Fuji FinePix 4900 ZoomFujifilm extends its consumer digicam, with a 6x optical zoom lens and extensive exposure controls.<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 10/7/2000 |
Operation and User Interface
Despite a somewhat daunting first appearance, thanks to the myriad of buttons and controls, we actually found the F4900's user interface quite straightforward after working with it for a short while. The camera body is liberally sprinkled with control buttons, which may initially seem a more complicated than scrolling through menu screens, but we actually prefer less reliance on an LCD menu system. Having camera controls directly accessible via external buttons makes for much faster access to the functions and settings. A fair number of the exposure variables are controlled through the LCD menu system, but the basic controls, such as shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation, are operated via the external controls. The only control we found a little awkward is the mode dial, which required two fingers to turn. We're more accustomed to being able to turn mode dials with our thumb as we grip the camera, but the 4900's mode dial rotates a bit too stiffly for our thumb to manage on its own. The camera's many controls are spread out on the top, back and side of the camera body, meaning you'll need both hands to operate it. Overall, however, the compact shape fit our hands nicely, and the finger grips are comfortable and natural.
Control Enumeration
Shutter Button: Located on the very top of the hand grip, this chrome button trips the shutter when fully pressed, and sets focus when halfway pressed in autofocus mode. When the Self-Timer mode is activated, fully pressing the shutter button triggers the two or 10 second countdown.
Macro Button: Also located on the top panel of the camera, this button enables the camera's macro shooting mode. Once pressed, the traditional flower symbol appears in the LCD monitor and the focus range changes to 3.9 to 32 inches (10 to 80 cm). A second press of the button cancels the mode.
Flash Mode: Directly to the right of the Macro button, this button controls the internal flash mode and cycles through Automatic, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced, Slow-Synchro, and Red-Eye Reduction with Slow-Synchro operating modes.
Continuous Shooting Button: Marked with the Continuous Shooting symbol, this button also resides on the camera's top panel, to the lower left of the Macro button. Once pressed, this button places the camera in Continuous Shooting mode, allowing you to capture up to five consecutive images with one press of the shutter button, at intervals as short as 0.2 seconds. Pressing the button a second time cancels the mode.
Self-Timer Button: To the left of the Continuous Shooting button, the Self-Timer button activates the two or 10 second Self-Timer mode. Pressing the button repeatedly cycles through the two self-timer delay settings and normal shooting mode. Once either self-timer mode is enabled, a full press of the shutter button activates the timer countdown.
Power Button: Just below the Self-Timer and Continuous Shooting buttons, the Power button is located in the center of the camera mode switch. Pressing the Power button turns on the camera and triggers the lens to slide outwards into its operating position (if the camera is set to capture mode). Another press of the button shuts the camera down and retracts the lens into the camera body.
Mode Switch: Surrounding the Power button, this switch places the camera in either Capture or Playback mode.
Exposure Mode Dial: Situated on the very right side of the camera's top panel, and on top of the command wheel, this dial puts the camera into one of seven exposure modes, or into the Setup mode. Available mode settings are:
- Setup: Displays a camera settings menu, for changing basic camera settings like the date, time, etc.
- Manual Mode: Lets you set all of the exposure variables, including shutter speed and aperture. You also have control over all other exposure features, except the exposure compensation setting.
- Aperture Priority Mode: Allows you to set the lens aperture while the camera selects the best corresponding shutter speed. You maintain control over all other exposure settings, including exposure compensation.
- Shutter Priority Mode: The opposite of Aperture Priority mode, this mode lets you choose the shutter speed while the camera selects the lens aperture setting.
- Program Mode: Offers a range of equivalent exposure settings to choose from, depending on the type of effect you want to achieve. You have direct control over all other exposure settings, other than shutter speed and aperture.
- Automatic Mode: Puts the camera in control of all exposure settings, other than the flash mode.
- Scene Program Mode: Useful for shooting under specific conditions, this mode lets you choose from four preset shooting setups, including Portrait, Landscape, Sports, and Night Scene.
