Top of camera controls
Not much has changed on the top of the F717, the only noticeable differences
are the MPEG MOVIE HQX label and the addition of the Program AE mode which
switches the function of the old icon to a full Auto exposure mode. This
is useful when handing the camera to someone else to take a quick shot,
all settings are returned to default and the menu is more basic.
The power switch is mounted around the camera mode dial, just in the
right position for a flick from your thumb. Beside the mode dial is the
cameras microphone, used to record audio in movie mode. Just below the
microphone is the NightFraming / NightShot switch.
Toward the front of the camera is the shutter release button, tilted
slightly forwards and it is a soft half-press, click full-press type.
Next to this is the exposure compensation button, directly in front of
that is the camera's jog-dial which is used to to set exposure compensation,
aperture / shutter speed in manual modes and scroll through images in
playback mode. I personally found the jog-dial location to be a bit awkward,
it would have been better to the left of the shutter release, on the rear
of the camera or the front of the hand grip.
Exposure / Camera Mode Dial
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Movie Mode
The F717 features the MPEG HQX movie mode which allows you to record
movie clips which are only limited by the amount of space on your
Memory Stick. MPEG HQX is recorded at 320 x 240, 16 fps, 10 Khz
audio. Optionally you can also choose from MPEG EX (320 x 240 or
160 x 112) which records at only 8 fps.
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Playback
Enters playback mode, this displays the last image/movie recorded.
Cursor arrows or jog-wheel can be used to scroll through images (other
functions described later). |
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Auto Exposure ('Auto
Adjustment' mode)
Automatic exposure mode, camera meters the scene and selects best
combination of aperture and shutter speed and ISO sensitivity to properly
expose the image. You can not change ISO, white balance, exposure
compensation etc. |
 P |
Program Auto Exposure
Automatic exposure mode, camera meters the scene and selects best
combination of aperture and shutter speed (and ISO if set to Auto)
to properly expose the image. Additionally you can compensate the
exposure by either +/-2.0EV in 0.3 EV steps. The F717's program AE
mode is not flexible (ability to select equal exposures by rolling
the command dial). |
| S |
Shutter Priority Auto Exposure
In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera will attempt
to select the best aperture for a proper exposure. Shutter speed
is displayed on the LCD, click once then roll the jog-dial to select
different shutter speeds. As you change the shutter speed the cameras
exposure system recalculates and displays the appropriate aperture,
there is no warning if the exposure is outside the camera's exposure
range. The LCD view changes to reflect the look of the final image
at this exposure. Available shutter speeds:
30, 25, 20, 15, 13, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2.5,
2, 1.6, 1.3, 1, 1/1.3, 1/1.6, 1/2, 1/2.5, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8,
1/10, 1/13, 1/15, 1/20, 1/25, 1/30, 1/40, 1/50, 1/60, 1/80, 1/100,
1/125, 1/160, 1/200, 1/250, 1/320, 1/400, 1/500, 1/640, 1/800, 1/1000
s
* Exposures of 1/25 sec or slower are indicated as 'NRx' where x
is the shutter speed, noise reduction automatically enabled.
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| A |
Aperture Priority Auto Exposure
In this mode you select the aperture and the camera will attempt
to select the best shutter speed for a proper exposure. Aperture
is displayed on the LCD, click once then roll the jog-dial to select
different apertures. As you change the aperture the cameras exposure
system recalculates and displays the appropriate shutter speed,
there is no warning if the exposure is outside the camera's exposure
range. The LCD view changes to reflect the look of the final image
at this exposure. Available apertures:
Wide: F2.0, F2.2, F2.5, F2.8, F3.2, F3.5,
F4.0, F4.5, F5.0, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8.0
Tele: F2.4, F2.5, F2.8, F3.2, F3.5, F4.0, F4.5, F5.0, F5.6, F6.3,
F7.1, F8.0
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| M |
Full Manual Exposure
In this mode you select the aperture and the shutter speed from any
combination of the above. Use the jog-dial to switch between shutter
speed or aperture, click then roll it again to change the value. The
LCD view changes to reflect the look of the final image at this exposure.
The exposure compensation readout now displays the difference between
the selected exposure and the metered exposure up to a maximum of
+/-2.0 EV. |
| SCN |
Special Scene Exposure
"Scene Exposure mode" is set through the SETUP menu, you
can choose from three exposure modes which preset certain camera
settings to ensure the best possible exposure in those scene modes:
• Twilight (low light shots,
long exposures)
• Twilight Portrait (low light shots, long exposures,
slow sync flash)
• Landscape (focus locked to infinity, small apertures,
flash cancel)
• Portrait (large apertures)
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SET
UP |
Setup
Enters camera setup mode (described in more detail later). |
Buttons
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Exposure Compensation
Enables exposure compensation, click the jog-dial then roll between
compensations of : (+/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps)
-2.0, -1.7, -1.3, -1.0, -0.7, -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0
EV |
NightFraming / NightShot switch
NIGHT
FRAMING |
NightFraming
NightFraming can only be used in Auto exposure mode, it allows you
to use the light sensitive NightShot mode to frame the subject before
taking the final shot in normal mode (flash exposure). Exposure
sequence:
- Switch to NightFraming, a small click is heard as the IR filter
is removed from the CCD, IR lights on the front of the lens come
on and screen turns 'NightShot Green'.
- Use this 'NightShot' view to frame the subject.
- Half-press shutter release and IR filter is replaced screen
returns to full colour, (if enabled) Hologram AF (laser focus)
will lock focus on subject, IR filter is again removed and screen
returns to 'NightShot' view, flash pops up if not already up .
- Fully depress shutter release, IR filter is replaced, flash
fires and full colour image is taken.
- Screen returns to 'NightShot' type view.
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Normal shooting
In this mode the camera operates as a normal digital camera, the Infrared
filter remains in front of the CCD at all times. However, Hologram
AF (laser) may be used in low light circumstances if set to Auto in
the Setup menu. (Note that the label for this mode has changed from
the word OFF on pre-production cameras to the green dot - this avoids
confusing this switch for the power switch). |
NIGHT
SHOT |
NightShot
NightShot can only be used in Auto exposure mode. Exposure sequence:
- Switch to NightShot, a small click is heard as the IR filter
is removed from the CCD, IR lights on the front of the lens come
on and screen turns 'NightShot Green'.
- Frame subject.
- Half-press shutter release and AE and AF lock (Hologram AF is
NOT used in this mode).
- Fully depress shutter release and shot is taken in 'NightShot'
mode (green sepia B&W).
- The flash can not be enabled in this mode, the slowest possible
exposure is 1/8 sec.
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