Quick Start Guide FUJIFILM X-A7

Congratulations on your new FUJIFILM X-A7! This quick start guide introduces your camera’s features and functions, and will help you get more creative with your photography.

Contents

Features Common to All X Series Cameras

The MENU OK button is used to access deeper levels of camera functionality beyond what is offered by function buttons, dials, and switches.

  • Named menu tabs are what you use to change capture settings. Press the left button on the Selector pad to scroll by tab (so you don’t have to scroll through every function to get to the next page), and press the right button on the Selector to access desired feature and MENU OK to select.
  • The wrench icon indicates SET UP and features settings including Power Management, Button/Dial Setting and Screen Set-Up. Choose DISP. CUSTOM SETTING from the SCREEN SET-UP menu to select what information shows on the EVF/LCD.

The DRIVE SETTING button gives you access to burst shooting, bracketing, single frame, Advanced Filters, and more. On the X-A7, Drive functions are accessed by the button on the rear of the camera.

The photometry/metering setting determines how the camera meters exposure. On the X-A7, select it from the SHOOTING SETTING menu.

The white balance control allows you to select WB options that match your light source. You can also customize to create your own shade of white or select a specific kelvin value, which is a measure of the color temperature of light. The default setting for quick WB access is on the right side of the rear touchscreen and then is the button on the left.

The DISP BACK button allows you to select how you’d like information displayed on the LCD. You can customize the information being displayed in SET UP > SCREEN SET-UP > DISP. CUSTOM SETTING.

Personalizing Your Camera

Many aspects of the X-A7 can be customized to suit your preferences, such as controls, displays, and shooting modes.

Fn Function Button

The camera’s top-plate Fn button can be customized to perform different tasks, as can the digital Fn buttons on the LCD screen. The top-plate Fn button is found on the far right of the top plate, in the middle of the rear command dial. By default, it is set as the MOVIE RECORDING RELEASE button.

  • Press MENU OK and navigate to the SET UP menu.
  • In the options, go to BUTTON SETTING, then select FUNCTION (Fn) SETTING.
  • Finally, select the Fn button to customize from the list and choose the setting you want, then press MENU OK to confirm.

Customizing Viewscreen Information

The information you see when you compose a scene can be changed so only the data you need is shown.

  • Press MENU OK, then scroll down to the SET UP menu.
  • Choose SCREEN SET-UP, then scroll down and select DISP. CUSTOM SETTING.
  • Choose what you’d like to see on the camera’s screen. To switch screen items on or off, press MENU OK, then press DISP BACK to exit.

Customizing the Q Menu

The Q Menu gives you information at a glance and quick access to camera settings. You can also change what’s on the Q Menu screen to suit your way of working, for instance if you use some settings more frequently than others.

  • Press MENU OK and scroll down to the SET UP menu. Choose BUTTON SETTING.
  • In the BUTTON SETTING sub menu, select EDIT/SAVE QUICK MENU.
  • Find the function you’d like to remove from the Q Menu and press MENU OK.
  • Now pick the option you would like to replace this function with from the list and press MENU OK.
  • Repeat the above steps for each menu location you want to change. Press DISP BACK to finish.

Customizing Film Simulation Modes

You’ve probably discovered your camera’s Film Simulation modes by now, but did you know you can customize these to your own tastes?

  • On the X-A7’s LCD screen, press the left-facing arrow at the bottom right, and then press the Q button on top right of the screen to display the Q Menu.
  • Adjust highlights, shadows, and colour saturation with the H Tone, S Tone and Color options using the rear command dial.

Focusing Modes

Focus Point Location and Size

The size of the active focusing area used by your X-A7 can be changed in size and moved around the frame. In the Q Menu’s AF MODE icon, choose from Single Point (highly selective), Zone (for erratically moving subjects), Wide/Tracking (uses the whole frame) and ALL using the rear command dial. To move the active point or zone, or change its size:

  • Press the MENU OK button, then scroll to the AF/MF SETTING menu.
  • Select the FOCUS AREA option. You can now push the Focus Lever up, down, left or right to move the AF point, or do it by pressing the touchscreen.
  • Rotate the rear command dial to change the size of the focus point/area.
  • Press MENU OK or half press the shutter release button to confirm.

TIP: Switch on AF+MF from the AF/MF SETTING menu and you’ll be able to focus manually just by turning the lens focus ring – no change of focus mode necessary.

TIP: Did you know you that double-pressing the Focus Lever while adjusting the focus point moves it back to the center of the frame?

