Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd

Auto Mode
The large mode dial has many positions on it, but the only position marked in text other than white is the Auto mode. The red-letter "AUTO" fully automates almost everything. The only options available are self-timer, burst, image size, color mode, macro and flash. The face detection button is also functional. The camera took decent pictures using the Auto mode in the convention center, which is really quite a feat in the odd lighting that is in there.

Movie Mode
The Movie mode has some really great features and some very undesirable quirks too. Let’s start with the specs. The camera records 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixels at the same 30 fps rate. Monaural audio is recorded too, and the playback volume can be adjusted. I turned up the volume but couldn’t hear it. This probably isn’t the camera’s problem though; there was a circus act going on behind me and a loud presentation about the Super CCD going on in front of me. However, the loud environment did make it challenging to hear anything at all. When videos are recorded, the 10.7x optical zoom lens is fully functional. This sounds great, right? There are a few problems with this though. Having a zoom ring is great for still pictures, but you have to learn to zoom slowly and smoothly (which is hard with such a sensitive ring) to keep those watching your movies from getting ill. There is also a slight delay in the auto focus system when the zoom lens is moved. The other undesirable feature is that there is no image stabilization system. Sure, you can use that long zoom lens but then the video could be horribly shaky.

Drive / Burst Mode
The burst mode is one of the more difficult functions to access. It has its own button behind the shutter release button, but it must be held down with the index finger while scrolling down with the multiselector. The following items appear on the menu: Off, Top 3, Auto Bracketing, Final 3, and Long Period. The Top 3 and Final 3 burst modes are the fastest available on the camera with a shooting rate of 2.2 fps. The speed doesn’t last though; a max of three frames is disappointing. The Long Period mode is much slower at 0.7 fps, but fills the card to capacity. The Auto Bracketing snaps three consecutive frames with different exposure levels, which can be changed in the recording menu. Of note here is the self-timer, which is available in the shooting menu with 2 and 10-second options.

Playback Mode
Playing back images on the Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd is typical of other digital cameras’ playback modes. Images can be viewed one at a time or in index frames of 9 per screen. When scrolling through pictures with the multiselector, there is a slight delay. It’s almost like when you’re surfing the internet and try to go back a page, and when it takes too long you push "back" again and again, and then all at once you end up six pages back. When looking at an individual picture, users can push the face detection button to view the same green and white brackets that appeared when shooting the picture. There are a few editing options available in the playback menu.

Voice memos can be added up to 30 seconds, but because of the circus and other various loud noises I was unable to hear it properly, so we'll have to wait until our full review to provide an adequate analysis of this function. From the "F" button, users can create print orders and play slide shows too. Pictures can be selected for printing and tagged with the date if desired. Slide shows can be played with the following effects: normal, face, fade in face, fade in, multiple, and clock. In general the slide show isn’t very elaborate. That goes for the playback mode too – not very elaborate but it does its duty.

Custom Image Presets
The Fuji FinePix S6000fd has quite a few scene modes. The more basic modes are located directly on the mode dial and allow access to options like the burst mode. These are Landscape, Portrait, Natural Light, and Picture Stabilization. To get to the dual shot mode, users must select the Natural Light mode on the dial and then enter the menu and select the Natural Light & With Flash option.

The Picture Stabilization mode is widely marketed, but is somewhat misleading. It sounds like an image stabilization system, right? Wrong. Instead, it boosts the ISO and quickens the shutter speed to reduce blur. This works in optimal lighting, but still doesn’t replace an optical image stabilization system that keeps noise levels low while keeping blur to a minimum. Other scene modes are found in the scene position on the dial: Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower Close-up, and Text.