The FinePix Z1 is a relatively simple camera, and this
extends to the design of its interface. Information is presented
legibly and simply around the periphery of the 2.5 inch screen,
using easy to understand icons placed so as to not intrude
on the image coming from the lens.
Another interesting aspect of the Fujifilm FinePix Z1 interface
relates to the different ways to preview the image. Pressing
the DISP/BACK button, it is possible to see the last
3 captured images arranged in a column on the left side of
the screen, while the image currently being framed is shown
on the right side of the monitor. This unusual presentation
turns out to be very useful when a series of images is being
shot of the same subject, and allows the photographer to see
the effect of changes in the composition.
Moreover, it is worth underlining that the Z1 displays the
shutter speed and aperture selected by the camera when the
shutter release is pressed halfway, a very useful bit of information
that far too many other manufacturers fail to indicate.
Menus are presented on a solid colour background and options,
although described by icons, are also identified with text
at the top of the screen. Moreover, both the Capture and Playback
menus provide access to the Setup menu which contains
options for the basic configuration of the FinePix Z1:
Image Disp.: specifies whether an image checking
screen appears after taking a photo. The image appears for
a few seconds (3, 1.5 seconds or Off) and is then recorded.
Shutter Volume: (Off, 1, 2 or 3), sets the volume
of the sound emitted when the shutter is released.
Beep Volume: (Off, 1, 2 or 3), sets the volume
of the tone emitted when the camera controls are used.
Playback Volume: (Off, 1, 2 or 3), sets the playback
volume for movies and voice memos.
Frame No: decides if images are numbered consecutively
or restart from 1 when the memory card is formatted or a
new card is used.
LCD Brightness: adjusts the brightness of the monitor
over ± 5 increments.
Digital Zoom: On or Off. Controls the digital zoom.
Auto Power Off: establishes the delay until the
camera powers down automatically after a period of inactivity
(5, 2 minutes or Off).
LCD Power Save: On or Off. When On the monitor
is automatically turned off after the camera is unused for
10 seconds.
Format: serves to format the memory card.
Date/Time: is to set the time and date on the FinePix
Z1.
Time Difference: serves to set the time difference
between a "home" time and a "destination
time".
Lang.: selects the interface language (English,
French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese or Chinese).
Background Color: selects the background colour
of the menus (six options are available).
USB Mode:
Mass Storage, to have the camera's memory card
recognized as a mass storage device by a computer.
Pictbridge, to connect the camera to a PictBridge
compliant printer and print images directly.
Video System: NTSC or PAL.
Reset: to return the camera to its factory defaults,
with the exception of the date and time, the time difference,
the background colour, the USB mode.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z1 is accompanied by a well-organized printed
manual that clearly explains all the options and settings of
the camera. In addition, the manual explains how to connect
and operate the camera when it is connected to a PictBridge
printer, and how to make prints.
Software
The Canadian version of the FinePix
Z1 we reviewed included a single CD called Software for
FinePix (version 5.0d) containing:
FinePix Viewer (version 5.0 for Windows and 3.3
for Mac OS x 10.2-10.3),
the USB Mass Storage driver,
the RAW File Converter LE (v1.1 for Windows and
Mac OS x 10.2-10.3) (note that the FinePix Z1 does not
offer Fujifilm's RAW file format).
and Pixela's ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix (Windows
and Mac OS x 10.2-10.3).
FinePix Viewer is
primarily a browser with its program window divided into 3
panes. The pane on the right can be set to show either the
system folders, or program options and the shooting data for
an image that has selected in the centre pane, the one that
shows the contents of folders. Finally the third pane is to
connect and upload images to the FinePix Internet Service,
which unlike the other two panes, has a fixed display.
Although FinePix Viewer can be internally linked to a preferred
image editor such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, it also provides
some tools for basic image editing. Images can be adjusted
for sharpness, brightness, saturation, hue and contrast, or
converted to sepia or black and white. In addition, red-eye
auto correction is also offered, and it is possible to add
comments or text to an image, change its dimensions, or re-save
it in an another format (TIFF, JPEG or BMP).
ImageMixer VCD2 is
a program that makes it possible to create photo albums and
then burn them on CD or DVD.
Video CDs, which can be read by a compatible DVD player and
played back on a television can also be made, but only when
the full version of the program has been purchased.
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Interface & Software
