A telescoping flash unit for a camera helps substantially reduce "red-eye" by extending the flash head to a position far enough away from the objective lens such that the angle of incidence from the flash unit to the subject's eyes is too great for the light to be reflected from the subject's eyes directly back into the objective lens. The compact nature of the camera is maintained when the flash unit is not being used, by either retracting the flash unit back into the body of the camera, or detaching it from the camera. The flash unit is easily separable from the camera body or the external bracket should the flash unit need to be repaired or replaced.