Why do professional digital single lens reflex cameras not have built in, pop-up flashes?
Answer, in the immortal words of Sybil Fawlty, because they are no bloody good. Except, in the case of some cameras, as a trigger for off-camera flash guns. We were reflecting on these things last week when we took a camera to a birthday knees-up. We dread this condition of invitation. Taking snaps at a party is not our idea of fun but if the ordeal is inescapable we have a few words of advice. First, if all you have is a compact camera with in-built flash, say no. You’ll only spend the night taking pictures of startled frolickers with werewolf-red eyes. Every skin flaw will be painfully illuminated. Hideous black shadows will fall on the wall behind. Don’t do it. If, however, you have a DSLR, then don’t rely on the pop-up flash. The results will be much the same as for the compact. To do the job at all well you need a proper flash unit that mounts in the hot-shoe. And has a swivelling head. A flash unit with the beam pointed straight ahead is only a more expensive version of the pop-u
