unusable flash on 4500

[mar3148]

The flash on my coolpix 4500 is broken. Is there anyway that I can disable the internal flash (completely disable it so that it will not pop up) and use my external flash while in AUTO mode.

[John_Reed]

The flash on my coolpix 4500 is broken. Is there anyway that I can disable the internal flash (completely disable it so that it will not pop up) and use my external flash while in AUTO mode.Might work. Give it a try.

[gary_hendricks]

The flash on my coolpix 4500 is broken. Is there anyway that I can disable the internal flash (completely disable it so that it will not pop up) and use my external flash while in AUTO mode.

As far as I know, I think you can do that.

[mar3148]

I do think that I need to make myself a little more clear about the problem.

When I say that the flash is broken I mean that the camera was dropped while the flash was exposed. The lens fell out and was lost, the the housing broke into a couple of pieces. Believe it or not, the flash still works. It has no lense and is facing in a weird direction but the camera still reads it as there and tries it's best to pop up and flash. I prefer the Auto mode because I am usually taking pictures of constantly moving children and don't have time to adjust. I have tried the duct tape method but my camera keeps yelling at me and telling me that I have blocked the camera from popping up. If I leave it open the flash goes off over exposing the subject because there is no lens to defuse the light.
I am getting desperate. My next move is to cut the wires to the flash. :(

[kornhauser]

My Nikon has a hot-sync flash base. When the flash is attached, it disables the pop-up flash.

If you can't afford to get it fixed and in the process of buying a hot-sync flash, cutting the flash wires doesn't sound too desperate to me. Sounds like something I'd do.

[Herman]

I do think that I need to make myself a little more clear about the problem.

When I say that the flash is broken I mean that the camera was dropped while the flash was exposed. The lens fell out and was lost, the the housing broke into a couple of pieces. Believe it or not, the flash still works. It has no lense and is facing in a weird direction but the camera still reads it as there and tries it's best to pop up and flash. I prefer the Auto mode because I am usually taking pictures of constantly moving children and don't have time to adjust. I have tried the duct tape method but my camera keeps yelling at me and telling me that I have blocked the camera from popping up. If I leave it open the flash goes off over exposing the subject because there is no lens to defuse the light.
I am getting desperate. My next move is to cut the wires to the flash. :(

mar3148 - If I understand you correctly you want to take pictures without the flash. What I am doing quite frequently (both inside and outside) is to select the SCENE MODE/MUSEUM and than take pictures. It works well outside. For indoors where you have usually less light try either to convince the subjects to stay still or try to supplement the light sources.
I myself do not like the flash light and prefer the slightly yellowish tone given by incandescent lighting.