- Movie Mode: Lets you record up to 160 seconds of moving images without sound, depending on SmartMedia capacity and available space.
Command Wheel: Positioned directly beneath the exposure mode dial (and concentric with it), this notched wheel sets the shutter speed and aperture setting. In Shutter Priority mode, it controls the shutter speed. In Aperture Priority mode, it controls the aperture. In Manual mode, it by default controls the shutter speed, but pressing and holding down the Exposure Compensation Button (+/- button) switches its control to the lens aperture.
EVF / LCD Button: Located directly to the right of the optical viewfinder eyepiece on the back panel, this button toggles between the eyelevel viewfinder display and the rear-panel LCD monitor, alternately enabling one and disabling the other.
Focus Check Button: To the right of the EVF/LCD button, this button allows you to check the focus when shooting in manual focus mode. Pressing the button enlarges the very center of the subject by 2x, so that you can check the fine details for focus.
AE Lock Button: Situated to the right of the Focus Check button, this button locks the exposure setting based on whatever is currently centered in the frame. This setting is preserved as long as you hold the button down, letting you recompose (even changing the lens zoom) and refocus before taking the picture. (A very nice feature!)
Display Button: Also on the back panel, at the top right corner of the LCD monitor, this button cycles between three LCD display modes. The first press shows a camera settings information display, with information about the memory card, exposure settings, and exposure mode. A second press displays a set of framing guidelines, which divide the frame into thirds, horizontally and vertically. The third press of the button cancels both displays.
Menu / OK Button: In the center of the back panel, on the right side of the LCD monitor, this button pulls up the settings menu in both Capture and Playback modes. It also serves as the "OK" to confirm menu selections and changes.
Rocker Toggle Button: Just below the Menu / OK button, this control features four arrows, one in each cardinal direction. In both capture and Playback menus, these arrow buttons navigate through menu options and selections. In any capture mode, the up and down arrows control the optical and digital zoom. In Playback mode, the right and left arrows scroll through captured images. Also in Playback mode, when playback zoom is enabled, the four arrow buttons allow you to move around within the enlarged image to check fine details.
Back Button: Positioned below the rocker toggle button, this button cancels menu options and backs out of menu screens, returning you to the main image display.
Shift Button: Located on the left side of the LCD monitor, pressing this button, followed by the Display button lets you adjust the display brightness, in both capture and playback modes. In all capture modes except Movie mode, pressing this button, followed by the Flash button takes you to a screen for adjusting image size and quality settings. (This last in particular is a very handy shortcut, as it avoids having to rotate the mode dial to the setup position and make the size/quality changes there, a somewhat time-consuming process.
Popup Flash Release Button: Resting on the lens side of the popup flash compartment, this button releases the flash head into its operating position.
AF / MF Switch: Also on the lens side of the camera, this sliding switch selects auto or manual focus modes. In manual focus mode, focus is controlled by turning the knurled ring on the front of the lens barrel.
Zoom Toggle: Just beneath the AF / MF switch is the zoom toggle button, which controls the optical and digital zoom setting.
Exposure Compensation Button: To the right of the AF / MF switch, this button calls up the exposure compensation adjustment bar, allowing you to adjust the exposure compensation from -2 to +2 in 1/3 EV increments, in all exposure modes except for Automatic, Scene Program, and Manual. In Manual exposure mode, pressing this button while turning the command wheel adjusts the lens aperture.
Custom White Balance Button: Situated to the right of the Exposure Compensation button, this button sets the manual white balance value when working in the Custom white balance mode. Pressing this button while a white card is held up in front of the lens manually adjusts the camera's white balance to match the current light source.
Info Button: Located at the bottom of the lens side of the camera, this button displays a quick reference screen of the currently set exposure variables in all exposure modes except for Automatic, Scene Program, and Movie. Likewise, in Playback mode, the Info button displays the exposure information for the currently displayed image.
Focus Ring: Encircling the lens barrel, at the very tip, this notched ring adjusts the manual focus when working in manual focus mode.
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