alan p

My 9 month old D50 worked perfectly for 8 months. Now I have a problem. I

know the on-board flash is weak but mine is now useless. With the camera set

in P, A, M, S modes (or macro or any mode really) and with flash set to TTL

with no EV alteration, ISO 200, no flash power output alterations and with

f3.5 lens the results are totally dark even at distances from 1m to 2m. The

flash is definitely firing. I've tred different metering modes and I've tried

re-setting the camera. Nothing seems to improve the situation. I can get

better results if I set the flash power output manually but the point is that

in some circumstances (candid caputres etc) I do not want to have to do this

as if I get it wrong the moment has gone. Also, for macro shooting, I can't

stop the flash from popping up and it is useless. I know the results were

much better with the same lens when the camera was new. I don't think I've

messed up any of the settings but I'd love to be proved wrong. I've scanned

several forums and it seems to me that I am not alone with this issue on the

D50. However, as yet I have not seen anyone suggest what the problem might

be. I think I am going to have to find a service agent but I'm struggling

with this because I bought the camera in the UK and now I am living in China.

Not many agents in this part of the world. Has anyone out there got any

suggestions? Is this a known-about Nikon problem and, if so, does anyone know

the technical reason why it happens? Thanks for any suggestions, this is

really beginning to annoy me.

I have a problem with my D50 but I don't know whether it is a setting issue or

whether it is broken. With flash set to TTL metering and 0 flash compensation

my photos are way too dark. The flash fires but barely no light. If I set

the flash to manual (not TTL) I get plenty of light which tells me that the

flash unit itself is working. In day-light and without the flash the

exposures are fine which I think means that the TTL meter is also working. I

have tried re-setting camera settings. I have tried Program, Auto modes etc.

I've changed lenses too but nothing seems to improve it. If you've any ideas

I would really appreciate your input. I am in China for over a year (bought

the camera 9 months ago in UK) so finding a service agent might be

interesting...Thanks