Auto Mode (7.25)
The Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd has a fully automatic mode on the mode dial. It still allows access to a few items like macro, self-timer, burst, flash, image size, color mode, and even face detection. When the exposure compensation button is pushed, a live histogram appears. This probably won’t be very useful to beginners who haven’t studied the finer points of exposure, but will certainly help speed up their learning curve and help attain proper exposures. The auto mode worked very well and took great pictures in a variety of situations.
Movie Mode (6.5)
An icon of a video camera designates the movie mode position on the mode dial. The S6000fd’s movie mode isn’t anything to get excited about though, especially when compared to equivalent modes on other ultra-zoom digital cameras. The FinePix offers standard resolution of 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixels; both operate at a standard 30 fps rate. Almost all of the buttons on the camera body are completely useless in the movie mode; the only menu option is to change the resolution, and there is no face detection, exposure compensation, etc. While recording video, the 10.7x optical zoom lens is fully functional. This allows users to get up close and personal with faraway subjects, but the video itself isn’t going to look good. The zoom ring mechanism isn’t designed for videos; it slides easily, so careless users will zoom fast and make the audience sick or try to go slow and end up jerking the lens around in the process. On top of all this, there is a slight delay in the auto focus system.
When movies are played back with mono audio in the camera; they can be stopped, rewound, and fast-forwarded. The volume can be adjusted within 10 levels in the setup menu, but it can’t be adjusted while a movie is playing on the screen. The audio pickups are impressive. In fact, it’s so sensitive that it picks up the sandpaper sound of the zoom ring sliding around. There are no editing options available.
Overall, the Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd’s movie mode appears to be an obligatory afterthought in the design of the camera. If consumers are looking for a decent hybrid device to serve as camera and camcorder, the ultra-zoom Canon PowerShot S3 IS offers excellent still imaging capabilities and a movie mode that touts optical image stabilization with a fully functional 12x lens.
Drive / Burst Mode (6.5)
The Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd has a burst mode button near the shutter release button. The location is convenient, but its interface is not. Users must push this button while also scrolling with the multi-selector; if you can pat your head while rubbing your tummy, this shouldn’t be a problem. For those uncoordinated types though (like me), this setup won’t ever feel natural. The following modes are available: Off, Top 3, Auto Bracketing, Final 3, and Long Period. The Top and Final 3 modes shoot 2.2 frames per second, but for a measly three shots! If the action is going to last more than a second-and-a-half, then users are out of luck. The Long Period option shoots to the card’s capacity but can hardly be called a burst mode at 0.7 fps. The Auto Bracketing mode must be selected from the burst button’s menu, but the intervals of +/- 1/3, 2/3, or 1 are found in the shooting menu. This setup isn’t very intuitive at all. Also available in the shooting menu is the camera’s self-timer, which can be switched to delay for 2 or 10 seconds before capturing the shot.
Playback Mode (7.5)
Pictures can be viewed several ways on the FinePix S6000fd. Using the Disp/Back button, images can be viewed with or without file info, as index screens of nine pictures, and in a calendar view with 12 thumbnails on the right and the dates listed in a column on the left. The playback menu reveals all of the things users can do with their pictures.
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Erase
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Frame, All Frames
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Image Rotate
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Left, Right, OK, Cancel
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Protect
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Frame, Set All, Reset All
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Copy
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Internal Memory to Card (Frame, All Frames), Card to Internal Memory (Frame, All Frames)
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Voice Memo
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OK, Cancel
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Trimming
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OK, Cancel
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Setup
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(portal to setup menu)
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Deletion isn’t as easy on the S6000fd as it is on other digital cameras. Most models have an on-camera button, but this FinePix includes it in the menu system. Frames can be deleted one at a time or all at once, but users cannot scroll through and pick and choose a batch of photos to delete at once. What’s worse is the delay that occurs when users scroll through pictures; it takes almost a full second from the moment the multi-selector is pushed until the next picture is displayed. This makes viewing and deletion a lengthy and tedious process.
The voice memo function can be attached to still images. Up to 30 seconds of audio can be recorded. When the face detection button is pushed in the playback mode, the screen displays the brackets that were seen while recording. Pushing the button again zooms in on the face. This is the only way to magnify images in the playback mode, which is unfortunate because it will only work on faces and nothing else.
Videos can be played back in the camera, but there are no editing functions available. The clip can be stopped and started, rewound and fast-forwarded. The audio can be played back as well with adjustable volume levels available in the setup menu.
The “F” button brings a few more options to the playback menu.
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Playback
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Normal (Face), Normal, Fade-In (Face), Fade-In, Multiple, Clock
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Print Order (DPOF)
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With Date, Without Date, Reset All
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The ambiguously named “Playback” option produces bland slide shows with an interval of about 3 seconds. Print orders can be created; users can choose the quantity of prints up to 99 copies. The ordering process is complicated by the long delay when scrolling through pictures though. Overall, the playback options aren’t outstanding. However, the 235,000-pixel resolution on the camera’s 2.5-inch LCD screen does make pictures look fabulous.
Custom Image Presets (8.0)
The S6000fd squeezes a few perennial favorite scene modes onto the mode dial, along with some newer and trendier modes. Landscape, Portrait, Natural Light, and Picture Stabilization all have icons on the dial. The first two modes have been around for a long time. The latter two are newer additions. The Natural Light mode boosts the ISO and lets users also select the dual shot mode, Natural Light & With Flash, in the shooting menu. Users who aren’t sure whether to use the flash will appreciate this mode, as it will eliminate the tedious task of switching the flash mode and ISO every other shot; the camera automatically changes the settings and snaps the pictures in a two-shot burst. The Picture Stabilization mode is also fairly fresh on the FinePix line, although it isn’t nearly as innovative as the dual shot mode. The Picture Stabilization title is misleading; it sounds like an optical image stabilization system, but instead it is a makeshift mode that boosts the ISO and speeds up the shutter speed to reduce blur. This mode also uses the flash as needed.
Other modes can be found at the “SP” scene position of the mode dial. Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower Close-up, and Text are all found here. Like on other digital cameras, many of the scene modes limit their menu options to things like self-timer and high-speed shooting.
