I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 camera. I’ve lost the instructions. The last couple of parties where I’ve taken pictures, this horrible red beam has shot out from the camera for about 1-2 sec before it takes the picture. The beam has really annoyed everyone in the picture. What’s it purpose? Can I disable it? If so how do I do it? Thanks in advance.
Tags: Beam, Camera, Cybershot, DSCH2, Sony, Turn
Categories: Photography Tips
The red beam is supposed to be horrible. I’m not making this up: It’s for red-eye reduction. The idea is to temporarily blind the subject to constrict his or her pupils just before the flash fires. The “red eye” effect in flash photography is caused by an internal reflection in the pupil, which, like most parts of the body, is filled with blood, but unlike most parts of the body, is transparent. That’s where the red color comes from. Pretty cool, huh?
You can turn it off in the menu if you want. Obviously you’ll have to deal with red-eye. You pays your money and takes your choice.
That red beam is an AF assist light. It comes on in dark conditions to help the camera autofocus. There may be an option to turn it off in the menu. It should be titled AF assist or similar. With it turned off, however, the camera will take longer to focus, and may fail to focus at all.