By default, the camera's settings
are presented on the monitor, or on the EVF in a similar fashion:
icons are arranged around the edges of the image, which mostly
avoids obstructing it. Some colours are used to draw the eye,
red for the capture modes, yellow for settings such as the
flash and macro modes, pale blue for shutter speed and exposure
compensation. Worth noting, with the advanced modes —
P, S, A, M — once the exposure compensation is adjusted,
the scale remains visible at the bottom of the screen, acting
as a reminder that it is set to something other than the default.
The menu system of the S6000fd is relatively simple,
and with options such as sensitivity, image quality, and colour
mode set aside in a separate menu called up by the
button, quite short. Still, it is interesting to observe that
the way the menu works, a change needs not be confirmed by
pressing the OK button, unless that is the only item that
needs to be changed as the action clears the menu off the
screen. With the S6000fd simply highlighting
the new setting allows returning to the upper level of the
menu, and making other changes.
The Setup menu is the most extensive of all, as it
uses 4 screens, identified at the top of the menu by tabs,
but which flow from one to the next in a uninterrupted manner.
The Setup menus contains the following settings:
Image Disp. selects how a just-captured image is
displayed immediately post-capture: Continuous,
displays the image until the OK/MENU button is pressed;
3 sec/1.5 sec, sets the time during which the image
is displayed; Zoom (Continuous), displays the image zoomed.
Frame Number: Cont. or Renew. Continuous increments
the file name of each new photo by 1. Renew starts numbering
photos from 1 each time the memory card is emptied, formatted,
or changed.
AF Illuminator: On or Off. Decides whether or not
the AF Illuminator, positioned between the lens and the
top of the grip automatically comes on when the available
light is insufficient for the auto focus to operate reliably.
CCD-RAW: On or Off. Serves to record RAW images
instead of JPEG.
EVF/LCD Mode: Allows setting the refresh rate of
the EVF and monitor to either 30 frames per second, or 60
frames per second, which allows a smoother image.
Focus Check: On or Off. Assists manual focusing
by enlarging the centre portion of the frame.
Date/Time: Sets the Date and Time on the S6000fd.
Beep Volume: over a range of 3 steps or Off, this
option sets the volume of the sound produced by the camera
when it is operated.
Shutter Volume: over a range of 3 steps or Off,
this option sets the volume of the sound produced by the
camera when the shutter release is pressed.
Playback Volume: sets the volume for voice memos
and movies over a range of 0 through 10 with 7 being the
default.
LCD Brightness: Allows setting the LCD or EVF screen
brightness over ± 5 steps.
Format: formats the internal memory or the memory
card.
Language: selects the interface language
from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese,
Simplified Chinese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch,
or Turkish.
Auto Power Off: selects the time delay until the
camera automatically shuts off when it is not used (5 or
2 minutes, or Off).
Time Difference: allows setting a Home and
a Local time as a difference in hours; useful when
traveling.
Background Colour: Specifies the colour of the
menu and its background.
Discharge: serves to fully discharge Ni-MH batteries,
increasing their life-span.
Video System: sets the Video Out signal, either
NTSC or PAL.
Reset: returns all settings to their factory defaults,
with the exception of the date and time, the Time Difference,
Video System and Background Colour.
A printed manual accompanies the FinePix S6000fd.
The manual is generally easy to follow and understand and
is well organized, making it worthwhile reading.
Software
In North America, the FinePix S6000fd is bundled with
a single CD that contains Fujifilm's Software for FinePix
(CX version 5.3b for Windows and Macintosh). The software
includes FinePix Viewer (version 5.3 for Windows and
3.4 for Macintosh) and Pixela's Image Mixer VCD2 LE for
FinePix.
FinePix Viewer's primary
function is as an image viewer, presenting photos as thumbnails,
or as a film strip with the currently selected photo shown
at a larger size above, or in a ledger format with small thumbnails
followed by some of the image's data (file name, format, file
size, date and time of capture, and image dimensions). FinePix
Viewer allows for automatic or manual adjustments to the images
(brightness, saturation, tint, sharpness and contrast). Conversion
to Black and White or Sepia is also possible, and the converted
images can be saved as new images.
FinePix Viewer can also be used
to create slide shows, and organize photos into albums that
can be printed or viewed on a computer, and download images
directly from the camera when it is connected to the computer.
FinePix Viewer is also able
to show CCD-RAW format photos, and now incorporates a complete
editing suite for RAW images, called FinePix Studio.
FinePix Studio provides complete control over the RAW image,
making it possible to save a copy as TIFF using the camera's
settings, or apply custom settings for FinePix colour, tone,
white balance, Sensitization (exposure), colour and sharpness.
The controls provided are effective and as precise as those
offered in other quality RAW editing programs.
Finally, Pixela's ImageMixer
VCD2 LE, which is intended to create albums and slide
shows and then burn these onto CDs or DVDs, is also installed.
Worth noting, however, only burning to CD-R is available,
and only 3 Video CD discs can be created — no DVD's
— until the program is upgraded by purchasing the full
version.
Interface & Software
button, quite short. Still, it is interesting to observe that
the way the menu works, a change needs not be confirmed by
pressing the OK button, unless that is the only item that
needs to be changed as the action clears the menu off the
screen. With the S6000fd simply highlighting
the new setting allows returning to the upper level of the
menu, and making other changes.
