Abstract: An electronic photographic flash apparatus which is useful as an artificial light source for taking photographs. The apparatus of this invention does not use an AC charger or the like as its power source, but it uses a plurality of secondary batteries normally held in a charged state by a primary battery, whereby when the flash apparatus is to be used, the connection of the plurality of the secondary batteries is changed to quickly charge a main discharge capacitor of the flash apparatus. By virtue of the ability of the apparatus to quickly charge its main discharge capacitor, the electronic flash apparatus in accordance with the present invention can effectively associate its operation with the operation of the shutter release of a photographic camera when it is incorporated in the latter.

Abstract: A combination of a camera device and an electronic flash device in which not only switching between the natural light mode and electronic flash mode but also the exposure control are automatically effected depending on the sensitivity of the film and the brightness of the object to be photographed. Said combination comprises means for connecting the electronic flash device to an electric power source only when the former satisfies an optimal condition of use for avoiding the loss of electric energy and does not open the shutter of the camera device when the electronic flash device does not meet the optimal conditions of use for preventing mis-operation thereof.