Hi all..
I have just recently encounter this weird thing which happen with my 350D. I have a blue curtain which i tried to focus on (AF) with my kit lens (18-55mm EF. Time - night. Lighting condition - Tungsten bulb (pretty dim). So I pop the flash and tried to focus... just the curtain and no object.
The flash just started to go Bzzztt... and turned on-off at a very quick rate for, say, abt 1 sec. when I pressed the button halfway down. When its done doing that, i couldnt take a pic and need to release the shutter button. tried second time and it happened again. So it kinda freaked me out now.
however, i tried manual focus, and the flash works well again. The flash works ok with AF when i asked a friend to pose in front of the curtain.
i mean the pop up flash was basically flashing on-and-off non stop for abt a sec... prob. it was trying to lit up the condition, im not sure. so as it was doing that, the buzzing sound of repeatative flashes (sounds as though those flies got electrocuted by the electric fly traps)
I think by Bzzztt.., he means the noise of the flash firing. It does that to try and get a lock on focus, but if it wouldn't take a shot then as kirbic there is nothing for it to focus on.
mine does this buzzing & flashing too...I just thought it was too dark for AF to work without some additional light. If flash isnt enough light it wont lock focus. I think this is right....at least how it works for me anyways. I usualy just turn on additional light, lock focus, then turn off light but i have camera settings on manual so the extra light doesnt offset the exposure i want or need for the shot
~~Cher~~ :o)
ahh thanks guys! :D
at least now i know its not only my 350D is doing this... so its normal.
and better still i just learned why it did what it did. :)
My 350xt does the same. What's happening is even though the flash is strobing to produce light for your AF the dark fabric is absorbing the light not allowing the camera to achieve focus and since your in the AF mode it will not let you take a picture.
You can do one of two things to help.
1. Place a small white piece of tape on the fabric so the flash strobe will bounce off that and you should be able to achieve focus as long as you are focusing on the white tape.
