XSi Built In Flash

Wondering if anyone else has ever come across this. My Rebel XSi is relatively new (approx 3000 shots), I was using the camera constantly one day, sometimes with the built in flash. I closed the flash (in P mode) and took a picture. Heard a 'pop' and could smell burning plastic and the camera shut down. I turned it to off and then back on, no problems. Opened the flash and found the plastic under the flash lens melted. Obviously the flash went off when it was closed. The flash lens did not crack and it has been working fine ever since. Just wondering if this was a rare fluke or if it might be a problem. Thanks!

It definitely seems like the the camera 'thought' the flash was up when you took the picture. Did you focus with the shutter half way down then close the flash before you pressed the shutter button all the way down? That could possibly trick the camera in thinking the flash was still up when it fired.

I would say that this is a fluke, and doesn't happen very often at all. When I use my flash, I'm always in one of the manual modes (AV, M) and have to press the flash button down by the lens fitting (xti) for it to pop up. That way I know the flash is always up when the camera uses it. The camera will adjust the flash power when pressing the * button before you take the shot. (more details about that are in your manual)

Good luck, welcome to the forum, and happy shooting!

I know for sure that I had closed it and then framed/focused the next shot. I also checked that the flash was all the way down and doesn't stick part way. I had it in P mode and was switching between flash and other settings (was changing rooms/lighting). It has not happened since.