Casio QV-3000EXCasio steps into the 3-megapixel era with great picture quality and 340 megabytes of storage!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 2/14/2000 |
User Interface
We were really impressed with the user interface on the QV-3000EX, especially with the very cool 3D menu system that seems to have become a trademark of Casio's digicams. Although the placement of the controls doesn't allow for one handed operation, the buttons are well laid out and marked in a logical manner.
Shutter Button
Located on top of the camera, with a smooth silver finish. In all capture modes, sets focus and/or exposure when halfway pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed.
Power/Mode Dial
Located on top of the camera and surrounding the shutter button (see the photo above), this dial puts the camera in Record, Off or Playback modes. One of our few complaints about the QV-3000's user interface was that the "off" position on this dial had a very light detent on it, making it easy to overshoot when turning the camera off, and end up putting it into either play or record mode, as the case may be.
Mode Button
Located on top of the camera, marked by the word 'mode' in light gray. In Record mode, pulls up the 3D exposure mode menu with the following options:
Program: puts the camera in charge of exposure decisions.
Movie: records up to 30 second movies without sound.
Panorama: records up to nine images as one panoramic image.
Aperture Priority: the camera controls shutter speed in accordance with user set aperture.
Shutter Speed Priority: the camera selects aperture in accordance with user set shutter speed.
Landscape: fixes the aperture and focus for far away subjects so that all foreground and background are in focus. (That is, sets a small aperture value, and the focus to the "hyperfocal" distance.)
Portrait: sets the aperture so that the subject is in focus while the background is blurred. (That is, forces a large lens aperture for shallow depth of field.)
Night Scene: utilizes slow shutter speeds to capture night and backlit subjects.
Self-Timer / Folder Button
Located on top of the camera, to the lower right of the Mode button, this button is marked with a gray self-timer symbol and a green folder icon. In all capture modes, this button cycles between the two and 10 second self-timers as well as turning the mode off. In Playback mode, it lets you select which memory folder you would like to play back from.
Manual Focus / Infinity / Macro Button
Located on top of the camera, to the left of the Self-Timer / Folder button, this button is marked with a gray MF and macro flower symbol. In all capture modes, it accesses the manual, infinity and macro focusing options.
Flash Button
Located on top of the camera, to the left of the Mode button, this button is marked with a gray flash symbol. In all capture modes except for Movie and Panorama, it cycles between Auto, On, Off and Red-Eye Reduction flash modes.
Dioptric Adjustment Dial
Small, black, notched dial located on the left side of the optical viewfinder which adjusts the viewfinder to accommodate eyeglass wearers.
T/W Zoom Lever
Located on the top right hand side of the QV-3000EX back panel, the lever is marked with a gray 'T' and 'W'. In all capture modes, this lever controls the optical zoom. Once the end of the telephoto range is reached (if the digital telephoto option is enabled), one more press of the 'T' end digitally zooms in 2x.
Preview/Delete Button
Located on the right side of the LCD monitor on the camera's back panel, this button is marked with the word 'Preview' and a green trash can symbol. In any capture mode, this button plays back a quick preview of the last image taken. In Playback mode, this allows you to delete on-screen images. (This "instant review" function in record mode is very handy, particularly as it is literally instantaneous on the QV-3000, making it very easy to check the last picture you shot.)
Display Button
Located beneath the Preview button, this button is marked 'Disp' in black letters. In all capture modes, it turns the LCD monitor and information display on and off. In Playback mode, it turns the image information display on and off.
Menu Button
Located on the top left hand side of the camera's back panel, this button is marked with the word 'Menu' in black. In all capture modes and in Playback mode, this button calls up the settings menus. It also serves as the "back" button for backing out of menu selections.
Rocker Toggle Button
Located on the back panel of the camera, on the left side of the LCD monitor, this button features four raised arrows. In all capture modes and in Playback mode, it navigates through the settings menus. In all capture modes except for Panorama, the left and right arrow buttons control the exposure compensation (EV), while in Aperture or Shutter Speed Priority modes, the up and down arrows control those variables. While in Shutter Priority mode, the left arrow pressed with the Set button puts the camera in full manual mode. In Playback mode, the left and right arrows scroll through recorded images. When using the playback zoom feature, all four arrows allow you to scroll around in an image.
Set Button
Located beneath the rocker toggle button and marked with the word 'Set' in black letters. In all capture and Playback mode settings menus, confirms selected menu options. In Shutter Priority mode, when pressed with the left arrow button, the Set button puts the camera into full manual mode.
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