I have a Nikon D3200.
With the camera on Auto Focus, the lens on Auto, and Flash on, I can take several pictures in a row with no problem. But after say a dozen or so pictures right after the other in a short amount of time, the shutter will stop releasing. I'll get the auto-focus beep, but no picture.
I notice that when this happens, the Flash icon in the lower right of the viewport goes away. If I wait a bit -- maybe 5-10 seconds -- the flash icon will reappear and then I can take pictures again.
If I turn flash off, I do not experience this problem.
It's been this way since I got the camera a few years ago. I can reproduce this behavior every single time. It's almost as if the Flash has to re-warm-up, or gets overheated, or something.
Is this expected behavior?
Answer
Yes, this is expected behavior. The flash is a xenon tube which requires a high voltage burst. This is supplied by a capacitor. If you deplete the capacitor by taking several flash pictures in quick succession, you will have to wait for the capacitor — and therefore the flash — to recharge.
In addition to the recharge time, heat is also an issue — each flash releases quite a bit of energy in that form, and it builds up. Even when you have enough power, most flashes will cut off after a bit to protect themselves from damage — or, you know, to keep from starting fires.
All of this applies to both external flashes and the built-in flash. When flashes communicate with the camera — and of course the built-in one does — the camera can know that the flash isn't ready and refuse to release the shutter. With a manual external flash, you're likely to just get underexposure.
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