Using the viewing Playing back images.. 115 Checking the information of recorded images. 120 function
Protecting images (Protect).. 122 Deleting images (Delete).. 123 Viewing images on a TV screen. 125

Changing your setup

Setting image size and image quality.. 128 Setting the method for recording on a memory card.. 130 Changing the noise reduction setting.. 132 Changing the function of the AEL button. 133 Changing other settings.. 134 Setting the LCD monitor.. 135 Confirming the version of the camera.. 137 Resetting to the default.. 138 Using your computer... 140 Using the software.. 147 Specifying DPOF... 152 Printing images by connecting the camera to a PictBridge compliant printer.. 154 Specifications... 156 Troubleshooting... 160 Warning messages.. 169 Precautions... 172
Viewing images on a computer Printing images

Others

Index.... 174
Checking the accessories supplied
The number in parentheses indicates the number of pieces. BC-VM10 Battery charger (1)/ Power cord (mains lead) (1) Instruction Manual (This manual) (1)
Rechargeable battery pack NPFM500H (1)

USB cable (1)

Shoulder strap (1)

Eyepiece cover (1)

Body cap (1) (Attached on the camera)
Eyecup (1) (Attached on the camera) CD-ROM (Application Software for camera) (1)
Preparing the battery pack
When using the camera for the first time, be sure to charge the NPFM500H InfoLITHIUM battery pack (supplied).
Charging the battery pack
The InfoLITHIUM battery pack can be charged even when it has not been fully depleted. It can also be used when it has not been fully charged.
1 Insert the battery pack on the

battery charger.

Push the battery pack until it clicks.
2 Connect the power cord (mains

lead).

Light on: Charging Light off: Normal charge completed One hour after the lamp is turned off: Full charge completed
CHARGE lamp To a wall outlet (wall socket)
About charging time Time required to charge a fully depleted battery pack (supplied) at a temperature of 25C (77F) is as follows.
Full charge Approx. 235 min. Normal charge Approx. 175 min.

To remove the battery cover The battery cover can be removed to attach the VG-B50AM Vertical Grip (sold separately). To remove the cover, push the lever in the direction of the arrow and slide it out. To attach the cover, put the knob in the hole, pull down the lever, and slide it in.
To check the remaining battery level Check the level with the following indicators and percent figures displayed on the LCD monitor.
Battery exhausted High Low You cannot shoot any more pictures.

Battery level

What is an InfoLITHIUM battery pack? An InfoLITHIUM battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack that has functions for exchanging information related to operating conditions with your camera. Using the InfoLITHIUM battery pack, the remaining battery time in percent figures is displayed according to the operating conditions of your camera.
Notes The displayed level may not be correct under certain circumstances. Do not expose the battery pack to water. The battery pack is not water-resistant. Do not leave the battery pack in extremely hot places, such as in a car or under direct sunlight.
Available battery packs Use only an NP-FM500H battery pack. Note that the NP-FM55H, NPFM50 and NP-FM30 cannot be used.
Effective use of the battery pack Battery performance decreases in low temperature surroundings. So, the time that the battery pack can be used is shorter in cold places and the speed of continuous shooting slows down. We recommend that you put the battery pack in a pocket close to your body to warm it up, and insert it in your camera immediately before you start shooting. The battery pack will run out quickly if you use the flash frequently, use continuous shooting often, or turn the camera on and off frequently. The time available in the Live View mode is shorter than that in the viewfinder mode. When you feel that the battery consumption is too fast, switch to the viewfinder mode. Doing so makes the battery last longer. Battery life The battery life is limited. Battery capacity decreases little by little as you use it more and more, and as time passes. If the battery operating time seems shortened considerably, a probable cause is that the battery pack has reached the end of its life. Buy a new battery pack. The battery life varies according to how it is stored and the operating conditions and environment in which each battery pack is used. How to store the battery pack If the battery pack is not to be used for a long time, fully charge it and then fully use it up once a year on your camera before storing the battery pack in a dry, cool place to prolong the battery life.

Attaching a lens

1 Remove the body cap from the
camera and the packaging lid from the rear of the lens.
When changing the lens, quickly change the lens away from dusty locations so as to keep dust or debris from getting inside the camera.

