I have had a C2000Z for about 2 months and have taken about 1000 pictures but recently my build-in flash has stopped synchronising with the shutter. The shutter still opens for 1/30 of a second but the flash fires before the shutter first opens. Result - underexposed pictures. Also, I have noticed that my red-eye reduction no longer works -> I only get a single flash and again an underexposed picture.

Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone think this is related to the external flash feature (I do not and have not used one but it may be related?)?

Regards,

SimonW

-- SimonW (simonw@universalmail.net), December 17, 1999

Answers

This talk of flash failure in C2000Zs is giving me the "Cold Pricklies" (as IBMers would say).

I've not had my C2000Z as long as you have but I've taken much the same number of photos. I've used both internal and external flash units with the no problems at all, so far. (The external flash was an old Braun flash unit.)

I wonder: have you tried using the "reset" option on the setup menu and, if that didn't help, have you tried taking the batteries out and leaving the camera for two or three hours? I'm wonder whether the camera's firmware has got its "knickers in a twist"...

I'd like to know if you resolve this - if I'm going to have trouble with *my* C2000Z, I'd like to be forewarned...

-- Mark Davis (glod@hotmail.com), December 21, 1999.

*** Update from Original Poster - Dec 27, 99 I have contacted Olympus and they believe this is a problem with the flash board in the camera which will probably need replacing. I guess the warning is that if this happens at 3 months and 1 day (ie. out of warranty) it will be expensive to fix.

I have had only one other person email me with exactly the same problem though, so hopefully this issue is not common. If anyone else has the same problem then please email me so I can keep track of the extent of the issue.

Regards,

-- SimonW (simonw@universalmail.net), December 26, 1999.

I'm experiencing the same problem you described above. My C2000Z is 2 weeks old and the flash is not syncing 80% of the time(dark pictures, as without flash). I emailed Olympus European support but haven't gotten any answer. Did you find any solution?

--martti

-- Martti (Dr.M@mindless.com), December 29, 1999.