Same as posted - picture is way too dark when using flash. Help!

This is most often a problem with the imaging sensor and no reset is going to repair the part. Also, if replacing it, it needs to be properly calibrated after installed. If you need help with this, this is the place we recommend for the Canons: www.CamerasAndParts.com They are the best for these models, they only work on Canons and they are excellent for repairs. They have a service package for about $90 which takes care of an image problem as you have or you can try emailing them first. As far as service and the quality of work, I wouldn't go anywhere else but them for a Powershot. They are the best for these cameras. Good luck

The build in flash, will be useful within several meters (15 to 20 feet) if it is really dark.
Your camera should be capable of taking pictures in poor light conditions. Try to shoot in automatic mode. The mode dail to AUTO. (green camera symbol). Then view the picture with info. There you can see the ISO, Aperture and shutter time. From there you can experiment for darker or lighter pictures. For this you can choose M, A,S or P.
In each of these modes, you can use the following steps.
On top of the camera, close to the shutter release button you see a little knob with a +/- sign. If you press that button, you should see a 0.
If you see a - figure, this means the picture you shoot all be darker than normal. If you see a + sign with a figure it means the picture will be brighter. While pressing that button and turning the command dail, you can choose -3 to +3 EV. That is much darker and much brighter.
If you shoot many pictures in bad light conditions, you could buy an external flash. A Nikon flash will work very good and automatic, with your camera, because camera and flash will communicate and help each other to make better pictures. Cheaper external flashes can work too, but most of the time you must change settings manual on the flash. Never use old flashes, that were build for analog cameras. They sometimes switch with a voltage higher than your camera can handle. The camera can be damaged by such a flash.

make sure flash is on your flash on cam is sticking.

There are four ways to make the image lighter
a) more light (flash, sun, etc)
b) slower shutter speed (allows more time for light to "expose" the sensor)
c) larger aperture (bigger hole = more light)
d) higher ISO (basically, amplify the available light more).

If you are using a point and shoot camera, the flash is usually only good for about 10 feet, so trying to get a good bright picture of subjects further away won't work.

Items b, c, and d are handled by the camera in automatic mode. In manual mode, set the iso has high as it can go. Set the aperture as large as it can go, and decrease the shutter speed.

Depending on the camera, you can enable the histogram to see if the images are too dark, usually by pressing the display button while taking pictures. If the histogram is off to the left edge, the picture will be too dark.

In post-processing, (e.g. photoshop), you can use Levels (control-shift-L for auto-levels) and it will move the histogram to the right, making the picture look brighter.

try using night mode indoors. otherwise, simply get into setup and go back to factory settings, and use AUTO mode. hope it helps

first GET TO AUTO MODE WITH FULL AUTO
if this doesn't work try going to manual and setting the exposure up to +1 or +2

I had the exact same problem. You'll need to send it back to Canon. It'll cost you $87-94, but they'll clean it up, get the flash working, and make it new again. It's a good camera worth getting fixed.

Remove the lens, clean the contacts, reattach the lens, and jiggle the lens to seat the contacts.

go to the menu & open setting file.properly check the settings of auto mode

I had this problem before, sent it off to have it repaired 1 year ago, and now have it again. Just to make sure it's the same problem, here's a description: The flash seems to be out of sync with the shutter. Using the flash in medium or low light (in auto mode) makes the picture darker than not using a flash at all. It ruins the picture. In a completely dark room, even though the flash fires, the pictures comes out pitch black. The problem is the flash unit -- it needs to be replaced. If your camera is under warranty, Canon will replace it for free. (You pay only to ship it to them.) (You might try what they told me to try before I shipped it off, and that was to reset the camera by pushing and holding the menu button until it resets. Didn't do anything for mine, but who knows.) If it's not under warranty, Canon will offer to replace it with a refurbished newer model for a discounted price. That's my situation now, because the problem has come back. I did come across a posting that described how to replace the flash unit yourself -- it involves taking the camera apart, but looks doable. (Sorry, I don't have the link handy and I'm not sure if I can find it back.) The problem is, I don't know where to get the part. Canon has been no help on this. Anyone know where I can get a Canon flash unit for the A85? Hope this helps, and good luck.