Body cap Packaging lid

2 Mount the lens by aligning the
orange index marks on the lens and camera.

Orange index marks

3 Turn the lens clockwise until it
clicks into the locked position.
Be sure to put the lens on straight.
Notes When attaching a lens, do not press the lens release button. Do not use force when attaching a lens.

To remove the lens

1 Press the lens release button all
the way in and turn the lens counterclockwise until it stops.

Lens release button

2 Replace the packaging lid on the
lens and attach the body cap to the camera.
Before you attach them, remove dust from them. A rear lens cap is not supplied with the DT
18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM Lens Kit. When you store the lens without attaching it to the camera, purchase the Rear Lens Cap ALC-R55.
Note on changing the lens When changing the lens, if dust or debris gets inside the camera and lands on the surface of the image sensor (the part that acts as the film), it may appear on the image, depending on the shooting environment. The camera is equipped with an anti-dust function to prevent dust from landing on the image sensor. However, quickly change the lens away from dusty locations when attaching/removing a lens. If dust or debris lands on the image sensor Clean the image sensor using [Cleaning mode] in the (page 33).

Setup menu

Inserting a memory card
Only Memory Stick PRO Duo media, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media, SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards can be used with this camera. A MultiMediaCard cannot be used with this camera. The Memory Stick PRO Duo media and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media are referred to as the Memory Stick PRO Duo media and the SD memory card and SDHC memory card are referred to as the SD memory card in this Instruction Manual.
1 Open the memory card cover.
2 Insert Memory Stick PRO Duo
media or an SD memory card.
Insert the memory card until it clicks as illustrated.
Face side (SD memory card) Terminal part
Face side (Memory Stick PRO Duo) Terminal part
3 Select the type of memory card
you want to use using the memory card switch.
4 Close the memory card cover.
To remove the memory card Check that the access lamp is not lit, then open the memory card cover, and push the memory card once. Preparing the camera

Access lamp

Notes on using memory cards
Do not strike, bend or drop the memory card. Do not use or store the memory card under the following conditions: High temperature locations such as the hot interior of a car parked in direct sunlight. Locations exposed to direct sunlight. Humid locations or locations with corrosive substances present. The memory card may be hot just after it has been used for a long time. Be careful when you handle it. When the access lamp is lit, do not remove the memory card or the battery pack, or turn off the power. The data may be corrupted. Data may be damaged if you place the memory card near stronglymagnetized material or use the memory card in a static-prone or electrically noisy environment. We recommend backing up important data, such as to a hard disk of a computer. When you carry or store the memory card, put it in the case supplied with it. Do not expose the memory card to water. Do not touch the terminal section of the memory card with your hand or a metal object. When the write-protect switch of a memory card is set to the LOCK position, you cannot perform operations, such as recording or deleting images. The Memory Stick PRO Duo media with a capacity up to 16 GB or the SD memory cards with a capacity up to 32 GB have been confirmed to operate properly with this camera.

* When [Aspect ratio] is set to [16:9], you can record more images than the numbers shown in the table above. However, if it is set to [RAW], the number is the same as that of the [3:2] aspect ratio.
The number of images that can be recorded using a battery pack
The approximate number of images that can be recorded is as follows when you use the camera with the battery pack (supplied) at full capacity. Note that the actual numbers may be less than those indicated depending on the conditions of use.
DSLR-A550 Live View mode Viewfinder mode Approx. 480 images Approx. 950 images DSLR-A500 Approx. 520 images Approx. 1000 images
The number is calculated with a battery pack at full capacity and in the following situation: At an ambient temperature of 25C (77F). [Quality] is set to [Fine]. [Autofocus mode] is set to (Automatic AF). Shooting once every 30 seconds. The flash strobes once every two times. The power turns on and off once every ten times. The measurement method is based on the CIPA standard. (CIPA: Camera & Imaging Products Association)

Cleaning

Cleaning the camera
Do not touch the inside of the camera, such as lens contacts, or the mirror. Since dust on the mirror or around the mirror may affect the autofocus system, blow away dust using a commercially available blower*. For details on cleaning the image sensor, see the next page. * Do not use a spray blower. Using one may cause a malfunction. Clean the camera surface with a soft cloth slightly moistened with water, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth. Do not use the following as they may damage the finish or the casing. Chemical products such as thinner, benzine, alcohol, disposable cloths, insect repellent, sunscreen or insecticide, etc. Do not touch the camera with the above on your hand. Do not leave the camera in contact with rubber or vinyl for a long time.

