What is a camera's "flash"?

What is a camera's "flash"?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: Why would I use the "image stabilizer" feature?; How do various image stabilizers differ?; What shutter speed range do I need for my digital camera? and more...

The built-in electronic flash on your digital camera is a built-in light source, for using when taking pictures in low light, when there's not enough light to shoot without extra light. So you have the flash either pops up or activates, generally an automatic, the camera decides there's not enough light to take a normal picture, I'm going to add more light through the electronic flash. The built-in flash on your digital camera is great for birthday parties, out to dinner with friends, holiday time. You have to remember that the built-in flash on your digital camera is a very small flash, it's good to eight or ten feet, no farther. How far is eight or ten feet? That's two adult's laying down side by side, no longer than that. You can't shoot the Christmas pageant, you can't shoot at the football game with your built-in electronic flash. The built-in electronic flash also gives fantastic red-eye, so if you love the red-eye effect, using the built-in flash makes perfect red-eye pictures.