Olympus iS-3 DLX Instructions Manual page 64

The lower tube is designed for telephoto
photography and offers GN 28 ~ 1.4 (ISO 100 ·m)/
GN 92 ~ 4.2 (ISO 100 ·ft). The upper tube is an
intelligent variable-power flash offering GN20-1.4
(IS0100· m)/GN 66 ~ 4.2(ISO 100·ft). When the
camera-to-subject distance is less than 1.2 m in the
Macro mode, the upper flash will automatically fire
to prevent the flash light from being obstructed by
the tip of the lens. The flash is also capable of
emitting minimal intensity for ideal macro
photography.
Auto-S Flash
The Auto-S Flash mode includes a series of pre-
flashes that reduces the phenomenon of red-eye, in
addition to the same functions as the Auto Flash
mode which prevent camera-shake and insufficient
lighting by automatically firing in dimly lit and dark
conditions when the flash is flipped up. The
phenomenon of red-eye is when subject's eyes
appear red in printed photographs. In this mode, the
camera will start emitting approximately 20 low-
power pre-flashes about a second before the
regular flash.
This contracts pupils, which are wide open in the
dark, significantly reducing red-eye. The pre-flashes
do not decrease the power of the main flash. The
red-eye reducing effect varies according to shooting
conditions.
Fill-in Flash
Fill-in refers to the auxiliary light that "fills in" areas of
the subject shadowed by the main light source.
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Even when the subject is backlit, the IS-3DLX can
shoot it at the correct exposure using ESP metering
or spot metering. However, this may wash out the
background. This happens because the difference
in brightness between that of the subject and the
background is too great. When the Fill-in Flash is
used in such a case, the subject is lit brightly by the
flash. This minimizes the difference in brightness
between the subject and the background, allowing
both to be shot clearly. This light is also reflected
from the subject's eyes (catch light effect), making
the picture lively.
In this mode, the flash fires no matter what light is
available as long as the flash is flipped up. (Flash
emission in well-lit conditions is called daylight
synchro.)