Cleaning the lens

Do not use a cleaning solution containing organic solvents, such as thinner, or benzine. When cleaning the lens surface, remove dust using a commercially available blower. In case of dust that sticks to the surface, wipe it off with a soft cloth or tissue paper slightly moistened with lens cleaning solution. Wipe in a spiral pattern from the center to the outside. Do not spray lens cleaning solution directly onto the lens surface.
Cleaning the image sensor
If dust or debris enters the camera and lands on the image sensor (the part that acts as the film), it may appear on the photo image, depending on the shooting environment. If there is dust on the image sensor, use a commercially available blower and clean the image sensor following the steps below. You can easily clean the image sensor using only the blower and the anti-dust function.

Note When using a tripod, deactivate the SteadyShot function because there is a potential for malfunction of the SteadyShot function.
/ Shooting with the automatic setting
The AUTO mode allows you to easily shoot any subject under any conditions because the camera makes appropriate judgments on the situation to adjust the settings. Select when shooting in a location where the use of a flash is restricted. When you turn the mode dial, the explanation of the selected mode and methods of shooting are displayed on the screen (Help Guide disp.). You can clear the Help Guide (page 134).

1 Set the mode dial to

(Flash Off).
2 Adjust the LCD monitor to an easily viewable angle and hold

the camera.

3 Overlay the AF area on the

desired subject.

If the (Camera shake warning) indicator flashes, carefully shoot the subject, holding the camera steady, or by using a tripod.
(Camera shake warning) indicator AF area
4 When using a zoom lens, turn the
zoom ring, then decide on your shot.

Zoom ring

5 Press the shutter button halfway

down to focus.

When the focus is confirmed, z or (Focus indicator) lights up (page 80). Waiting until the (SteadyShot scale) indicator is low makes the SteadyShot function more effective.
Focus indicator (SteadyShot scale) indicator
6 Press the shutter button fully

down to shoot.

Note Since the camera turns on the automatic setting function, many features will be unavailable, such as exposure compensation, ISO setting. If you want to adjust various settings, set the mode dial to P, then shoot your subject.
Using the Face Detection function
The camera detects faces, adjusts the focus, exposure, performs image processing, and adjusts flash settings. The Face Detection function is set to [On] in the default setting. The Face Detection frame When the camera detects faces, white Face Detection frames appear. When the camera judges that autofocus is possible, the Face Detection frames turn orange. When you press the shutter halfway down, the Face Detection frames turn green. Face Detection frames (white) If a face is not positioned inside the AF area available when you press the Face Detection frames (orange) shutter button halfway down, the AF area that is used for focusing turns green. When the camera detects multiple faces, the camera automatically selects a priority face and the single Face Detection frame turns orange. To deactivate the Face Detection function

Fn button t

Shooting technique

1 Set the mode dial to S.
2 Select the shutter speed with the

control dial.

The aperture is automatically adjusted to obtain correct exposure. When the camera judges that the proper exposure is not obtained with the selected shutter speed, the aperture value flashes. In such cases, adjust the shutter speed again.
When the shutter speed is slower, use a tripod. When shooting an indoor sport, select a higher ISO sensitivity.
Notes The (Camera shake warning) indicator is not indicated in shutter speed priority mode. The higher the ISO sensitivity, the more conspicuous the noise. When the shutter speed is one second or more, noise reduction (Long exp.NR) will be done after shooting. You cannot do any further shooting during the reduction. Press the button when you shoot with the flash. However, when using the flash, if you close the aperture (a larger F-number) by making the shutter speed slower, the light of the flash will not reach distant subjects.
Shooting with the exposure adjusted manually (Manual exposure)
This mode is suitable for z Shooting with the desired exposure setting by adjusting both the shutter speed and aperture.
1 Set the mode dial to M. 2 Rotate the control dial to adjust
the shutter speed, and while pressing the button, rotate the control dial to adjust the aperture.

button

Aperture (F-number) Shutter speed
3 Shoot the image after the

exposure is set.

