I have a Canon 199A flash unit. Upon firing, a green light appears to indicate the proper exposure was calculated by the camera's computer. However, the flash stop charging for the next flash. I have to turn the flash off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on to recharge.

Is this a mechanical problem with the flash or is it normal? In a related question, why doesn't the green light lights up everytime I fire the flash, in auto mode with the f-stop indicated in the view-finder?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Many thanx ahead. Deco

-- Deco (deco@netzero.net), August 21, 1999

Answers

Deco,

First the green light tells you that the FLASH thinks there was sufficient output available for the shot.

The flash should automatically recharge after each shot. Now, if not much flash output is needed, the rechare may be just about instantaneous. I have shot many times where the flash was ready immediately after the shot.

As to why the green light doesn't light, is if you miss set the mode (red, yellow, or green) and the object you are shooting is too far away for the setting, the flash will not have enough output. Also if the object absorbs the light (like black cloth) the flash will not have enough output.

The way the thing works is the flash fires, and the sensor int he front measures the amount of light coming back from the scene. When enough light comes back, the sensor system turns the flash off. If flash fires for the maximum time, and the sensor still doesn't see enough light bounce back, the green light doesn't come on.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), August 23, 1999.