A flash often adds a "professional" look to photos.
The Nikon D40 is a professional-level DLSR camera. One of its features, a high speed sync flash mode, is used when working with external flash units. This mode will automatically trigger the flash each time the camera takes a photo. External flashes are sold separately and generally have a higher quality flash than the built-in flash. Check the D40 manual to see if your flash is compatible. Using a non-compatible flash could damage both the camera and the flash unit.
Instructions
1. Align the contact pins and attach an external flash to the hot shoe on top of the camera. The hot shoe is the metal bracket on the top of the camera. The flash unit's contact pins will align with small metal circles on the hot shoe.
2. Turn on the flash as appropriate to your specific model. Turn on the D40 by rotating the dial next to the shutter button.
3. Set your external flash to its automatic mode. Check your specific flash's manual for the exact steps.
4. Press the flash button, which looks like a lightning-shaped arrow, on the D40 once to raise the flash.
5. Press the flash button again and hold it as you rotate the command dial to select "AUTO" for automatic flash of the eye-icon for red-eye reduction.
6. Aim the camera at the subject and press the shutter button halfway to focus. Press it fully to take the photo. The camera will automatically trigger the flash as the shutter opens.
Tags: external flash, automatically trigger, automatically trigger flash, camera flash, camera flash unit