Fuji FinePix S1 ProA 3.5 megapixel "SuperCCD" gives superb color and amazing low-light capability in an under-$4,000 SLR digicam!<<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & MenusReview First Posted: 8/1/2000 |
Camera Modes and Menus
Because the Record settings menu remains the same in each of the exposure modes, we'll go through the exposure modes individually and then list the settings menu options. Each of the exposure modes are accessed by turning the mode dial, while the Playback mode is entered by pressing the Play button on the camera's back panel.
Manual: Allows the user to set both the shutter speed and aperture values, as well as control other exposure variables such as ISO and exposure compensation. The camera's metering mode is automatically switched to center-weighted.
Aperture Priority: The user selects the desired lens aperture setting while the camera selects the most appropriate corresponding shutter speed. As with Manual exposure mode, all of the other exposure settings are available.
Shutter Speed Priority: As the exact opposite of Aperture Priority mode, this mode lets the user choose the shutter speed while the camera decides which aperture setting to use. All other exposure controls are available.
Programmed Auto: In this mode, the camera selects both the shutter speed and aperture settings. However, the user may select from a variety of shutter speed and aperture setting combinations that will produce the same exposure, by turning the function wheel. Exposure compensation adjustment is also available.
Full Auto: The camera controls all exposure settings with the exception of the flash.
Portrait: Uses a large aperture setting to decrease the depth of field and place all of the emphasis on the subject while slightly blurring the background.
Landscape: Increases the camera's depth of field by selecting a small aperture setting, so that both the foreground and background are in focus.
Macro: As with Portrait mode, the camera decreases the depth of field by setting a large lens aperture, so that the macro subject is the primary focus.
Sports: Utilizes fast shutter speeds and continuous autofocus to freeze fast moving subjects. Also enables the continuous shooting mode, which lets the camera capture up to five frames at approximately 1.5 frames per second with the shutter button held down. Actual cycle times depend on the image size and quality setting as well as the amount of image information to record. NOTE that for some strange reason, this mode disables exposure compensation.
Night Scene: Slows the shutter speed down to allow more ambient light into the image, works well with the Slow Synchronization flash modes.
Record Mode Function Menu One: Accessed by pressing the Function button once in any record mode, this menu offers the following settings:
- White Balance: Sets the camera's white balance value to Auto, Sunny, Shade, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent or Custom.
- ISO: Adjusts the camera's ISO sensitivity to 320, 400, 800 or 1600 equivalents.
- Image Quality: Selects compression levels for Basic, Normal or Fine JPEG quality, or Hi (uncompressed TIFF).
- Image Size: Selects image sizes of 3040 x 2016 (interpolated), 2304 x 1536 or 1440 x 960.
Record Mode Function Menu Two: This menu is displayed by pressing the Function button a second time in any record mode.
- Color: Adjusts the camera's color saturation, with options of Original, Black and White, Standard or High.
- Tone: Slightly alters the image tone with settings of Original, Standard and Hard.
- Sharpening: Adjusts the in-camera image sharpening. Options are Off, Standard or Hard.
- Multiple Exposures: Turns the camera's multiple exposure function On or Off, allowing you to expose one frame multiple times.
Record Mode Preview Menu: This menu is accessed by a third press of the Function button in any record mode, if the preview mode has been enabled.
- Save: Saves the current image to the memory card.
- Erase: Deletes the image from the buffer memory.
- Histogram: Cycles between the Master (luminance levels) and the individual red, green, and blue level histograms. (See screenshot below.)
- Display Color and Gray Scales: Activates the gray and color bar display on the LCD monitor if you're in Manual Preview mode. (See screenshot below.)
Record Mode Setup Menu: Pressing the Menu button in Record mode pulls up the Setup menu, which allows users to adjust the following camera settings:
- End: Cancels the menu display and returns to Record mode.
- Preview: Turns the image preview function on or off, with choice of Manual Record (preview with confirmation) or Auto Record (preview with no confirmation).
- Custom White Balance: Allows the user to set the custom white balance by placing a white card in front of the camera and pressing the shutter button.
- Hi MODE: Sets the uncompressed TIFF (Hi) mode to TIFF-RGB or TIFF-YC. (TIFF-YC produces a smaller file, which has been losslessly compressed. Fewer programs support it than do TIFF-RGB however.)
- Media: Selects which media slot to use: CompactFlash Type I/II or SmartMedia.
- Self-Timer: Sets the self-timer countdown time to two or 10 seconds.
- Auto Power Off: Activates or deactivates the camera's automatic shut-off, with time options of two or five minutes.
- Frame Number: Turns the sequential file numbering on or off.
- PC Mode: Allows the user to determine whether the USB interface is to be used for downloading images or for remote control of the camera.
- Beep: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off, with a High and Low setting.
- Language: Changes the camera's menu language setting.
- Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
- Reset: Resets all the menu settings to the factory defaults.
Playback Mode: Playback mode is accessed by pressing the Play button on the camera's rear panel. The last image captured is automatically displayed on the LCD monitor upon entering Playback mode. Captured images can be reviewed by pressing the left or right arrows on the rocker toggle button. An index display can be called up by pressing the Play button a second time, and the up and down arrow buttons allow you to digitally enlarge a captured image for closer inspection.
Playback Mode Setup Menu: Pressing the Menu button while in Playback mode brings up the following Setup menu on the large LCD screen:
- Erase: Allows the user to format the memory card or erase all images on the card.
- Multi-Play: Displays either nine or four thumbnail images on the LCD monitor, or shuts the index display mode off.
- Protect: Protects all images from accidental erasure (except from formatting) or unprotects them.
- DPOF: Sets up images for printing on DPOF compatible devices.
- Auto Play: Plays back all the captured images in a slide show format, with a choice of image transitions and the ability to set the time delay from 0.3 to five seconds.
- Brightness: Adjusts the LCD brightness.
Playback Mode Function Menu: The Playback Function menu is entered by pressing the Function button while in Playback mode, and the menu is displayed in the small rear LCD panel.
- Histogram: Cycles between the Master (black and white tonal levels) and RGB histograms.
- Erase: Deletes the currently displayed image.
- Protect: Protects the currently displayed image from accidental deletion, except from card formatting.
- DPOF: Sets up the current image for printing on a DPOF compatible device.
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