An auxiliary flash apparatus for a medical diagnostic instrument having an attached portable electronic device. The auxiliary flash apparatus includes a light detector and a trigger circuit associated with the light detector. The light detector upon receipt of illumination output from the source of flash illumination creates a trigger pulse that is received by signal conditioning electronics connected to the trigger circuit. The signal conditioning electronics are configured to produce a synchronized and re-created flash via at least one connected light source of the medical diagnostic instrument. The re-created flash output can be synchronized or substantially synchronized therewith.
