Sony A200 flash problem, help please

Hi guys, I'm having problems with my flash on the A200 Sony. When I first turn the camera on, it takes the picture ok. After that, all I get is the "flash" but no click for a picture. So I turn the light on in the room, so I have more light, and although it works sometimes, it's making lots of noises inside the camera all the time, and I probably get one shot every 30 seconds? This can't be right surely? Should I be shutting the flash flip up on the top each time after it's taken a shot, ready for the next one, or just leave it alone?

I have to say I've always had this problem for night-time shots indoors, it's never quick like it is for daylight shots. I always have it set on Auto, and I've just reset all the settings on the menu to default in the hope that might cure it, but it hasn't.

I charged the battery last night, thinking it was that (lithium), so that's fully charged. It's fine in daylight, not problems.

Please speak to me in simple terms, coz I'm not very techie with cameras I've had this camera over a year, it's easy to use and simple, but I'm not particular au fais with the menu side of things. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

Hi Helena!

Sounds like it is trying to focus - but can't or is finding it difficult. Have you tried manual focus? Is the lens dirty?

Thanks Azz. Shall I give it a clean via the menu, and maybe give the lens a good wipe on the outside then?

When I had very low light in the room, it didn't want to know at all, just gave me the flash but nothing else! It was better with the light on, but still not right. I'll take your advice and give it a good clean then and take it from there. Many thanks

Re the manual focus, is that on the dial on the top then? I'll try and find that and have a go manually, but won't know how to do anything manually if I'm honest!

Sometimes there is a focus option within the settings that could effect it.

I know you'll probably hate this, but have a quick read through the focus chapter in the manual - something may help there

The noise you are hearing is the camera trying to focus, but because of the low light has nothing to latch on to.

There should be, in the menu, a 'focus assist' or some-such that shoots out a beam of light to illuminate the subject to help the camera to focus.

If it is focus, generally it needs a certain amount of light, contrast and features to focus on. Also in the viewfinder there should be some indication of where the camera is trying top focus. Typically this should be the centre, but if it is anything like my Nikon, you can move the focus point around. In other words your room needs to have a certain amount of light, maybe a couple of table lamps, and a face or hard edge in the focus point to lock focus onto. You may also need to look at how your focussing is set up, is it on 'continuous' focus where it changes all the time right up to pressing the shutter button, or can you have it so you squeeze down on the shutter button, the focus locks and holds and then you take your picture. The latter probably being better.

Having an SLR allows a lot of user control generally over a compact and there are a number of switches, dials and menu options. It's probably worth trying to get to know some of them at least, or at least recognise if you have inadvertantly moved a dial or changed something. I think your camera has preset modes, like landscape, portrait, etc. If for example you had set it to landscape, maybe the camera can't set itself up properly when you are actually attempting some portraits of family and friends in a dimly lit room. Just some thoughts.

Thanks again Azz, I'll try your suggestion. I've given it a good clean, both via the menu on cleaned the lens on the outside too (it was dirty!).

thanks fogey, I'll take a look in the menu for that "focus assist". I only had a very small table light on at the time.

Thanks for the in-depth reply Black Cloud. I should really get to grips more with this superb camera shouldn't I! I'm not very good with the theory by reading instructions, I'm much better via the practical route, but nobody around me knows anything about cameras to show me. Anyway, I have taken onboard all that you have said and will take the time to go through it all slowly and get to know this camera a bit better, it's the lazy way out isn't it always relying on that "auto". Thanks again.