Fujifilm FinePix A303 Review

By: Steve's Digicams


Steve's Digicams

Fujifilm
Fujifilm FinePix A303


Record Mode Screens & Menus

The LCD screens that you see in this review had to be photographed as there is no video out- port that we normally use to capture the displays with. LCD monitors on any camera were never designed with enough resolution to be photographed. So we hope you understand why these screen captures are not up to standard with our usual high-res direct output method.




This is the typical record screen that appears at power up. The "M" in the upper left indicates some manual record functions are available(see setup menu below.) The Auto record screen is identical only with an "A" in the corner. The "12" refers to the number of pictures that will fit in remaining free space on the Xd card. Below the "12" is the image size and quality settings. The brackets in the center indicate where focus will be determined. For the first few seconds after power up the date appears across the bottom of the display.


Fuji FinePix A303

The Movie Record screen is also very simple, the Movie camera Icon is self explanatory as is the "standby" awaiting a push of the shutter release to start the recording. The "60S" indicates the 60 second max record time per movie in the "320" x 240 size movie.


By pressing the MENU / OK button while in "M" record, the following screens are displayed (in "A" Record the EV and WB options are not accessible):


Fuji FinePix A303

Record Menu option are:

The First page is Quality:

  • 3M-F - 3 Mega Pixel (2048 x 1536) Fine compression - Best for printing
  • 3M-N - 3 Mega Pixel (2048 x 1536) Normal compression
  • 2M - 2 Mega Pixel (1600 x 1200)
  • 1M - 1 Mega Pixel (1280 x 960)
  • 0.3M - 0.3 Mega Pixel (640 x 480) - Best for Internet

    The Second Page is EV (Exposure Value):

  • +1.5 to - 2.1 EV compensation used to compensate for much brighter or darker background than subject.

    The Third page is WB (White Balance):

  • Auto(default)
  • Sunny
  • Cloudy
  • Fluorescent 1 - Daylight Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent 2 - Warm White Fluorescent
  • Fluorescent 3 - Cool White Fluorescent
  • Incandescent

    The Fourth page is "Option":

  • Manual - Select for Manual Record Mode(allows access to WB and EV screens above)
  • Auto - Select for Auto Record Mode
  • LCD Brightness - slider scale to brighten or darken LCD backlight
  • Set-UP - Accesses the sceens in the animated photo below.



    Fuji FinePix A303

    The SET-UP Menu options are:
    The First page:

  • POSTVIEW - ON/OFF (shows image about to be recorded immediatly after capture)
  • POWER SAVE - ON/OFF (puts LCD to 'sleep' if no activity for 30 sec's-
    Camera turns off in 2 min's)
  • USB MODE - DSC/PC CAM (DSC-for downloading images /
    PC CAM- for Video conferencing)
  • DATE/TIME - SET (Setting date and time)

    The Second Page:

  • Record LCD - ON/OFF (on to use LCD as live viewfinder during record)
  • BEEP Tone - LOW/HIGH/OFF (set camera's operating sound)
  • LANGUAGE - ENG/FRENCH/DEUTSCH (set menu laguage)
  • RESET ALL - OK (resets all settings to factory default)







    Playback Screens & Menus

    The LCD screens that you see in this review had to be photographed as there is no video out- port that we normally use to capture the displays with. LCD monitors on any camera were never designed with enough resolution to be photographed. So we hope you understand why these screen captures are not up to standard with our usual high-res direct output method.


    Fuji FinePix A303

    The typical Playback screen display shows the PLayback Mode Icon in the top left while displaying the file and frame number in the top right. The date of capture is across the bottom of the frame.


    Fuji FinePix A303

    While viewing the image, pressing the telephoto zoom lever magnifies into the playback up to 13x in a 3MP (2048x1536) image. To move about within the image only requires pressing the DISPlay button once and by using the 4 way controls navigation of the zoomed image from corner to corner is possible.


    Fuji FinePix A303

    Pressing the DISP button while in Play mode toggles between full screen and index modes. In Index mode you can quickly preview the stored images on the card and display any one in normal full screen mode.


    Fuji FinePix A303

    Playback Menu option are:

    The First page is ERASE:

  • BACK - Returns to playback w/o erasing any files
  • FRAME - Erases only the presently playing frame
  • ALL FRAMES - Erases all unprotected frames
  • FORMAT - Erases all files

    The Second Page is PROTECT

  • Frame Set / Reset - protects or unprotects only the present played image
  • Protect all - Protects all the images
  • Unprotect all - Unprotects all the images

    The Third page is DPOF:

  • OK selects the present image for 1 each print
  • DATE OFF / ON (if on will attach date of capture w/ image for printing)

    The Fourth page is "Option":

  • LCD Brightness - slider scale to brighten or darken LCD backlight
  • Set-UP - Same Set-Up as in record




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