New XT! Need help with Flash

[conbon65]

First time here. I picked out my Christmas present this year! Rebel XT with the 18-55mm (kit lens) and the 75-300mm f/4 lens. I will be purchasing the 75-300mm IS lens for my birthday! :lol:

I have had a Pentax 35mm point and shoot (dropped by the kids, may it rest in pieces) and an Canon Powershot.
This is my first real SLR! What a beautiful piece of equipment!
Outdoor photography I have a good handle on.

My problem...I just can't seem to get the flash to work indoors. In the auto modes the flash is way too bright and washes everything out. I have tried the manual modes and the picts are either yellow or red tinged.
Any suggestions?

Thanks!
ConBon

[Jon]

By "Auto modes", I assume you mean the "Basic" zone (pictures) and by "Manual", the "Creative" zone (letters) on the "Mode" dial. In the "Basic" zone, the flash is used as the primary light source; it's possible that you're too close (there is a "minimum" flash distance) or that there's something unusual in the setting. In the "Creative" zone, flash is used to supplement the available light, so the colour tinging you're seeing is from the tungsten light bulbs. You can control how much the flash contributes to the picture in "Creative" with Flash Exposure Compensation", which lets you adjust how much the flash contributes to the picture.

[storeman]

In the creative zones you have to press the flash button on the side of the body to pop up the flash to get the flash to fire.