Check the exposure value on the EV scale. Toward +: Images become brighter. Toward : Images become darker. The b B arrow appears if the set exposure is beyond the range of the EV scale. The arrow starts flashing if the difference becomes greater.

Standard value

Notes The (Camera shake warning) indicator is not indicated in manual exposure mode. When the mode dial is set to M, the ISO setting [AUTO] is set to [200]. In M mode, the ISO setting [AUTO] is not available. Set the ISO sensitivity as necessary (page 103). Press the button when you shoot with the flash. However, the flash range differs according to the aperture value. When you shoot with the flash, check the flash range (page 90).
Manual shift You can change the shutter speed and aperture value combination without changing the exposure you set. Rotate the control dial while pressing the AEL button to select the shutter speed and aperture value combination.

AEL button

Shooting trails with long exposure (BULB)
This mode is suitable for z Shooting trails of light, such as fireworks. z Shooting trails of stars.
1 Set the mode dial to M. 2 Rotate the control dial to the left
until [BULB] is indicated.

3 While pressing the

button, rotate the control dial to adjust the aperture (F-number).
4 Press the shutter button halfway down to adjust the focus. 5 Press and hold the shutter button for the duration of the

shooting.

As long as the shutter button is pressed, the shutter remains open.
Use a tripod. Set the focus to infinity in manual focus mode when shooting fireworks, etc. Use the Wireless Remote Commander (sold separately) (page 112). Pressing the SHUTTER button on the Wireless Remote Commander triggers BULB shooting and pressing it again stops BULB shooting. You do not need to press and hold the SHUTTER button on the Wireless Remote Commander. If you use a Remote Commander that is equipped with a shutter button lock function (sold separately), you can leave the shutter open using the Remote Commander.
Notes When using a tripod, turn off the SteadyShot function (page 48). The longer the exposure time, the more conspicuous the noise on the image. After shooting, noise reduction (Long exp.NR) will be done for the same amount of time that the shutter was open. You cannot do any further shooting during the reduction. When the Smile Shutter or Auto HDR function is activated, you cannot set the shutter speed to [BULB]. If the Smile Shutter or Auto HDR function is used with the shutter speed set to [BULB], the shutter speed is temporarily set to 30 seconds.
Shooting with the viewfinder (OVF)
You can select either the LCD monitor (Live View) or the viewfinder (OVF) to shoot images.
Switching to the viewfinder
Set the LIVE VIEW/OVF switch to OVF.
The screen status changes as follows: Shooting images

Viewfinder display

LCD monitor display
When you look into the viewfinder, the subject located in the AF area comes into focus automatically (Eye-Start AF). To deactivate the Eye-Start AF function
1 t [Eye-Start AF] t [Off]
When attaching the FDA-M1AM Magnifier (sold separately), the FDAA1AM Angle Finder (sold separately), or the FDA-ME1AM Magnifying Eyepiece (sold separately) to the camera, setting [Eye-Start AF] to [Off] is recommended because the eyepiece sensors located below the viewfinder may be activated.

Pre-flash TTL

ADI: Advanced Distance Integration TTL: Through the lens When [ADI flash] is selected, using a lens that is provided with a distance encoder feature can perform more accurate flash compensation by using more accurate distance information.
Notes When the distance between the subject and the external flash (sold separately) cannot be determined (wireless flash shooting using an external flash (sold separately), shooting with an off-camera flash using a cable, shooting with a macro twin flash, etc.), the camera automatically selects Pre-flash TTL mode. Select [Pre-flash TTL] in the following cases, as the camera cannot perform flash compensations with ADI flash. A wide panel is attached to the HVL-F36AM flash. A diffuser is used for flash shooting.
A filter with an exposure factor, such as an ND filter, is used. A close-up lens is used. ADI flash is only available in combination with a lens that is provided with a distance encoder. To determine if the lens is equipped with a distance encoder, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the lens.
Selecting the method for measuring the brightness of a subject (Metering mode)

(Multi segment)

