photoxels
As you know, we are big fans of Fujifilm’s X Series mirrorless cameras and especially of their dedicated analog-style controls. We just love the tactile feel and common sense of selecting each separate exposure setting using its own dedicated control dial or ring, and being able to see at a glance what have been set. If you want to set a shutter speed, just select it on the Shutter Speed Dial; an aperture is selected on the lens’s Aperture Ring; turn the ISO Dial to the sensitivity you desire; dial in an exposure compensation using the Exposure Compensation Dial. The dedicated controls make using an X Series mirrorless camera very intuitive — and, as many of you have found out, FUN.
MODE DIAL
Many of our readers grew up with the PASM Mode Dial and some hesitate to embrace the dedicated controls, fearing a difficult transition. Using a Mode Dial, you select a mode first on the Mode Dial (or lever or button) and then turn a Command Dial to set exposure settings.
So, to select a shutter speed, you turn the Mode Dial to Shutter-Priority (S on most cameras, or Tv for Canon users) and then rotate the appropriate Command Dial to choose the desired shutter speed.
To select an aperture, you turn the Mode Dial to Aperture-Priority (A on most cameras, or Av for Canon users) and rotate the appropriate Command Dial to select an aperture.
(Some cameras allow you to customize which function the Front and Rear dials set.)
If you want to select both shutter speed and aperture, there is a mode for that: Turn the Mode Dial to Manual (M) and then rotate the appropriate (Front and Rear) Command Dials.
Want to change ISO? Press the ISO button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
To dial in an exposure compensation, press the Exposure Compensation button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
Also, each camera manufacturer decides the default operation of each of the Command Dials.
For example, on most Canon cameras, you rotate the Front Command Dial (Main Dial) to set shutter speed when in Tv mode; also the Front Command Dial (Main Dial) to set aperture when in Av mode; the Front Command Dial (Main Dial) to set shutter speed and the Rear Command Dial (Quick Control Dial) to set aperture when in M mode.
On most Nikon cameras, you rotate the Front (Main) Command Dial to set shutter speed when in S mode; the Rear (Sub) Command Dial to set aperture when in A mode; the Front (Main) Command Dial to set shutter speed and the Rear (Sub) Command Dial to set aperture when in M mode.
You don’t encounter all this complication when using dedicated controls.
DEDICATED CONTROLS
On the Fujifilm X Series cameras with dedicated controls, selecting an exposure setting is straightforward. You don’t have to think about which shooting mode to put the camera into (there is no Mode Dial) and which Front or Rear Command Dial to rotate. Since there is a separate control dial or ring for each exposure setting — a Shutter Speed dial, an Aperture Ring (on the lens), an Exposure Compensation dial, and an ISO dial — you simply use the control dial for the exposure setting you want to set. And, you’re done!
MAPPING MODE DIAL TO DEDICATED CONTROLS
How does all this Mode Dial functionality correspond to dedicated controls? It’s in fact very easy — and intuitive, which explains why so many photographers have embraced the dedicated controls.
In the following sections, we map the Mode Dial setting to the appropriate dedicated control dial.
Mode Dial: Turn the Mode Dial to Full AUTO.
Dedicated Controls: Leave the Shutter Speed Dial on A, Aperture Ring on A and ISO Dial on A.
Mode Dial: Turn the Mode Dial to P. To select an ISO, press the ISO button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial. To dial in an exposure compensation, press the Exposure Compensation button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
Dedicated Controls: Leave the Shutter Speed Dial on A, Aperture Ring on A. Leave the ISO dial on A or rotate it to select the desired ISO. Rotate the Exposure Compensation Dial to dial in an exposure compensation.
Mode Dial: Turn the Mode Dial to Shutter-Priority. Rotate the appropriate Command Dial to select a shutter speed. To select an ISO, press the ISO button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial. To dial in an exposure compensation, press the Exposure Compensation button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
Dedicated Controls: Select the desired shutter speed on the Shutter Speed Dial. Leave the Aperture Ring on A. Leave the ISO dial on A or rotate it to select the desired ISO. Rotate the Exposure Compensation Dial to dial in an exposure compensation.
Mode Dial: Turn the Mode Dial to Aperture-Priority. Rotate the appropriate Command Dial to select an aperture. To select an ISO, press the ISO button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial. To dial in an exposure compensation, press the Exposure Compensation button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
Dedicated Controls: Select the desired aperture on the lens’s Aperture Ring. Leave the Shutter Speed Dial on A. Leave the ISO dial on A or rotate it to select the desired ISO. Rotate the Exposure Compensation Dial to dial in an exposure compensation.
Mode Dial: Turn the Mode Dial to Manual. Rotate the appropriate Command Dial to select the desired shutter speed, rotate the appropriate Command Dial to select the desired aperture. To select an ISO, press the ISO button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial. To dial in an exposure compensation, press the Exposure Compensation button and rotate the appropriate Command Dial.
Dedicated Controls: Select the desired shutter speed on the Shutter Speed Dial. Select the desired aperture on the lens’s Aperture Ring. Select the desired ISO on the ISO Dial. Select the desired exposure compensation on the Exposure Compensation Dial.
There you go. Using the Mode Dial, you have the Mode Dial, two buttons (some cameras have dedicated ISO and Exposure Compensation dials) and two Command Dials to manipulate. Using dedicated controls, you have three dials and an Aperture Ring, each dedicated to one exposure setting.
Here’s how you use the dedicated shutter speed and aperture ring to have the same functionality as using a Mode Dial:
| Mode Dial | Shutter Speed Dial | Aperture Ring |
| AUTO or Program Auto (P) | A | A |
| Aperture-Priority (A) | A | Select aperture |
| Shutter-Priority (S) | Select shutter speed | A |
| Manual (M) | Select shutter speed | Select aperture |
To recap using dedicated controls: Anytime you leave something on A, you are indicating to the camera that you want it to make the decision for you.
So, if you want Full AUTO or Program Auto (P), leave all the dials and the Aperture Ring on A.
If you want Aperture-Priority (A), just select the desired aperture on the Aperture Ring, and leave everything else on A.
If you want Shutter-Priority (S), just select the desired shutter speed on the Shutter Speed Dial, and leave everything else on A.
If you want Full Manual (M), just select the desired shutter speed on the Shutter Speed Dial and the desired aperture on the Aperture Ring.
And if you also want to change the ISO and dial in an exposure compensation, then just do it using the dedicated ISO Dial and Exposure Compensation Dial.
After a while, you will stop thinking in terms of shooting modes: You’ll just either leave a dedicated control on A or rotate it to select the desired setting. It cannot be simpler and more intuitive than that!
