Top of camera controls

Top of the camera controls are split into two areas, left and right side of the flash.
Left side: exposure mode dial (choose between Auto, Programmed, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Full Manual or one of the five preset exposure modes), self timer button.
Right side: Main power switch, shutter release button, exposure compensation button, aperture button, flash mode button, AE-L (Auto-Exposure Lock) button and (just hiding under your thumb) the main command dial.

Exposure Mode
  		Description

Full Auto
The camera operates automatically, exposures are calculated and no control over the exposure is given to the photographer. Useful for simple snapshot photographs or beginners.
P

Programmed Auto
The camera automatically calculates the correct exposure (as with Auto mode) but the photographer can shift the exposure through several equivalent exposures (combinations of aperture and shutter speed) and also use the exposure compensation feature.
S

Shutter Priority Auto
Shutter Priority allows you to select the desired shutter speed and the camera will automatically calculate the correct aperture for a correct exposure. This mode is useful for sports or special effect photography. If an appropriate aperture cannot be calculated the camera will display either "HI" or "LO".
A

Aperture Priority Auto
This mode allows you to choose the aperture and the camera will select the appropriate shutter speed for a correct exposure. This mode is useful controlling depth of field or where a particular aperture is required. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be calculated the camera will display either "HI" or "LO".
M

Manual Exposure
Allows you to set both the aperture and shutter speed giving total control over the exposure.


Vari-Program mode
  		Description

Portrait mode
Camera selects a shallow depth of field (large aperture, low F-number) to give portrait shots with a blurred background and sharp foreground. (eg. Aperture of ~ F2.8)

Landscape mode
Camera selects large depth of field (small aperture, high F-number) to ensure near and far objects are all in focus at the same time. (eg. Aperture of > F5.6)

Macro mode (Close-up mode)
Camera selects a shallow depth of field (large aperture, low F-number) to make the subject stand out from a blurred background. (eg. Aperture ~ F4.0 or less)

Sports mode
Camera selects high shutter speeds to capture fast action. (eg. Shutter speed of 1/180 s or greater - up to 1/2000 s)

Night Scene mode
Camera controls exposure to capture very dimly lit subjects (which may otherwise not be metered) for evening or night shots. Flash can be used.

Button
  		Action

Self Timer
Toggles the self timer on or off, you can switch the self timer between two or ten seconds via the Setup Menu (press MENU/EXE). AF Assist lamp will flash to indicate self-timer operation.

Exposure Compensation
Exposure compensation can only be used in P, S, A or M modes it allows for fractional corrections to the exposure value calculated by the metering system, these corrections can be made in 1/3 EV steps between +3.0 EV and -3.0 EV, useful when shooting against a very dark or very light background or for special effects.

Aperture button
Used in conjunction with Manual mode holding this button down whilst rolling the command wheel allows you to select different apertures (without pressing the button selects shutter speeds).

Flash mode button
Press and hold this button whilst rolling the command wheel to select from the flash modes (assumes flash is popped up or auxiliary flash is connected) Auto, On, Off, Anti Redeye, Slow Sync Anti Redeye, Slow Sync.
AE-L Automatic Exposure Lock
AE Lock allows you to lock the cameras calculated exposure, much the same as focus lock (half-press the shutter release) simply aim the camera at the scene area you wish to use for exposure calculation then press and hold the AE-L button, re-frame the shot and shoot. When using AE-L the metering mode switches to Center-Weighted Average.

At this stage I'd normally give a commentary as to the good and the bad of this control structure, but as FujiFilm have just inherited it from the Nikon F60 body there's little point commenting. Suffice to say there are plenty of photographic controls here for even the most ardent shutterbug, and certainly more than you'd find on the average prosumer digital camera.

Command Button Combinations

  • Aperture button + Exposure Compensate button for more than two seconds will perform a camera settings reset (program shift, exposure compensation, flash mode, self-timer).
  • AE-L button + Self-Timer button while turning on the camera, then press shutter release to lock up mirror and open shutter for CCD cleaning.


Front of camera controls

This won't take long as there's only one control on the front of the camera and that's the auto focus mode switch, when turned to the "M" position the internal auto focus system is disabled and the lens focus ring is free from the cameras focus motor, and manual focus can be carried out.

 


Rear of camera controls

On the rear of the camera we have the two LCD's, the top which is used in conjunction with the display LCD below has four multifunction buttons below it, the action of these buttons is indicated by an icon shown on the LCD. Pressing the FUNC button changes the mode of the top LCD. Controls in more detail are below: (these menus are detailed on the next pages)

Button
  		Action
FUNC

Function button
In record mode: Enters / switches between the two record function menus (detailed on next page)
In play mode: Switches between edit menu and information menus (detailed on next page)
PLAY

Play button
Enters playback mode, displays the last image taken and switches the top LCD into the first of it's play mode controls. Pressing PLAY again will switch display into thumbnail view and pressing it once more returns the camera to record mode.
MENU/
EXE

Menu / Execute button
Used to enter record setup / play control menus (depending on current mode) and to select menu options.
CANCEL Cancel button
Opposite of Execute button, used to cancel current menu selections or "back up" from menus.
4-way controller
Used to navigate menus and in playback mode to scroll through taken images / zoom into current image (up to 19 x zoom).

It's worth noting that the S1 Pro operates on a "shooting priority" fashion, that is no matter what you're doing on the rear LCD or in menus (for instance playing back and image or changing some menu setting) as soon as you half-press the shutter release the camera immediately (instantly) switches back to record (shooting) operation ready to take a shot. That's how FujiFilm have managed to do away with having separate play / record modes and it's what you'd expect of a Digital SLR.

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