D3000 built in flash broken + smell

[Karmen]

I was taking some test shots because I have a Halloween party tonight, and so I wanted to play around with some flash diffusers I made. But when I took the shot, there was like a crackling sound that came from inside, and there's also a smell coming from inside, like burnt plastic. When I pop the flash open, the smell is really clear, so I'm sure it's coming from the flash.

Does anyone know what it is and what I can do? Or how serious it is? The flash actually still works, and the photos are fine, but the smell is worrying me because I don't know what's going on inside.

I don't want to go to the party camera-less, but if it's serious then I'll leave it at home and have it checked out another time.

My D3000 is only around 10 months old if it matters.

[firebox40dash5]

Well, my first guess would be that whatever diffuser/modifier you used caused the flash to overheat. Either by blocking airflow that would help cool it off, or by causing the camera to fire the flash at close to full power. How many shots did you take how fast before this happened? Does anything appear melted or distorted?

As for your party, sounds like a good excuse to get yourself and SB-400 or SB-600 sooner than you would have. Either one, combined with a diffuser dome, small softbox, or bouncing, would give much better results than your built-in flash. The extra power and flash head size helps, plus your camera battery will last longer.

I own both of those, along with all three solutions I mentioned. The only time the built-in flash comes out is to remote fire the SB-600.

[sk66]

Crackling noise and smell of plastic? Overheat or short....
I don't think you could have caused this with a diffuser of any sort. I suspect you have an arcing connection and I wouldn't mess with it. Get it checked out.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by sk66

Crackling noise and smell of plastic? Overheat or short....
I don't think you could have caused this with a diffuser of any sort.

Quite the opposite: depending on the diffuser, the flash can very easily overheat.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Quite the opposite: depending on the diffuser, the flash can very easily overheat.

Built in Flash? They don't generate much heat to start with and it would be very hard to cover it well enough to trap much heat. Don't they have over-temp sensors/protection?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by sk66

Built in Flash? They don't generate much heat to start with and it would be very hard to cover it well enough to trap much heat. Don't they have over-temp sensors/protection?

No sensors, and I've seen quite a few burn out with improperly placed/devised diffusers. Saw some guy basically wrap his in a kleenex, then wonder why it was hot and smelled like burning.