Does not auto-focus when flash is turned off

Those quick fast flashes usually mean the camera is trying to find contrast to take the photo but it can't. The scene might be to dark and the camera can not set it's focus and there for cannot take a picture. Move the camera slightly from left to right on the subject and see if it can manage to set focus. It's normal for the camera to give out these quick flashes as it is trying to find some sort of contrast in the subject, turning on a room light might help this?

Now when you manually focus, then the camera does not have to use it's built in auto focus sensor and will let you take a photo when you manually focus on the subject.

The reason the camera has the green light is not to warn that the flash is off. The green light is used to help the camera auto-focus in low light situations. If you disable auto-focus and use manual focus the green light should not flash when taking the picture. Let me know if that helps!

Sounds like the main circuit board has got problems. If its under warranty use the manufacturer. But if not a camear store should be able to provide a quote. I admit that the repair will be about 150-180 because of the time involved in replacing the board and possibly the flash unit.
But quotes before bankruptcy..
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Hello,

It's likely your photos are blurry from camera motion, caused by taking a hand-held photo with a slow shutter speed, rather than out of focus.

The hand icon flashes when you don't have enough light to take a crisp (not blurry) photo without either using a tripod (or a flash). The reason for a flashing hand is you can't "hand-hold" the camera at the current settings - you need to use a tripod. If you are "zoomed in" (on a telephoto setting for your lens) you can sometimes get a crisp hand-held photo if you "zoom out" to a wider angle setting on the lens. (You need a steadier hand to hand-hold a telephoto lens setting than a wide-angle lens setting.)

You may have changed a setting that sets the ISO (the normal setting would be "auto") and if so, if you change the ISO to a high number, or to auto, this will help you take better photos in low light. Check your camera's user's manual to see how to check/change the ISO.

When you have more light the icon will stop flashing. If you need to take hand-held photos in low light then you need to use flash, or get a better camera that has better low light capabilities.

Do you have the camera in the auto mode?
Did you check to make sure that the auto focus is not in the manual mode when the flash is turned off?

If the above does not comply, call the tech support for the camera.

There is also a possibity that there is a defect, or that the flash is part of the auto focus function.


Jerry G.

When the camera is set to C-AF (Continuous Auto Focus) mode the focus is continually aligned according to movement of subject or the camera even when shutter button is not pressed. The Continuous Auto Focus (C-AF) is disabled while the camera is zooming in and out. Once the camera stops zooming the CAF is initiated and the cameras focus is adjusted.
This is actually used for video.

Things to check before you assume it is a mechanical issue-you can get vibration message if flash is disabled, be sure also that the macro mode is not enabled-this is very common on sony cameras to turn on by accident-flower button on camera will put in close up mode and you will get blur make sure no flower is present on lcd screen-if in macro press button on camera w/flower to turn off-also in menu you have continuous and monitor auto focus settings try changing one or the other and see what happens

This is the camera trying to give itself enough light to focus with.

As it uses contrast to focus with you will get problems in low light conditions. There's no way round this I'm afraid except to light the subject better. As it's a digital camera and you're not wasting film, try manual focus and see what results you get.

The focus element within your lens may not be moving normally. This can be due to contamination such as sand, impact, or failure of the motor itself. If the lens cannot resolve proper focus the auto focus system on the chip will not continue to take the picture. Another possible reason is that the button has simply failed. David Millier Advance Camera Repair

Make sure the camera is not in Document mode . Document takes a picture with added contrast so text stands out. Make sure the camera is not set to Infinity focus . When you select Infinity Focus, the camera automatically turns off the flash and auto focus so you get sharp, clear pictures. Make sure the camera is set to Fill, Auto, or Red Eye flash. See your camera manual for details about setting the flash.