold weather? I had a problem with my flash not popping up when it was supposed to and I figured out that the green greasy stuff in the flash door latch gets thick really easy in cold weather and doesnt allow it to release the latch when it should. As soon as I warmed up the camera inside the house, it was fine.

Maybe not the same reason yours is doing that, but I figured I would throw it out there.

I have the H3, no problems,, so far, with the flash.
But, it does occur to me that a natural way to hold
this camera when shooting is for the left hand first fingers to
rest on the flash housing, I find that it takes a conscious effort to
NOT wrap the fingers around the top.

[JamieD]

I have a Sony DSC H3 as well.

Flash worked perfectly for about one month. After that would not pop up automatically.

Spoke with Sony and they suggested I send it of under warranty to repair centre...its in the mail this weekend.

ado

I bought mine at best buy. They have had it at their service shop for 2 weeks and then was sent to Sony. Sony has had it for almost 2 weeks now. We are supposed to hear something shortly. The camera was awsome for the first month or so. Then the flash problem. Then best buy... Will never buy from that place again.

Almost a month later, sounds like we might get a different camera.

[speaklightly]

Jamie-

Please keep us all up to date on your Sony H-3 built-in flash problems, I have a 2 week old Sony H-3 camera and I am beginning to worry a whole lot.

Sarah Joyce

[JamieD]

I should know something this week. I don't know if I would worry or not, I loved the camera. I don't know if this is a real comon problem or not.

[JamieD]

Well, Sony replaced our camera. The geeks at best buy said that Sony will replace the camera since they didn't have the parts to fix it. The whole process was long and goofy. In the end, we got the same exact camera again. For the price, nothing was even close to this camera. I'm hoping we just had a bad apple the first time. I really do like this camera so far.

[speaklightly]

Jamie-
It may indeed be a problem that was found during the early production run. I have had my H-3 for 3 months now and it has been flawless! No, flash problems and just great images. I sincerely believe that the H-3 is a really great family camera. I certainly have enjoyed the Sony H-3 personally a whole lot.

Sarah Joyce

[JamieD]

Jamie-
It may indeed be a problem that was found during the early production run. I have had my H-3 for 3 months now and it has been flawless! No, flash problems and just great images. I sincerely believe that the H-3 is a really great family camera. I certainly have enjoyed the Sony H-3 personally a whole lot.

Sarah Joyce

I am hoping so. I've had the new one now for about 600 photo's now (mostly kids sports and backyard fun) and so far I am not having any problems.

[speaklightly]

Jamie-

I am very happy to know that your flash problem seems to be resolved. Thank you very much for keeping us posted on this flash problem.

Sarah Joyce

[gsrunyan]

I have an H-5, similar to the H-3. There is an adjustment in the menu that sets the flash strength (mine is set at -0.3 stops so as to no blow out faces). Check to see that you have not set that at -3 stops or more. Such a setting will probably never let the flash fire.

[speaklightly]

Yes, you are very correct. The H-5 had a rather powerful flash. However, the Sony H-3 has an entirely different menu structure and it does not have the Flash compensation feature.

Sarah Joyce

[lmjp8]

Hi There,

I have the same issue what Jamie had.

I have Cybershot Sony DSC - H3/B and almost 10 months and for the last 2 months I have this problem.

I set the flash auto and always on, but still the flash is not popping out.

I spoke with the Sony technical support guy and try to reset the setting, still it did not work. Now I will have to sent the camera to their service station and wait for their reply. Not sure how long it will take. Jamie any clue?

Before sending it, I would like to see if there are any ways to correct this issue. Any help is highly appreciated.

Regards,
Jay

[JamieD]

When I sent mine in it took about a month or so untill I finally got the word that they would replace mine. I had to deal with Best Buy though. I think once it finally got sent to sony, they replaced it fairly quickly. I got some bogus answer (in my opinion) that they (Sony) didn't have the parts to fix the camera. ??? I still don't know what happend for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if BestBuy didn't just sit on it and couldn't fix it themselves. In the end, I got the camera replaced and have not had any problems with it at all. It's a great camera in my opinion.