Flash Reliability Problem with Sony P200?

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.dcameras (More info?)

Hi,

I am new to digital cameras and am searching for a pocket camera for
all-around use including photographing text from documents.

After reading positive posts on the P200 here I became interested in it and
checked the reviews at www.dpreview.com. The reviews were almost all very
enthusiastic but two caused me pause. The first was from pondpine dated 23
May 05. He said he was testing the camera by performing 150 shots at the
same object and all went well until he partially covered the flash with his
finger. From then on, the flash was too strong, too weak or did not work.
He returned if for a replacement and repeated the test with the same result.

One other post mentioned an erratic flash problem.

Does anyone know if covering the flash could cause damage of this type and,
if so, what is the nature of the damage? Could there be a logic problem of
some type that could be cured by removing the battery and draining off the
retained charge?

Mike