Fujifilm FinePix A500 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 "5M" represents image resolution of 5 megapixels (2592 x 1944), the "N" indicates Normal compression, and "69" represents the number of frames that can be recorded at the current image size. The yellow and gray brackets in the center show the autofocus target area.

Half-pressing the shutter releases locks the autofocus, white balance and exposure.

Pressing the DISPlay button next to the LCD toggles to other display modes: grid overlay, live image without any data display, and LCD off.

AUTO record MENU options:

SHOOTING MODE - Choose Movie, Manual, Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night

QUALITY - Choose image size/quality; 5M Fine, 5M Normal, 3:2 (5M mode for 4x6" prints), 3M, 2M, 0.3M

SELF-TIMER - ON / OFF, 10 second delay

OPTION - Adjust LCD brightness, enter the SETUP menu

ISO - Auto, 100, 200 or 400

This is the Manual record screen. The only real difference between Auto an Manual mode, is you have access to White Balance and Exposure Compensation options. When these options are used, an Icon representing the selected WB will be displayed next to the "M", and the EV compensation will be displayed in the lower right.

SHOOTING MODE - Choose Movie, Manual, Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night

QUALITY - Choose image size/quality; 5M Fine, 5M Normal, 3:2 (5M mode for 4x6" prints), 3M, 2M, 0.3M

SELF-TIMER - ON / OFF, 10 second delay

OPTION - Adjust LCD brightness, enter the SETUP menu

ISO - Auto, 100, 200 or 400

EXPOSURE VALUE ±2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps

WHITE BALANCE - Auto, Daylight, Shade, "Daylight" Fluorescent, "Warm White" Fluorescent, "cool white" Fluorescent, Incandescent

The Macro focus mode can be enabled in Auto or Manual shooting mode and allows you to focus from 3.9 inches to 2.6 feet. The optical zoom can be used in macro mode.

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

IMAGE DISP. - Off/On, Allows review of capture for 2 seconds
BEEP - Volume of camera sounds, Low/High/Off
FRAME NO. - Continuous or renew (file numbering)
LCD - ON/OFF by default when in record
DIGITAL ZOOM - Digital zoom on or off
AUTO POWER OFF - 2min/5 min/off
LCD POWER SAVE - On/Off, Dims the LCD after 10 seconds of no use
FORMAT - Formats the xD-Picture Card
DATE/TIME - setting of date and time
TIME DIFFERENCE - World time offset
LANGUAGE - English/French/German/Spanish/Italian
USB MODE - DSC(download to a PC)/PICTBRIDGE (printer connection)
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 recording size is 320x240 followed by the remaining recording time at this quality setting. The A500 records motion video without audio at resolutions of 320x240 or 160x120, with the length of a clip limited to 60 seconds at 320x240 and 240 seconds at 160x120. Despite having no audio, the optical zoom is locked during movie recording.