speed camera / flash
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speed camera
A device that measures the speed of vehicles and takes a photo if the speed limit is exceeded. Also called a radar trap.
Ich bin gestern auf der Autobahn von einem Blitzer erwischt worden.
Yesterday I was caught by a speed camera on the highway.
flash
A flash unit or flash lamp used in photography for artificial lighting.
Für Porträts bei schlechtem Licht benutze ich immer einen externen Blitzer.
For portraits in poor light, I always use an external flash.
The word 'Blitzer' (speed camera/flash) is derived from the verb 'blitzen' (to flash/lightning). The ending '-er' here refers to a thing that performs the action of the verb—so a device that produces a flash.
Am Himmel blitzte es, aber es regnete nicht.
There was lightning in the sky, but it wasn't raining.
You can always tell from context whether a radar trap or a camera flash is meant. If it is about traffic, speed, and fines, it is the radar trap. If it is about photography, portraits, and light, it is the flash unit.
Fahr vorsichtig, auf dieser Strecke gibt es oft Blitzer.
Drive carefully; there are often speed cameras on this route.
In connection with radar traps, fixed expressions are often used. Typical phrases are 'in einen Blitzer fahren' (to drive into a speed camera trap), 'von einem Blitzer erwischt werden' (to be caught by a speed camera), or 'geblitzt werden' (to be flashed/caught by a speed camera).
Ich glaube, ich wurde gerade geblitzt.
I think I just got flashed by a speed camera.
In photography, people often talk about an 'externen Blitzer' (external flash; a separate device) or an 'internen Blitzer' (built-in flash; built into the camera). You can take photos 'mit Blitzer' (with flash) or 'ohne Blitzer' (without flash).
Ein externer Blitzer sorgt für eine bessere Ausleuchtung des Motivs.
An external flash provides better illumination of the subject.
spotless
“Der Blitz” and “der Blitzer” may initially seem similar in the context of photography, but here they do not mean the same thing. “Blitz” in the accepted meaning means extremely clean, while “Blitzer” also refers to a flash unit for artificial lighting. “Blitzer” is therefore the appropriate word for the device.
Für das Porträt stellte die Fotografin den Blitzer neben die Kamera.
For the portrait, the photographer placed the flash unit next to the camera.
Nach dem Putzen ist das Badezimmer blitz.
After cleaning, the bathroom is spotless.