Smart Menus

Activated via your X-A7’s screen, you’ll find the new touch-activated Smart Menu feature, which lets you adjust shooting settings and check the results as they happen on screen to perfect your image. You can change settings including the Touch Screen Mode, White Balance, Film Simulation modes, the Focus Mode, Exposure Compensation, Depth Control to set how much of the image is in focus, and the Aspect Ratio, and see the new look right there on the screen.

  • Switch on the camera, and on the X-A7’s LCD screen, notice the left-facing arrow at the bottom right of the display. Press this and you’ll open the Smart Menu.
  • Next, press one of the options at the edge of the screen, which will open a sub-menu, and there you can control the effect, either by touching arrows to increase or decrease the adjustment, or by swiping left or right.
  • When you have selected the settings you want, press the back arrow at the top left of the screen to go back to shooting. And if you need more information, press the question mark symbol in the bottom left.

Shooting Video

Picking the Right Settings

The first thing to decide is which resolution and frame rate settings to use. You’ll find these options by pressing MENU OK > MOVIE SETTING > MOVIE MODE.

  • 4K 29.97P gives the best resolution and clarity on the X-A7.
  • FHD (Full HD 1080) options still provide a good level of resolution, but at higher frame rates, which help capture movement more fluidly.
  • HD (720) options offer less resolution, but files are smaller so you can fit more footage on your memory card.
  • Settings marked with SQ offer a square format in FHD and HD modes, so for example SQFHD will give you 1080×1080 output.
  • When it comes to frame rate, 24p is fine for most normal applications. Footage shot at frame rates of 59.94p or 50p captures motion more smoothly.

HD High-Speed Video Options

The X-A7 also allows you to explore the world of slow motion moviemaking, perfect for sports and action subjects, as well as regular day-to-day events, at a variety of speeds to match what you’re shooting. All of the slow motion options are recorded at HD (720) resolution.

  • To find the slow motion settings, press MENU OK and move down to the MOVIE SETTING menu. Select HD HIGH SPEED VIDEO.
  • Now choose between 1.6x, 2x, 3.3x, and 4x slow motion. Press MENU OK to confirm.
  • If you activate any of the HD HIGH SPEED VIDEO settings, the MOVIE MODE options will be greyed out in the MOVIE SETTING menu. Select OFF to cancel the slow motion effect.

Use Time-Lapse Movie Mode

There’s another way to make movies outside of the MOVIE SETTING menu. You can set up the X-A7 to shoot a long sequence of shots and then have it stitch them into a movie to show the passing of time. TIME-LAPSE MOVIE MODE can be used to make 4K, Full HD, and HD movies, as well as SQ square crops of those formats.

  • Press MENU OK to enter the main menu, then move down to the SHOOTING SETTING menu. Select TIME-LAPSE MOVIE MODE from the list, then choose the file resolution and frame rate you want to use.
  • Press DISP BACK until you return to the SHOOTING SETTING menu, then select INTERVAL TIMER SHOOTING.
  • In the INTERVAL/NUMBER OF TIMES screen, use the Focus Lever to set the INTERVAL, which is the time between shots, and the NUMBER OF TIMES, which is the total number of frames. Press MENU OK to confirm.
  • On the next screen, called SETTING, select STILL+TIME-LAPSE MOVIE. At the foot of the screen, you’ll see the settings confirmed, including the total length of the video. Press OK to set.
  • Finally, choose START WAITING TIME. Here you can input a delay in hours and minutes, or use 0h and 0m to start the sequence immediately. Press MENU OK to begin the sequence.

Connecting to Your Smart Device

Your X-A7 can communicate wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet computer via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so you can transfer pictures to your device where they can be edited and shared with friends and followers online. You can also use your smart device to shoot remotely, controlling the camera and even looking at what the camera sees with remote live view.

Linking to the Camera for the First Time

  • Install the free FUJIFILM Camera Remote app on your iOS or Android device.
  • Turn on the camera, press MENU OK and navigate to the SET UP menu. Choose CONNECTION SETTING > Bluetooth SETTINGS > PAIRING REGISTRATION. The camera will begin searching for your device.
  • In the FUJIFILM Camera Remote app, tap PAIRING REGISTRATION.
  • Follow the instructions in the FUJIFILM Camera Remote app on your device to complete pairing.

Transferring Images to Your Device

  • Press the PLAY button, then press the Fn button on top of the camera
  • Scroll through your images, pressing MENU OK to tag any for transfer.
  • When you’ve finished, hit DISP BACK. Image transfer should begin.

TIP: If your device is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, the app may ask to switch to the camera’s own Wi-Fi before transfer can begin.

Remote Shooting and Control

  • Launch the Camera Remote app from your smart device and tap the camera name to connect.
  • Tap the Remote Control option to begin controlling the camera.
  • If your device is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, the app may ask to switch to the camera’s own Wi-Fi before remote shooting can begin.