Fuji FinePix 4700Fuji packs a 2.4 million pixel "SuperCCD" sensor and 2400 x 1800 images into an ultra- compact digicam!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 10/7/2000 |
User Interface
The 4700z has a very friendly user interface, the camera actually says "Hello" and "Bye" in the small LCD information display panel when the camera is turned on or off. Because the camera is so compact, one-handed operation should be possible for most users, as all the controls are in close proximity to each other, although some functions do require two hands to press the "Shift" and arrow keys simultaneously. Additionally, since the only exposure mode that gives you any control is Manual, there isn't much more to think about in the other exposure modes other than framing and pressing the shutter button. This means picture-taking is truly "point & shoot" most of the time. When shooting in Manual mode, the settings menu is accessed through the Menu button and very easily navigated via the four arrow buttons. As we noted above, the icons and interaction between the shift and arrow buttons were initially a bit confusing. Once we learned the control operation though, we found it very easy to navigate the various functions. We did find a slight lag between pressing an arrow button and the associate change in camera state, a delay of close to a second before the LCD readout in the center of the arrow buttons would respond and show the new setting. This was rather annoying until we learned to just be patient after pressing the button. - At first, we frequently found ourselves pressing a button, not seeing a change, then pressing it again. This resulted in the function being left back at its original setting, and no change appearing on the readout. (This was a particular problem the first few times we tried to use the self-timer function, until we finally caught onto what was happening.) Not a big issue, but one we'd like to see corrected on future models.
Control Enumeration
Mode Dial: Located on the top of the camera, this dial sets the exposure mode to Night Scene, Landscape, Portrait, Auto, Manual, Continuous Shooting or Movie modes and accesses the Setup mode.
Shutter Release Button: Encircled by the mode dial, this button sets focus and exposure when half pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed.
Shift Button: Located on the back panel at the top left, this button is used to access alternate functions of the other controls and provides shortcuts to several Setup menu options. In Preview Display (the captured image is previewed on the LCD monitor before recording in Manual mode), after zooming into a captured image, pressing this button in conjunction with the arrow keys allows you to scroll around the enlarged image. In all exposure modes except for Movie and Continuous Shooting, pressing this button in conjunction with the down arrow button activates the self-timer mode (repeating the action cancels the mode). In Playback mode, when viewing movies, pressing the Shift and down arrow button plays back the movie in reverse. (A lot of fun, playing movies with people talking backwards!) In all record modes except for Movie, pressing the Shift button with the right arrow key sets the image quality and the left arrow sets the image size. In any mode, pressing the Shift button with the Display button allows you to adjust the LCD brightness, and when a movie is selected in playback mode, this combination allows you to adjust speaker volume as well.
Cancel/Back Button: Located to the right of the Shift button, this button cancels menu operations and backs out of menus.
Power Button: Located in the center of the mode switch on the back panel, this button turns the camera on and off.
Mode Switch: Located on the back panel of the camera, this switch puts the camera in Record or Playback mode. (Slightly confusing terminology here: The mode switch selects record or playback modes, whereas the mode dial described earlier selects between various recording modes or the setup menu.)
Display Button: Located just above the LCD monitor on the left side, this button cycles through the image and information displays, depending on the exposure mode of the camera. (Auto, Landscape and Night Scene modes include an alignment grid in the cycle of displays, while Portrait mode has an alignment frame. Manual, Continuous, and Movie modes have no alignment aids.) In any mode, when pressed with the Shift button, brings up the LCD brightness adjustment. If a movie file is selected in playback mode, Display plus Shift lets you set both LCD brightness and speaker volume.
Menu/EXE Button: Also located just above the LCD monitor but to the right, this button pulls up the settings menu in Manual exposure mode and Playback and executes menu settings.
Four Direction Arrow Buttons (aka "Jog Control"): Located on the back panel of the camera, these buttons are arranged in a circular pattern, surrounding a small information display panel and each button has an arrow in one of four directions (left, right, up, down). On their own, the up and down arrows control optical and digital zoom; the right arrow controls the flash mode; and the left arrow controls the macro mode. In Manual exposure mode, after pressing the Menu button, these arrows navigate through the settings menu. In most other exposure modes, the arrow buttons perform a variety of functions when combined with the Shift button. Also in Manual exposure mode, when manual focus is activated, the right and left arrows adjust the focus. When the down arrow button is pressed with the Shift button, the self-timer mode is activated. Pressing the left and right arrow buttons with the Shift button controls file size and image quality. In Auto, Portrait, Landscape and Night Scene modes, pressing the up arrow and Shift buttons selects from among the framing guidelines available in each mode, but only if the framing guides have already been displayed by pressing the Disp button.
In Playback mode, the up and down arrows zoom into an image. With the image enlarged, holding down the Shift button and pressing any of the arrow buttons scrolls around an image. Also in Playback mode, the right and left arrow buttons scroll through captured images sequentially.
Pop-up Flash Release Button: (not shown) Located on the left side of the camera (as viewed from the rear), just above the speaker grille, this button releases the pop-up flash.
Card Slot Switch: (not shown) Located on the very edge of the SmartMedia slot, this sliding switch releases the SmartMedia slot cover.
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