Fujifilm FinePix F40fd Easy Digital Camera Review

The new Fujifilm FinePix F40fd crams all the technology you could ever want in a compact body and even has an affordable price tag on it. For $299, you get 8.3 megapixels, face detection auto focus, and IrSimple wireless image transfer. Have you shunned Fujifilm before because of its xD-exclusive cameras? Not anymore, the F40fd accepts both xD-Picture and SD memory cards.

This digital camera has mainly automatic modes with its 16 scene modes including an Underwater mode that tempts consumers to also purchase the $179 waterproof housing. While that scene is quite specialized, the Natural & With Flash mode is much more useful. It snaps one picture with a high ISO sensitivity of 2000 and no flash, and the other picture using the flash. It then displays the two pictures next to each other on the 2.5-inch, 230k-pixel LCD screen.

The Fuji F40fd’s flash is a great feature too. Most people shy away from compact camera flashes because they overexpose and make people’s foreheads look glossy and greasy, or they don’t reach as far as they should. The F40’s flash is very functional though. The camera evaluates the lighting on the subject as well as the background and then adjusts its output automatically: Fujifilm calls this “intelligent flash” or “i-Flash.”

The 3x optical zoom lens isn’t this FinePix’s best asset. It isn’t functional in the movie mode, and it doesn’t have optical image stabilization to keep movies from being shaky. Movies record at television-quality 640 x 480, 30 frames per second. The audio is very disappointing so don’t expect it to pick up any sound more than about 6 ft away. Poor little Henry’s solo at the school concert won’t be caught on video.

 

Pictures can be snapped at a top speed of 1.3 frames per second, which isn’t very fast at all. Other cameras in this price range can take 3 frames per second. Images looked clean and sharp in bright light but looked muddy when lighting was poor. Still, the Fujifilm FinePix F40fd reigns in resolution. Its 8.3 megapixels proved more effective than most 10-megapixel models in our lab testing.

The Fujifilm’s “fd” designates the camera’s face detection auto focus system that automatically recognizes and tracks up to 10 faces at a time. It recognizes faces quickly and then tracks them across the frame as long as they are looking at the camera. This isn’t the only trendy technology that the F40fd has; it’s equipped with IrSimple wireless capabilities. It can transfer and receive images with compatible cell phones, computers, printers, and other devices when placed within 3 ft. Yes, it seems a little silly to transfer images wirelessly when you have to be so close anyway. The wireless setup is nonexistent though so no haggling on tech support for hours. The camera comes ready to transfer and receive.

The 8.3-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F40fd packs in more resolution than any of the earlier Fuji F-series digital cameras. It comes in a 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9-inch shell that is much more attractive than other cameras made by this manufacturer. The F40fd comes in silver, blue, and gunmetal colors. It has flat surfaces designed for sliding into a pocket. This digital camera has a lot of great features, and a price that isn’t asking much. The Fuji F40fd will be great for point-and-shooters who won’t miss the manual control but still want nice and clean pictures.

 

Fujifilm FinePix F40fd Compared to the...