The Truth About Cameras...FLASH!

[Kiko&Kina]

I know that you all love to show off pictures of your budgies, and believe me, I love it too! But the truth about using the setting "flash" on your camera can blind your budgie if used too much. :eek: I encourage you guys to turn off flash and do no harm to your budgies! Thanks,


~Alicia
:D :budgie: I :love: :budge:ies! :budgie: :D

[Bea]

I don't usually use flash anyway cause it ruins the colour and stuff but i believe the flash only causes a problem if you use it super close to them. So if your camera has decent zoom you should be right. ;)

[Mistyoriline]

Wow I did not know that how did you find this out?

[Amy]

I only ever use flash if I'm in my Mum and Dad's bedroom because it is rather dark! Thanks for the info.

[bluebird]

:) i have a great zoom ,dont use a flash but thanks for the info.

[Amy]

I have a good zoom to.

Are those cameras with laser centerers bad for budgies? I always have that turned off just to be on the safe side.

[Bee]

I would think so, because lasers arent very good for our eyes either.

[Amy]

Yes, I see, they can blind people! I know you already knew that!

[Debby]

WOW! I never knew that, but I guess it makes perfect sense. Poor things. Thanks for the tip!

[Budgiekin]

Hi everyone. I am finding this thread rather interesting.

While a direct flash may cause harm if used excessively, if you have the kind of camera flash that actually has a light diffuser, or a flash with the ability to be pointed indirectly at your budgies (ie. like up at the ceiling so that the light is deflected from the ceiling onto your birds) you can get some really nice shots. You would need a digital SLR camera to be able to do this, as the lower end cameras only have built-in flashes that cannot be adjusted. The digital SLRs have separate flashes that can be attached to the top of the camera and the higher end flashes can be rotated and angled differently so that the flash isn't pointed directly at the subject.

Anyway, I just thought I would share that since not all situations in which flashes are used are harmful to their little eyes.

[Mistyoriline]

Hi everyone. I am finding this thread rather interesting.

While a direct flash may cause harm if used excessively, if you have the kind of camera flash that actually has a light diffuser, or a flash with the ability to be pointed indirectly at your budgies (ie. like up at the ceiling so that the light is deflected from the ceiling onto your birds) you can get some really nice shots. You would need a digital SLR camera to be able to do this, as the lower end cameras only have built-in flashes that cannot be adjusted. The digital SLRs have separate flashes that can be attached to the top of the camera and the higher end flashes can be rotated and angled differently so that the flash isn't pointed directly at the subject.

Anyway, I just thought I would share that since not all situations in which flashes are used are harmful to their little eyes.
Thanks I am buying a new cam soon I will have to look for that SLR type:)

[Budgiekin]

Be forewarned that digital SLRs can be quite expensive! They often come with interchangeable lenses that are sometimes more than the cost of the body of the camera! I hope to be getting one soon as I am totally getting into photography as one of my hobbies. :p

[Amy]

So am I! Lol, it's fun!

[George101]

Hi everyone. I am finding this thread rather interesting.

While a direct flash may cause harm if used excessively, if you have the kind of camera flash that actually has a light diffuser, or a flash with the ability to be pointed indirectly at your budgies (ie. like up at the ceiling so that the light is deflected from the ceiling onto your birds) you can get some really nice shots. You would need a digital SLR camera to be able to do this, as the lower end cameras only have built-in flashes that cannot be adjusted. The digital SLRs have separate flashes that can be attached to the top of the camera and the higher end flashes can be rotated and angled differently so that the flash isn't pointed directly at the subject.

Anyway, I just thought I would share that since not all situations in which flashes are used are harmful to their little eyes.
Take a small toy mirror and put it in front of the flash thing but not the lense to reflect it on to the ceiling.
several hundred dollar camera ooooorrr 2 dollar toy mirror?

[Budgiekin]

Yes, that is an option as well as long as the light from the flash doesn't bounce off the mirror into your budgie's eyes. I am into photography big time so I absolutely love the professional digital SLR cameras. I just got one and can't wait to start using it to photograph my sweeties!!! :p There is no comparison in terms of photo quality when looking at the results from regular digital cameras versus digital SLRs. :cool:

[Amy]

I hope to be getting a better quality camera soon, I will look out for a SLR one. What does that stand for?

[ETAHoffman]

Single lens reflex.

[Amy]

What? *Is confused*

[Kiko&Kina]

yes, I used to have a little bird and my little brother took a pic of it with flash and he was blind evers since then

[George101]

Did he survive?
How is he doing now?
Is it hard since being blind means he can`t find his food or water and stuff so did he die? Or did you guys feed him by hand?

[shawna]

I would be interested in your source for this information. I'm not disputing it but would like to read more. I had a very premature baby and used to take a lot of pictures of him. I was worried about the effects of flash and was assured by the doctors that it would do no harm.

[Amy]

Hmmm, interesting, so would I.

[Budgiekin]

This really is an interesting topic. While I have never heard of a budgie being blinded by a camera flash, it does pose some interesting questions about budgie photography.

There is one side to the argument that says budgies would react in the same way people would to a flash. We sometimes see stars (or whatever you want to call them) after having our photographs taken with a flash. Argueably, budgies would experience the same thing.

I am not sure that I buy the argument that camera flashes can blind a budgie (or other bird for that matter). I somehow doubt that the flash would be strong enough to provoke that kind of damage. However, given the fact that relative to our body size, our eyes are proportionately MUCH smaller than that of a budgies in relation to their body size, perhaps that makes budgies more sensitive to bright light sources like flashes.

While we are on the topic of budgie vision, I thought I would share that interestingly enough, budgies have a third transparent "eyelid" called the nictitating membrane. This one is really hard to see! Then of course they have their upper and lower eyelids. Hmmmmm.

If anyone finds any research on budgies and flash photography, please do share!

In the meantime, I would use flashes sparingly, if at all with your sweeties. Much like we don't like repetitive flashes of light, budgies I am sure don't like it either! :p

[Kiko&Kina]

Did he survive?
How is he doing now?
Is it hard since being blind means he can`t find his food or water and stuff so did he die? Or did you guys feed him by hand?
My little parrolette named lime was blind, but not totally blind (he could still find his food and stuff) but it was hard for him to find his way around and one day SOMEONE lefft the cage door open and......well..I hav'nt seen him since....:(

[Kiko&Kina]

I would be interested in your source for this information. I'm not disputing it but would like to read more. I had a very premature baby and used to take a lot of pictures of him. I was worried about the effects of flash and was assured by the doctors that it would do no harm.
I bought a book all on budgies and it said so, plus my parrolette was partially blind due to the flash of a camera. I am not sure if maybe the budgie's eye is less sencitive or what.

[Amy]

How old is that book?

[Kiko&Kina]

I dont really know......I found and bought it at a pet store.

[Adottybird]

In the booklet that came with my camera it saids not to be closer then three feet as the flash could cause harm.