(Metering mode) t Select the desired mode
This mode measures light on each area after dividing the total area into multiple areas and determines the proper exposure of the entire screen.
(Center weighted) While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this mode measures the average brightness of the entire screen. (Spot) This mode measures light only in the spot metering circle located in the center area.
Use (Multi segment) metering for general shooting. When there is a high contrast subject in the AF area, measure the light of the subject you want to shoot with the optimal exposure using the spot metering function and take advantage of an AE lock shooting (page 92).
Note When the exposure mode is set to AUTO or Scene Selection, [Metering mode] is fixed to (Multi segment) and you cannot select other modes.
Compensating for the brightness and contrast automatically (D-Range)
D-RANGE button t Select the desired setting

D-RANGE button

(Off) (DRO)
Does not use the DRO/Auto HDR functions. By dividing the image into small areas, the camera analyses the contrast of light and shadow between the subject and the background, producing the image with the optimal brightness and gradation. Shoots two images with different exposures, and then overlays the bright area of the under exposed image and the dark area of the over exposed image to create an image with rich gradation.

(Auto HDR)

Correcting the brightness of the image (D-Range Optimizer)

1 D-RANGE button t

2 Select an optimal level with b/B on the controller.
(Auto) (Level)* Corrects the brightness automatically. Optimizes the gradations of a recorded image in each area of the image. Select the optimal level between Lv1 (weak) and Lv5 (strong). is the step currently selected.

folder where the images you want to copy are stored.
2 Drag and drop the image files to the hard disk icon.
The image files are copied to the hard disk.
Viewing images on your computer
For Windows 1 Click [Start] t [Documents] (For Windows XP: [My Documents]).
To view RAW images, the supplied Image Data Converter SR software is required (page 150).

2 Double-click

the desired image file. The image is displayed.
For Macintosh Double-click the hard disk icon t the desired image file to open the image file.
Deleting the USB connection
Perform each procedure for Windows or Macintosh listed below beforehand when: Disconnecting the USB cable. Removing the memory card. Turning off the camera. x For Windows Double-click on the tasktray, then click (USB Mass Storage Device) t [Stop]. Confirm the device on the confirmation window, then click [OK]. The device is disconnected. x For Macintosh
Drag and drop the drive icon or the icon of the memory card to the Trash icon.
The camera is disconnected from the computer.
Image file storage destinations and file names
The image files recorded with your camera are grouped as folders on the memory card. Example: viewing folders on Windows Vista
AFolders containing image data recorded using this camera. (The first three digits show the folder number.) BYou can create a folder in date form (page 130). You cannot record/play back any images in the MISC folder. Image files are named as follows. ssss (file number) stands for any number within the range of 0001 to 9999. The numerical portions of the name of a RAW data file and its corresponding JPEG file are the same. JPEG files: DSC0ssss.JPG JPEG files (Adobe RGB): _DSCssss.JPG RAW data file (other than Adobe RGB): DSC0ssss.ARW RAW data file (Adobe RGB): _DSCssss.ARW The extension may not be displayed depending on the computer.
Copying images stored on a computer to a memory card and viewing the images
This section describes the process using a Windows computer as an example. Step 1 is not necessary if the file name has not been changed. When you use the supplied PMB software, you can copy images easily (page 147).
1 Right-click the image file, then

x Windows Log on as Administrator.
1 Turn on your computer, and insert
the CD-ROM (supplied) into the CD-ROM drive.
The installation menu screen appears. If it does not appear, double-click [Computer] (For Windows XP: [My Computer]) t (SONYPICTUTIL) t [Install.exe]. Under Windows Vista, the AutoPlay screen may appear. Select Run Install.exe and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to proceed with the installation.

2 Click [Install].

Verify that both Sony Image Data Suite and Sony Picture Utility are checked and follow the instructions on the screen.
3 Remove the CD-ROM after the installation is complete.
The following software is installed and shortcut icons appear on the desktop. Sony Image Data Suite Image Data Converter SR Image Data Lightbox SR Sony Picture Utility PMB PMB Guide
x Macintosh Log on as Administrator.
1 Turn on your Macintosh computer, and insert the CD-ROM
(supplied) into the CD-ROM drive.
2 Double-click the CD-ROM icon. 3 Copy the [IDS_INST.pkg] file in the [MAC] folder to the hard

disk icon.

