Auto Mode (7.5)
The automatic mode is the easiest thing to work on this camera – as it should be. It is marked in red on the mode dial and sets the S9000 to its defaults. Users can override the system and change the ISO, picture quality, and color mode. Other settings such as white balance and auto focus mode are off-limits. Other options are partially available, such as the flash modes. Auto, Forced Flash, and Red-eye Reduction are available. The auto mode still displays the shutter speeds and apertures even though users cannot select them. This is a nice feature because users can be aware of how the camera is going to shape the image and what visual effects will result from the selected aperture and shutter speed. Even exposure compensation is disengaged in auto mode; however, those looking for some guidance without sacrificing all image control can switch to the camera’s Program Automatic mode.
Movie Mode (8.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 has a movie mode that can shoot 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 video clips at a nice 30 frame-per-second rate. Monaural sound is recorded simultaneously; it works quite well. In fact, it even picks up the sound of the auto focus mechanism as it continuously readjusts itself. It sounds like a series of high-pitched beeps and clicks and is quite audible in movies. The optical zoom lens can be used in the movie mode, which is nice. Still, there aren’t many other options. The movie mode recording menu consists only of the image sizes. There is no way to change the auto focus mode or the white balance or ISO or anything. The simplistic movie mode also records and shows how much time is left on the memory. The S9000’s movie mode doesn’t have any frills, but is certainly substantial with its VGA size and nice frame rate, and does its best to compensate for its lack of lens interchangeability.
Drive / Burst Mode (5.5)
The FinePix S9000 has three burst modes available: Top 4-frame, Final 4-frame, and Long-period Continuous burst. The first two modes shoot a frame and a half per second, but the Top records the first four images taken and the Final only records the final four images – no matter how many images were taken prior to the shutter release button being released. The Top and Final burst modes show four pictures on an index screen with a text message that says, “Storing.” The continuous burst mode can capture up to 40 frames in a burst, but it will be considerably slower at 1.1 frames per second. This is slower because the S9000 readjusts the exposure settings and focus for each shot, whereas the Top and Final burst modes use the same exposure and focus settings. Although there are three settings to this burst mode, the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 still ranks rather low in terms of speed. Digital SLRs can shoot 3 or 4 frames per second or more and maintain this speed for well over 10-20 shots (some beyond 40) and many compact cameras are catching up with that. Not only is the S9000 slow, but it uses the same exposure and focus settings for its Top and Final 4-frame modes. This isn’t very practical for action sequences where the subject is moving toward the camera. Another disadvantage is that the continuous burst is not available in the Programmed, Manual, or Priority modes on the S9000.
Playback Mode (6.5)
The playback mode on the S9000 is fairly straightforward. It is easily found on the power switch between the Off and the Recording modes. Images can be played back in single frames or in index screens of four or nine pictures. When images are recalled individually, all kinds of information can be displayed: histograms, color settings, image parameters, exposure settings, dates and times, etc. The playback menu for still images includes the following options: Erase, Trimming, Image Rotate, Playback (users can choose fade-ins and effects with this option), Multi-frame Playback, Print Order, Protect, Sort by Date, and Voice Memo. Movies can also be played back with audio. There is no in-camera editing with the FinePix S9000; users can only play and pause. The playback mode is one of the more intuitive functions on this digital camera; however, it is still frustrating. Users switch into the mode using a mobile switch around the shutter release. Unfortunately, when reviewing images, partial depression of the shutter button will not bring you back to the shooting mode, which is common on most other digital cameras.
Custom Image Presets (6.0)
Because this model aims for the middle ground between compacts and DSLRs, the S9000 included just a few scene modes. They are all located on the mode dial as icons, which are not all intuitive. The first three custom image presets are easily recognizable: Portrait, Landscape, and Night. The other two icons are a little questionable: a person with lines around them and an eye-shape with the letter ‘N’ in it. These represent the Anti-Blur mode and the Natural Light mode. The Anti-Blur mode is actually very useful and works quite well. It can work when taking pictures of sports or when snapping a shot of your fast-moving kid. The Natural Light mode is a nice touch too, although it will appear quite grainy when used in low light. Still, it’s nice to have a non-flash option in low light situations since some places like churches and museums will allow photos but no flash.
