Fujifilm FinePix F470

The controls on the back and top of the camera are well placed for comfortable access without strain and are few enough to avoid overwhelming the user. When on a flat surface, the camera does have a tendency to tip onto the lens: while not particularly damaging when in the center of a desk, this could lead to potentially disastrous results.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.5)
Controls on this small point-and-shoot are pleasantly well spaced and sized. A stripped down external control layout, as is found of the Fuji F470, generally makes finding and activating appropriate controls a simpler and more intuitive process for beginning users. Essential controls like the zoom buttons are spaced for precise control and shouldn’t impede the functionality of this digital camera. The four-way controller may be a bit small for users with larger fingers, though, and the left arrow’s close proximity to the LCD frame occasionally blocked this reviewer’s thumb.

The controls for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 are well labeled with symbols and intuitive icons. The shutter button is comfortably positioned on the top of the camera, and the mode ring surrounding it can be altered without shifting the right hand. Photographers who are used to this design being used to control zoom levels may be confused, but will become less so with time.

Menu (7.5)
A semi-transparent series of overlays in the middle of the LCD comprise the F470’s menu structure. These overlays provide users with a continual live view for adjusting image parameters. For instance, shifting through the exposure compensation scale will immediately result in a darker or lighter image on screen. With the abundance of live view menu options on the F470, users will ultimately be able to make better and more informed decisions when shooting.  

As users scan menu options, the corresponding highlighted section’s full text title will appear in a horizontal bar at the top of the LCD screen. The information changes with the sub-menu, providing users with information such as the numerical position of the selector within the exposure compensation scale. This should be particularly helpful to beginning users, who may find certain icons to be either misleading or confusing.  Fujifilm has kept these menus short and simple, with an intuitive interface and a coherent format that will allow quick access to manual controls and other options.  

The Fujifilm FinePix F470 has a dual menu structure that can be a bit confusing at first, as users need to remember which menu offers access to which manual controls.  A menu/ok button located in the center of the four-way control allows users to access the larger of the two shooting menus and provides control over modes, exposure, white balance, and burst settings. This menu also offers users access to the camera’s set-up menu structure. 

Pressing the F button, located directly above the four-way control on the back face of the camera, accesses the second shooting menu. This menu is short and possesses the same structure found as the shooting menu, allowing users a live view screen beneath semi-transparent overlays.   

The playback menu also appears as a semi-transparent overlay.  While underdeveloped in terms of digital effects, review options and in-camera editing abilities, the playback mode and menu of the F470 shouldn’t be confusing for beginners.   

The only menu which appears with an opaque screen is the setup menu. Options listed in this menu structure deal more with the camera system and not the imager or photos being captured. While visually different from the other three menu structures, the setup menu continues the same logical list style that expedites navigation and alterations. With consistent and basic menus for shooting, playback, and set-up, the F470 allows easy interactivity regardless of the user’s skill level. 

Ease of Use (7.25)
The Fujifilm FinePix F470’s stripped down externals and simple internal menu system makes this a great digital camera in terms of ease of use. While there may be some initial confusion over the two shooting menus, it shouldn’t take long before users are comfortable with the format. By employing a minimal number of external controls, the F470 ensures a simple interface. A mode ring surrounding the shutter allows even novice camera users to switch efficiently into auto mode without needing to enter a menu.

While controls are largely well sized for access, the icon labels for the external interface are a bit too tightly packed, and make this otherwise understated design visually cluttered. The menus, however, are short, list based, and provide both icons and textual descriptions to improve user confidence. By avoiding lengthy and redundant menu systems, the F470 is able to provide immediate access to essential controls. This largely intuitive interface, coupled with mostly automatic functionality, should serve even the most novice camera user.