Fuji FinePix S3 ProFuji updates their digital SLR with a 12.34-megapixel Super CCD SR II, for amazing tonal range.<<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & MenusReview First Posted: 9/7/2005 |
Camera Modes and Menus
Because the Record settings menu remains the same in each of the exposure modes, I'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 Exposure Mode: Lets the user set both the shutter speed and aperture values, as well as control other exposure variables such as ISO and exposure compensation.
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: The converse 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 produce the same exposure, by turning the function wheel. (I like this mode a lot, it does what you'd normally use Aperture or Shutter priority for with less hassle.) Exposure compensation adjustment is also available.
Record Mode Function Menu One: This menu appears on the rear-panel LCD data readout when the Function button is pressed once in any record mode, this menu offers the following settings. (Each setting is controlled by the "soft key" button below the corresponding entry on the LCD data readout as shown below right.)
White Balance: Sets the camera's white balance value to Auto, Custom 1 & 2 (manual settings), Sunny, Shade, Fluorescent 1 (daylight fluorescent), Fluorescent 2 (warm white fluorescent), Fluorescent 3 (cool white fluorescent), or Incandescent.
- Image Quality: Selects file compression levels and format. Options are Fine or Normal JPEG quality, or Hi (RAW format).
- Image Size: Selects image size. Options are 1M (1,440 x 960); 3M (2,304 x 1,536); 6M (3,024 x 2,016); and 12M (4,256 x 2,848).
- Film Simulation: Activates the camera's Film Simulation utility, which attempts to mimic the color and tonal handling of color film. Choices are Standard, F1 Studio Portrait (suppresses highlights and improves tonal variations in skin tone), and F2 Fujichrome (produces vibrant color for landscapes and scenery.)
Record Mode Function Menu Two: This menu is displayed by pressing the Function button a second time in any record mode.
Dynamic Range: Allows you to adjust the camera's tonal handling. Options are Standard, Wide 1, and Wide 2. In Standard mode, the camera automatically varies the dynamic range between 100 and 400 percent, according to the circumstances. The Wide 1 setting sets the dynamic range at 230 percent, regardless of the conditions. Wide 2 sets the dynamic range to 400 percent.
- Color: Adjusts the camera's color saturation, with options of Original (lower saturation), Black and White, Standard, or High.
- Tone: Slightly alters the image tone with settings of Original (slightly lower contrast), Standard, and Hard.
- Sharpening: Adjusts the in-camera image sharpening. Options are Off, Standard or Hard. (Use Off with strong unsharp masking in Photoshop for maximum detail.)
Record Mode Function Menu Three: This menu is displayed by pressing the Function button a third time in any record mode.
AF Area: Sets AF area selection mode to Single-Area (indicated by a cross hairs) or Dynamic-Area.- Function Lock: Locks the Function keys to prevent accidental changes.
- Function Reset: Resets all the Function menu options to their default settings.
Record Mode Setup Menu: Pressing the Menu button in Record mode displays the Setup menu on the large LCD monitor on the camera's rear panel. This menu lets you adjust the following camera settings:
Image Display: Turns the image preview function on or off, or puts it into Preview mode. In Preview mode, the Function menu offers Erase, Histogram, and Standard Chart options. The On setting displays the captured image immediately post-capture for two seconds.
- Custom White Balance: Sets the custom white balance based on a white card placed in front of the camera.
- Color Spaces: Sets the color space to sRGB or Adobe RGB.
- Dynamic Range: Sets the dynamic range to Standard or Wide. (Standard fixes the dynamic range at 100 percent and disables the Dynamic Range Function menu item.)
Auto Rotate: If turned on, this feature automatically rotates vertically-oriented shots in the viewfinder during playback.
- Media: Specifies which media slot to use by default: CompactFlash Type I/II or xD-Picture Card. (If only one card is present, it will be used regardless of this setting.)
- Test Shooting: Lets you trip the shutter without a media card in the camera. The captured image is displayed in preview mode on the LCD monitor, but obviously goes away as soon as you shoot another or turn the camera off.)
- Format: Formats the selected memory card.
Beep: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off, with a High and Low setting.
- Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
- USB Mode: Sets the USB mode to DSC (mass storage device) or PictBridge (for direct connection to PictBridge printers).
- IEEE 1394 Mode: Sets the mode to DSC or Shooting (provides camera control from a computer, and directly saves images to the computer drive).
Frame Number: Turns sequential file numbering on or off. (When on, files are numbered sequentially, even across multiple memory cards. This helps avoid overwriting shots you've previously transferred to your computer.)
- Language: Changes the camera's menu language setting. Options are English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese.
- Video System: Sets the video out signal to NTSC or PAL.
- Discharge: Discharges the batteries. (Do not use with non-rechargeable batteries.)
Reset: Resets all the menu settings to the factory defaults.
- Live Image: Opens the shutter for 30 seconds and displays the image area on the LCD monitor for framing.
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 Four-Way Arrow Rocker button. The up and down arrow buttons allow you to digitally enlarge a captured image for closer inspection. Pressing the FUNC button alternates the data readout display between two screens, shown above right.
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 (brightness levels) and red, green, and blue histogram displays. (The histogram overlays the main image.)
- Single Frame Erase: Deletes the currently displayed image.
- Protect Frame: Protects the currently displayed image from accidental deletion, apart from card formatting.
- Multi-Frame: Displays nine thumbnail images on the LCD monitor, or turns the index display mode off, returning you to single-image viewing. In Multi-Frame mode, the arrow keys on the four-way controller move the cursor corresponding to the currently selected image between the available thumbnails.
Playback Mode Setup Menu: Pressing the Menu button while in Playback mode brings up the following Setup menu on the large LCD screen:
Erase: Lets you erase all images on the selected memory card (except for those with write protection.)
- Protect: Protects all images currently on the card from accidental erasure (except from formatting) or unprotects them. (Use the "Protect" function key in playback mode to protect or unprotect individual images.)
- DPOF: Sets up images for printing on DPOF compatible devices.
- Automatic Playback: Automatically plays back captured images, with interval and transition options.
- Trimming: Lets you crop a recorded image and save the cropped version as a separate file.
- Brightness: Adjusts the LCD brightness.
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