Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd Zoom Review

Here you can see the point-n-shoot AUTO record mode - The "10M F" represents image resolution of 10-megapixels Fine quality and the "206" 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, and you can see the flash is off.

Rotating the Mode Dial give access to these exposure mode: Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, full Manual, Movie, Panorama, SP2 (Scene Position2), SP2 (Scene Position1), and Natural Light.

To change the Scene mode when the mode dial is set to SP1 or SP2, press the menu button and use this menu with helpful descriptions.

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 and Program shift can be adjusted by depressing the "+/-" button on the back. 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. I "lightning bolt" indicates the flash is charged and will fire (not shown). You can also see the Shutter speed and Aperture values that the camera has choosen.

Depressing the "F" button calls up the F-Mode Menu. Options in all still image modes are ISO speed (Auto [Auto 400 or 800], 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200), the image size (10M Fine, 10M Normal, 3:2 aspect, 5M, 3M, 2M, 0.3M), each indicating remaining the number of images that can be stored. Lastly there's Color mode (B&W, Chrome [Vivid] or Standard), which allows you to be a bit more creative with your photos.

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 8 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 to f/8 (depending on zoom position).

This is Manual record mode, the user manually sets both shutter speed and aperture. Shutter speed and aperture values are set by pressing the "+/-" button then using the "up", "down", "left", and "right" buttons of the 4-way controller. 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.

Pressing the DISP/Back button on the back 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:

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
FOCUSING Continuous AF or Single AF (default)
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 pressing the Drive button and use the display shown above. Options include: Top-3/Last-3 (max 1.4 frames/sec), Ultra High speed Top-15 (max 7.5fps, 2M pixels), High-speed Top-6 (max 3.3fps, 5M pixels) and Long-period (max.1.4 frames/sec) to a depth limited only by the amount of remaining available memory.

The Macro focus mode allows closeup focusing from 2.0 in. (5cm) to 9.8 ft. (3m) in Wide and 2.6 ft. (80cm) to 9.8 ft. (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 Approx. 0.8 in. (2cm) to 3.3 ft. (1m).

Here you can see the new Panorama mode. It allows you to easly capture a panoramic image by captuing three 3-megapixel images that are then stiched together in the camera and saved as a single image.

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 (max. 2BG clip size). Because audio is recorded, you do not have full use of the zoom lens while recording. You can however, preset the desired focal lenght before recording starts.