Fujifilm FinePix A310 Review

The Auto record mode is a simple "Point-n-Shoot" mode. The line of info across the top starts on the left with a red box containing a camera icon and "A" which is the symbol for Auto Record mode. The "3M" represents image resolution of 3 megapixels (2048x1536) and the "6" represents the number of frames that can be recorded at the current image size. On the left is the zoom lens position indicator, it's displayed momentarily whenever the focal length is changed. The yellow brackets in the center denotes the auto focus target area.

Pressing the DISPlay button next to the LCD toggles from the above screen to the live image without any data display. Pressing it again brings up the grid screen in both Auto or Manual Record.

AUTO record MENU options:

SELF-TIMER ON / OFF, 10 second delay
CONTINUOUS - Final 4 (saves last 4 frames), Top 4 (saves first 4 frames), Off
SHOOTING MODE Auto or Manual
OPTION - LCD Adjust brightness, SETUP (see Setup menu below)

The Photo Mode options:

QUALITY 6MP, 3MP, 1M, 0.3M (VGA)
ISO - Auto, 400, 800 (1M only)
COLOR B&W, Chrome (Vivid), Standard

This is the Manual record screen, the only real difference is the upper left icon. In the Manual mode you have access to the same options as Auto mode plus you have White Balance and Exposure Compensation options, the ISO options are 200, 400 or 800.

SELF-TIMER ON / OFF, 10 second delay
CONTINUOUS - Final 4 (saves last 4 frames), Top 4 (saves first 4 frames), Off
SHOOTING MODE Auto or Manual
OPTION - LCD Adjust brightness, SETUP (see Setup menu below)
EXPOSURE VALUE -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
WHITE BALANCE - Auto, Daylight, Shade, "Daylight" Fluorescent, "Warm White" Fluorescent, "cool white" Fluorescent, Incandescent

The other still image record mode is Scene Program (SP on the mode dial) and lets you access the pre-programmed modes for Portrait, Scene (Landscape), Sport (fast action) and Night. All camera settings are automatically set to capture the best possible image in those particular conditions.

The Macro focus mode can be enabled in Auto or Manual shooting mode and allows you to focus from 0.3 to 2.6 feet.

Set-Up menu in Auto, Manual and Play modes:

IMAGE DISP. - Off/On, Allows review of capture for 2 seconds
POWER SAVE - 2min/5 min/off
FORMAT - Formats the xD-Picture Card
BEEP - Volume of camera sounds, Low/High/Off
DATE/TIME - setting of date and time
LCD - ON/OFF by default when in record
FRAME NO. - Continuous or reset (file numbering)
USB MODE - DSC(download to a PC)/PC Cam(webcam mode)
LANGUAGE - English/French/German
VIDEO SYSTEM - NTSC or PAL video signal timing
DISCHARGE - Discharge the NiMH rechargeable batteries
RESET - resets all camera settings to default.

The Movie record mode display. The top info line indicates the movie quality mode of 320x240 followed by the remaining recording time at this quality setting. The A310 records motion video without audio at 10fps in 320x240 (up to 98 seconds) or 160x120 resolution (up to 5.6 minutes.) The optical zoom lens is locked to wide angle but the digital zoom is useable.