Sx30is flash off position. I would like to take a picture in low light without a flash. The camera emits a green light as a warning that the flash is off. I would like to not have either the flash or the green light. Is there a way to eliminate both?

If you're in one of the PSAM modes then don't pop up the flash.
You can use the Auto-No-Flash mode by turning the mode dial to the position after the green Auto mode (a lighting bolt in a circle with a slash through it).

When the camera accesses the memory(card) a green LED will burn or flash. When it can't do what it wants, it will warn you.
A memory error, can be caused by lots of things. Like card full, card physically damaged, file system damaged. Too many folders, too many pictures. Wrong card (SD, SDHC or SDXC) cannot be used in every camera.
Check if you did put in the card correct (not the wrong way around) Check if all contacts on the memory card are clean, shiny and straight. Check if you did not switch the lock switch to the wrong position. Check if there are still pictures on the card, in an external memory card reader. put all the pictures you can find on the computer and than try to format the card. (in the computer, FAT 32) but after you put it in the camera. do a format in the camera too.

Success

Flash should pop up automatically when you operate camera in easy mode (green square on dial selector) in low light conditions. If using in manual modes press the button on the left side of the lens mount. To fire the flash without taking a picture press the button used to zoom out when viewing pictures.
If your flash does not work at all then there is probably a fault with the charging circuit or firing circuit.

If you can are turning the flash off and on, you are no longer in the "Auto" mode. Rotate the top selector dial to select the green "Auto" position. This will enable the camera to automatically select the best aperture and shutter speed based on the available lighting. It will also decide whether it needs flash or not.

As you gain confidence in your abilities, experiment with the other settings on the dial. May I suggest first trying the "P" program setting. This is similar to auto, but will enable you to turn off the flash during low-light level shots. Still the camera will select the best aperture and shutter speed based on the lighting. But in very low lighting, you may have to keep the camera extra steady (such as with a tripod) to minimize camera shake as the picture is taken.

Does the flash pop up? If not, try to pull it up manually. Look at your settings in the menu, maybe reset them.

earlier i posted solution in similary problem. maybe help you this.

solution is good batteries, Ni-Mh or Lithium, rechargeable only not alkaline. but...problem is how long you watch pictures on lcd display or how much is flash in use. if always by shooting pics used flash that means that you can with best batteries 30, 20 or less pics shooted. and of course, if you connect camera with pc, how long is cam on? just transfer pics on pc and turn the camera off. the best solution is use the card reader for pics transfering.
if is flash off, it's possible to shot 120-150 pics with Ni-Mh. with lithium i don't know, maybe 500 pics. don't use camera lcd for analysing pics it's just there for short preview.
with alkaline batt., very low quality, i shot 30 pics without flash.

i shot also very good pics at night without flash. nikon coolpix L15 can do that but you must have more praxis. alkaline batteries shooting!
after 3 pictures on display is message: warning! the battery is exhausted. what you can do? turn the camera off. wait about 10 minutes. turn the camera on, you can shot 3 or 5 pictures and than turn your camera off again.
you can repeat this few times and you be lucky if you 30 pics captured:)
REMEMBER: all this goes without camera flash!!!
flash and every zooming use more battery power! and that was all magic:).

Hi

Low light without a flash will always cause grainy pictures unless you have a very high end camera that can shoot at very high ISO speeds like 6400 and up.

Try changing the camera from the green camera 'auto' setting to "P" and then press the Menu button (I think it's Menu) and look for the different mode settings. There should be one for Night or Night Portrait or similar, I can't recall Sony terms and I don't have one here to check sorry.

Your other option is to use the flash, try it with Red Eye turned on if possible.

Hope this helps.

Thomas D.
Owner, Darntoothysam com

My E5700 did this a couple of times. The fix for my flash was that the unit wasn't actually popping all the way open. I closed it, then manually poppped open the flash and gave it a gentle upward tug. The flash seemed to lock into position -- and has worked fine since. I hope your fix is as simple as with my E5700.

I hope this helps!
Regards,
CharlieJ

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If you check page 45 in the manual, you'll see that the orange light during the half press indicates that the flash is turned on. A single beep means that the camera is having difficulty getting a "focus lock" (usually when shooting in low light conditions). See page 100 of the manual for suggestions on how to improve the chances for getting a well-focused picture.

First, try to get more light, particularly natural light (window); second, try using shutter priority (S mode), setting the shutter speed at not less than 1/50, faster if you are shooting motion/action (check the Properties of the blurred pictures that you've been getting in Camedia software - the shutter speeds are probably too slow because of the low light), and experiment with higher ISO settings (either 200 or Auto, not 400) though there's a trade-off in noise levels.