Fujifilm FinePix A920

Manual Control Options
There aren’t many manual controls on the Fujifilm A920. There is an exposure mode called Manual, but it doesn’t have control over shutter speed and aperture and would be more accurately titled Program. It is curiously placed in the "SP" position of the mode dial with a series of Scene modes. The Manual mode, however, allows full access of the menu and the few manual controls that there are: white balance, ISO, and exposure compensation.

Focus
Autofocus (6.0)
The autofocus is about as automatic as it can get. There are no autofocus options in the menu system. The through-the-lens contrast type autofocus does not run continuously; it only focuses when the shutter release button is pushed. The AF frame is fixed to the center at all times, so off-center subjects are often out of focus. The only choice the camera allows the user to make is whether to activate the Macro mode, which can focus from 3.9 inches to 2.6 feet when the lens is zoomed wide. When zoomed to telephoto, the Macro mode can focus from 0.9 to 2.6 feet. Normally, the A920 can focus from 2 feet to as far as the lens can see. The autofocus system isn’t quick. It takes the camera nearly a full second to focus on subjects; expect more than a few blinked eyes. There is plenty to slow the autofocus system down, too: when the lights are dim or the batteries low, it takes even longer.

Manual Focus (0.0)
There is no manual focus on this digital camera. This is most likely for the best – this demographic probably wouldn’t use manual focus, and the LCD screen’s poor resolution makes it hard to judge focus, anyway.

ISO (6.75)
The Fujifilm FinePix A920 has scant options in terms of ISO sensitivity. That is to be expected for such an inexpensive camera, though. Its range consists of Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800 options.

There is a Picture Stabilization mode on the mode dial that increases the ISO up to 800. It also quickens the shutter speed to freeze action. This method of blur reduction has problems, however – it brings with it an increase in noise.

The Testing/Performance section has more details, but the ISO settings generally performed well when correlated noise was tested. The camera performs better when the ISO is manually set, though.

White Balance (6.0)
In the Recording menu there are a few white balance options. There isn’t a manual white balance setting, but that is to be expected on a budget digital camera designed for beginners. Auto, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Daylight, Fluorescent Warm White, Fluorescent Cool White, and Incandescent options are on the docket.

We tested the accuracy of the Auto white balance setting versus the presets; more specifics are available in the Testing/Performance section, but in the end the presets are more accurate.

Exposure (7.0)
This digital camera has mainly automated exposure modes; its most manual mode is called Manual, but is more of a Program mode. It can’t adjust shutter speed or aperture, but has an exposure compensation feature that adjusts both in a simpler +/- 2 scale, with steps every third of an exposure value. This is the typical range offered on digital cameras, even budget ones.

Metering (5.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix A920 has a 256-zone metering system that operates automatically. There are no Metering modes available to choose from. Most digital cameras offer Average, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering options, but the A920 leaves the average metering to the camera. Be careful when photographing backlit subjects, because they will turn instantly into silhouettes against the bright lighting behind them.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
The shutter speed is chosen automatically by the A920. The total shutter speed range is 4-1/1200 of a second, but the shutter speed is greatly influenced by the selected exposure mode. For instance, Night mode selects slower shutter speeds than Snow mode.

The A920’s shutter speed range isn’t very impressive. The $149 Panasonic LZ6’s shutter speeds vary from 60 to 1/2000 of a second. The $199 Sony W55 ignores longer exposures with its 1 to 1/2000 of a second range, and the $199 Fujifilm Z10fd’s shutter speeds are even more limited, from 3 to 1/1000 of a second.

Aperture (0.0)
The Fujinon 4x optical zoom lens has a limited aperture range. At the lens’ widest, a maximum f/2.9 aperture is available. This lets in plenty of light. When the lens is zoomed in, though, the max aperture shrinks to a very small f/6.3. This doesn’t allow much light to pass through the lens onto the image sensor. Most comparable digital cameras allow more light in around the telephoto end of the lens, but less light when the lens is at its widest. The smallest the aperture can go is f/7.1; most digital cameras have a minimum aperture of f/8.

To compare, the Panasonic LZ6’s 6x lens has a wide max aperture of f/2.8 that shrinks to f/4.5 when zoomed in. The Fujifilm Z10fd’s 3x lens has a smaller f/3.7 aperture when zoomed wide and f/4.9 when zoomed in. The SonyW55’s 3x lens has respective max apertures of f/2.8 and f/5.2.