Here you can see the point-n-shoot AUTO record mode - The "6M F" represents image resolution of 6 megapixels Fine quality and the "73" represents the quantity of frames that can be recorded on the xD card at the current image size. In the center are the auto focus target marks.

Rotating the Mode Dial give access to 4 creative scene modes, including Anti-blur, Natural light, Portrait, or Landscape. Grid lines are superimposed by depressing the DISP button.

Program AE is yet another user friendly exposure mode that gives you access to more advanced options like metering, white balance, AF mode, Program Shift etc. Exposure compensation can be adjusted by depressing the "+/-" button adjacent to the shutter release. You also have access to the full record mode menu which will be explained a little further down this page.

When you half-press the shutter release the AF marks will show the intended area of focus as well as the shutter and aperture values. The "shaking" hand indicates a slow shutter speed warning because we don't have the flash enabled.

Depressing the "f" button under the 4-way controller calls up the Photo Mode menu. Options in all still image modes are the image size (6M Fine, 6M Normal, 3:2 aspect, 3M, 2M, 0.3M), each indicating remaining the number of images that can be stored on the installed xD memory card, ISO speed (Auto[Auto shooting mode only], 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200), or Color mode (B&W, Chrome [Vivid] or Standard).

Shutter-speed priority mode allows you to select the desired shutter speed value, while the camera selects the correct aperture. Select a fast shutter speed to freeze fast-moving subjects or use a slower shutter speed to capture flowing water or low-light subjects. If the selected shutter speed is too fast for the available light, the aperture setting will be highlighted in red. Shutter speed can be set in the range of 4 seconds to 1/2000 second.

Aperture priority is just the opposite, allowing you to select the desired aperture and the camera automatically sets the correct shutter speed. A small aperture (larger f/number) increases the depth of field (range of focus), where a large aperture (smaller f/number) decreases depth of field. Aperture can be set in the range of f/2.8 (full wide angle) or f/4.9 (full telephoto) to f/8.

This is Manual record mode, the user manually sets both shutter speed and aperture. Shutter speed is set with the "up" and "down" buttons of the 4-way controller; aperture is set with the same buttons while holding down the "+/-" button. You can meter the exposure by watching the display in the lower right corner and adjust the shutter speed or aperture to center the indicator. A histogram can be called-up by depressing the "+/-" button to further assist in establishing the correct exposure. Shutter speed can be adjusted in the range of 30 seconds to 1/4000 second in Manual mode.

When Intelligent Face detection is enabled, the S6000fd finds a faces in the composition and focuses on it. If there are multiple people in the composure, it will set a green frame around the centermost face and use it for focusing priority.

Pressing the DISPlay button next to the LCD toggles the live image between text displayed, no text displayed, grid lines, or post shot assist, which displays the last three shots and allows you to compare the results of changing composition or exposure settings.

P/A/M/S menu options:

SELF-TIMER ON / OFF, 2 or 10 second delay
PHOTOMETRY Metering: Multi, Average, Spot
WHITE BALANCE Auto, Custom, Daylight, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm white), Fluorescent (Cool white), Incandescent
HIGH-SPEED SHOOTING On/Off
AF MODE Center, Multi, Area
SHARPNESS Soft, Standard, Hard
FLASH Adjust flash output intensity in 5 steps of 1/3EV, a range of ±2/3EV
BRACKETING Set the step value for bracketing: ±1/3EV, ±2/3EV or ±1.0EV
SET-UP Enter the set-up menu

Change the Drive mode by holding down the Drive button and pressing the 4-way selector up or down and watch the LCD display shown above. Options include: Top 3-frame (capture 3 frames at up to 2.2fps), Auto Bracketing, Final 3-frame (captures up to 40 frames at 2.2fps, but only saves the last 3 when you release the shutter), Long-period continuous at .7fps to a depth limited only by the amount of remaining available memory.

A switch on the left side of the camera body is used to select focus modes of Single-AF, Continuous-AF or Manual. Manual focus is adjusted by turning the ring at the base of the lens; if FOCUS CHECK is ON in the SETUP menu, the center of the viewfinder image is enlarged as you turn the ring.

The Macro focus mode allows closeup focusing from 3.9 inches to 9.8 ft (0.1-3m) in Wide and 3.0 to 9.8 ft (0.9-3m) in Tele.

The Super Macro focus mode can only be used with the lens at its wide angle position, and allows closeup focusing from .4 inches to 3.3 ft (0.01-1m).

The Movie mode captures 640x480 or 320x240 pixel motion video with audio at 30 frames per second (fixed.) The maximum length per clip is limited only by available memory. Movie data is written directly to the xD card as it is captured. Because the lens zoom mechanism is manually controlled, focal length can be changed during recording introducing only a very limited amount of noise into the audio track.