4 Double-click the [IDS_INST.pkg] file in the copy-to folder.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Note When the restart confirmation message appears, restart the computer following the instructions on the screen.
Using Image Data Converter SR
Note If you save an image as RAW data, the image is saved in the ARW2.1 format.
With Image Data Converter SR you can: Edit images recorded in RAW format with various corrections, such as tone curve, and sharpness. Adjust images with white balance, exposure, and creative style, etc. Save the images displayed and edited on a computer. You can either save the image as RAW format or save it in the general file format. For details on Image Data Converter SR, refer to Help. To start Help, click [Start] t [All Programs] t [Sony Image Data Suite] t [Help] t [Image Data Converter SR Ver.3].

Operating temperature 0 to 40C (32 to 104F) File format JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.21, MPF Baseline) compliant, DPOF compatible USB communication Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0 compliant)

BC-VM10 Battery charger

Input rating 100 V 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, 9 W Output rating 8.4 V DC, 0.75 A Operating temperature range 0 to 40C (32 to 104F) Storage temperature range 20 to +60C (4 to +140F) Maximum dimensions Approx. 95 mm (2 7/3 3/4 inches) (W/H/D) Mass Approx. 90 g (3.2 oz)
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. On focal length The picture angle of this camera is narrower than that of a 35 mm-format film camera. You can find the approximate equivalent of the focal length of a 35 mm-format film camera, and shoot with the same picture angle, by increasing the focal length of your lens by half. For example, by using a 50 mm lens, you can get the approximate equivalent of a 75 mm lens of a 35 mm-format film camera.
On image data compatibility This camera conforms with DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) universal standard established by JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association). Playback of images recorded with your camera on other equipment and playback of images recorded or edited with other equipment on your camera are not guaranteed. Trademarks is a trademark of Sony Corporation. Memory Stick, , Memory Stick PRO, , Memory Stick Duo, , Memory Stick PRO Duo, , Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, , Memory Stick Micro, MagicGate, and are trademarks of Sony Corporation. InfoLITHIUM is a trademark of Sony Corporation. PhotoTV HD is a trademark of Sony Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. HDMI, the HDMI logo and HighDefinition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc. PowerPC is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation in the United States. The SDHC logo is a trademark. MultiMediaCard is a trademark of MultiMediaCard Association. Intel, Intel Core, MMX, and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Adobe is a registered trademark or a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. In addition, system and product names used in this manual are, in general, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective developers or manufacturers. However, the or marks are not used in all cases in this manual.

The battery pack is discharged. Install a charged battery pack (page 13).
The shutter does not release.
You are using a memory card with a write-protect switch, and the switch is set to the LOCK position. Set the switch to the recording position. The position of the memory card switch is wrong. Set it to the correct position (page 22). Check the free capacity of the memory card (page 29). You cannot record images while charging the built-in flash (page 88).
The shutter cannot be released when the subject is out of focus. The lens is not attached properly. Attach the lens properly (page 20). When an astronomical telescope, etc., is attached to the camera, set the exposure mode to M and do your shooting. The subject may require special focusing (page 80). Use the focus-lock or manual focus function (pages 81, 84).
Recording takes a long time.
The noise reduction function is turned on (page 132). This is not a malfunction. You are shooting in RAW mode (page 129). Since the RAW data file is large, the RAW mode shooting may take time. The Auto HDR is processing an image (page 98).
The image is out of focus.
The subject is too close. Check the minimum focal distance of the lens. You are shooting in manual focus mode, set the focus mode switch to AF (autofocus) (page 79). When the focus mode switch is equipped with the lens, set it to AF. Ambient light is insufficient.
Eye-Start AF does not work.
Set [Eye-Start AF] to [On] (page 71). Press the shutter button halfway down.

The flash does not work.

The flash mode is set to [Autoflash]. If you want to make sure the flash fires without fail, set the flash mode to [Fill-flash] (page 88).
The flash takes too long to recharge.
The flash has been fired in succession in a short period. When the flash has been fired in succession, the recharging process may take longer than usual to avoid overheating of the camera.
A picture taken with the flash is too dark.
If the subject is beyond the flash range (the distance that the flash can reach), the pictures will be dark because the flash light does not reach the subject. If the ISO is changed, the flash range also changes with it (page 90).