What is an AF illuminator?

[cherubfish pair]

I know it's some kind of flash feature.

 

[xtm]

AF lamp assist/AF illuminator is a "beam" of light that is flashed momentarily when you partially depress the shutter. This helps your camera's AF sensor to sense contrasts and set the AF. This is not needed when there is enough light for the AF module.

 

[cherubfish pair]

Looking for a new camera. Old one's pics are too dark. Should I be looking for something with a certain type of flash?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

You should be changing your exposure lol...that is very correctable even for simi-recent full auto cameras...or even cell phone cameras.