Either with the EVF or the LCD screen,
the interface of the FinePix S5100 is very legible, composed
of reasonably-sized white characters and icons.
Likewise, the menu system is readily understandable thanks to the colours
used in the design, the relative simplicity of the options contained in
the menus, and finally because an access to the basic configuration of
the camera is always available, regardless of the mode in use:
Image Display: specifies whether an image is displayed immediately
post capture or not.
Power Save: sets the delay before the camera shuts down automatically
after a period of inactivity (2, 5 minutes or Off).
Format: serves to format the memory card, deleting images
if any, including those that are protected.
Frame Number: Cont. or Renew. Specifies if images are numbered
consecutively or restart from 1.
Beep: sets the volume of the operation sounds made by the
the S5100 (Off, 1, 2 or 3).
Shutter: sets the volume of the sound the camera
makes when the shutter release is pressed (Off, 1, 2 or 3).
Date/Time: sets the date and time on the S5100.
Time Difference: specifies the time difference between "home" and
a destination.
AF Illuminator: On or Off. Controls whether the
AF illuminator is automatically used when there is not sufficient
ambient light for the auto focus to operate reliably.
Zoom Position: Reset or Resume. Set to Reset, the
camera always repositions the zoom to the wide angle when
turned on. Set to Resume, the lens returns to its last position
before the camera was turned off.
USB Mode has three possible settings depending on
whether the camera is connected to a computer or a printer:
DSC (Mass Storage): makes the camera appear
as a hard disk on the computer.
Web: allows using the S5100 as a webcam*.
PictBridge: serves to connect the camera directly
to a PictBridge compatible printer.
* available only for computers running Windows XP Service Pack
1 and Windows Messenger 5.0+.
CCD-RAW: sets the camera to record RAW images which
can later be converted to TIFF using the software provided (see
further below).
Language selects the interface language: Japanese,
English, French, German, Spanish, or Chinese.
Video System: sets the video out signal (NTSC or
PAL).
Discharge: is intended for use with Ni-MH batteries
and drains the batteries so they can be recharged fully,
increasing their life.
Reset: returns the settings to their factory defaults.
A printed manual is included with the S5100. The manual is clearly
written and effectively covers all the functions and capabilities
of the camera, making it simple for the user to become familiar
and comfortable with its operation, including connecting the
camera to a computer or to a PictBridge compatible printer.
Software
The Fujifilm FinePix S5100 reviewed
here included a single software CD containing Fujifilm's Software
for FinePix (version 4.2 for Windows and Macintosh).
The disc consists of FinePix Viewer (v4.2 for Windows and 3.3
for Macintosh), RAW File Converter LE, a basic tool to convert RAW images
to TIFF; USB drivers; and Pixela ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix a
program that is intended for the creation of CDs, VCDs, and DVDs.
FinePix Viewer presents
images in one of three ways: in a detailed view which shows a
tiny thumbnail, and adds the file name, file size, shooting date
and image dimensions; as a film strip that shows photos at the
bottom of one window while the currently selected image is shown
at a larger size above; and in the traditional thumbnail format.
FinePix Viewer is able to show RAW files as well as JPEG and TIFF, but
while FinePix Viewer can be used to edit the the latter 2 formats, it cannot
be used to do any image editing with RAW images.
With JPEG and TIFF photos, FinePix Viewer offers the possibility
of making adjustments to an image either automatically or manually.
Manual adjustments include changes to brightness, saturation,
hue and contrast, or even to the sharpness using preset values
(Soft High, Soft Low, None, Sharp Low, Sharp High). And, while
the adjustments are being made, the program provides a before and after preview
of how the changes will affect the image. Finally, an image can
be converted to black and white, or sepia.
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Interface & Software
