Manual Control Options
Manual controls for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 are limited, with the user having no access to shutter speed, aperture, metering or manual focus. Partial control over white balance is provided with preset options. While better than just an auto mode, the lack of a full manual is an unfortunate omission for the manual control enthusiast. The camera does have manual control over exposure compensation and ISO settings, although this is hardly going to be sufficient for the budget consumer looking for user control. For low-cost manual controls, consider a camera by a manufacturer like Canon.

Focus
Auto Focus (5.5)
The auto focus system for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is non-negotiable and is anything but satisfactory or successful when challenged. It struggled to accurately lock into focus when shooting in low light. The camera tended to “breathe” in these situations, and eventually would display the AF symbol with a red hand to indicate that the shot would be blurred. When attempting to adjust focus, the F470 was sluggish; users should expect several seconds to elapse before the camera locks in. During this period of time, the camera emits a quiet chirruping noise, which, while not as offensive as the clattering zoom, will be noticeable in subdued situations.

When shooting in normal mode, the auto focus system has a focusing range of 2.3 feet to infinity. The camera has a reported range of 3.9 inches to 2.6 feet in macro mode with a wide-angle setting and 1.3 to 2.6 feet when shooting in full telephoto.

Overall, the F470’s autofocus was a bit disappointing; without reliable autofocus or optical image stabilization, snapshooters may find a lot of blurry images. Since the camera does not offer a manual focusing mode, users of the F470 will have to be aware of the camera’s limitations and shoot accordingly.

Manual Focus (0.0)
As mentioned in the auto focus section of this review, the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is devoid of manual focus control, an unfortunate absence considering the camera’s autofocus limitations.

Exposure (6.5)
Users can manually adjust exposure compensation when the camera is in manual mode +/-2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. This screen is live view, so users will be able to immediately identify image changes when navigating the scale.