A self-developing camera with automatic focusing has a charge control system which charges the flash tube capacitor while other camera functions are inactive, and which disables capacitor charging during automatic focusing and during the film-related operations of exposure, transport, and processor-spreading. An enabling stage allows flash-illuminated exposure only when the storage capacitor is properly charged. The charge control system thus schedules high current operations to occur one at a time so that a single battery can power all camera operations. Further, it inhibits exposure under conditions of inadequate flash readiness. The control system affords the user of an SLR camera with a viewing interval between automatic focusing and exposure.