Physical Tour

The F40*fd* is one of the most simply styled FinePix models on the market and that is a good thing. Its front conveys more elegance than most FinePix digital cameras. The left side of the front has a finger grip that moves inward toward the top of the camera where a Fujifilm logo is placed. The black line that runs up the left side is somewhat transparent and shows up red when the IrSimple technology is activated. A FinePix logo graces the center of the left side. The 3x zoom lens is placed near the right side, with specs rounding the end of the barrel: "Fujinon Zoom Lens, 3x, f=8-24mm, 1:2.8-5.1." To the top right of the lens is the rectangular built-in flash, with the circular auto focus assist lamp below it. In the bottom right corner is the microphone and a few labels to flaunt the Super CCD and its 8.3 megapixels.

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**Back
**This side looks very similar to other Fujifilm digital cameras with the 2.5-inch LCD screen on the left side of the back and the buttons crunched to the right. The LCD screen is framed in black with a white Fujifilm logo at the bottom of the frame. On the right side of the back, in a vertical strip of space less than an inch wide, are a bunch of controls. At the top is a mode dial that faces the back, and its ribbed edge protrudes out the top. An LED appears on the dial’s left to indicate which mode is activated. Two buttons sit directly below the mode dial: playback on the left and "F" on the right ("F" calls up the menu of frequently used settings). There is a large, round navigational control below these buttons with a central Menu/OK button. All of the directions on the control have a dual functionality.  The top of the multi-selector brightens the LCD screen when shooting and deletes photos in playback. The right side chooses a flash mode, the bottom activates the self-timer, and the left side turns on the macro mode. Below the control are two more buttons that are identical in size to the upper buttons. The left button changes the display information on the LCD screen and the button on the right easily activates the face detection system.

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Left Side

The left side of the F40*fd* carries the top’s chrome band down its center and is uninterrupted. Near the back of the camera is a rubber cover to the USB and AV cable jacks and a small black transparent window that lights up when the IrSimple technology is enabled.

**Right Side
**The right side of the camera isn’t very interesting. It has only a chrome wrist strap eyelet at the top.

**Top
**The top is where the seams of the camera’s housing gather. A shiny chrome band runs down the middle with the FinePix F40*fd* logo on the left side and some buttons on the right side. On the far right side is the shutter release button surrounded by the tiny zoom lever. This zoom lever has a tiny knob on the front that is similar to those on the Canon SD-series cameras. Just left of the shutter release button is the smaller, oval-shaped power button.

Bottom

The left side of the bottom has a friction grip battery compartment that users can push inward to open. Just right of center are a few holes that make up the in-camera speaker, and the tripod socket is located to the right.

Components

Viewfinder

There isn’t an optical viewfinder on the F40*fd*, but the LCD screen makes a fine viewing device anyway. It measures 2.5 inches diagonally and has 230,000 pixels of resolution. This makes for a nice, smooth view whether in real-time recording or in playback mode. Making the live view even better is the fast refresh rate on the screen; it makes moving subjects look smooth instead of choppy or blurry. Older Fujifilm cameras let users choose between 30 and 60fps refresh rates on the LCD screen. The F40*fd* still has this option, but it is renamed "Power Management" and moved from the setup menu to the "F" menu. Its options are Power Save (15 fps), Quick AF (30 fps), and Clear Display (60 fps). The Clear Display mode is the best looking, but it drains the battery faster than the other two modes.

The display info on the live view can be changed by pushing the Disp./Back button below the bottom left of the multi-selector. Display info can be hidden, a grid with file info can appear, and just file info can appear too. The file info isn’t very elaborate: the screen shows the shooting mode, image size, battery power, number of photos left on the memory card, and if the face detection or any other settings are activated. The shutter speed and aperture appear briefly on the screen too, but only once the exposure has been locked by pushing the shutter release button halfway down. All in all, the LCD screen makes a great viewfinder.

LCD Screen

The 2.5-inch LCD screen is excellent in playback mode and in recording. The 230,000-pixel resolution makes pictures look great, and the 4:3 format keeps the images 100 percent accurate while framing and viewing. The screen brightness can be adjusted on a +/- 5 scale in the setup menu or via a one-touch brightener that can be activated by touching the top of the multi-selector in the recording modes. The size and resolution of the LCD screen are the same as the FinePix F31*fd*, but Fujifilm did make improvements on the viewing angle. According to the company, the F40*fd* makes a 25-degree angle improvement over the F31*fd*. Fujifilm made this improvement with the idea that users who snap portraits with the face detection technology will want to show the pictures to their subjects using the LCD screen. The wider the viewing angle on the LCD screen, the more people can fit around the camera and see the pictures. I held the Fujifilm F31*fd* up next to the F40*fd* and compared the two LCD screens. The actual viewing angle seemed nearly the same to me horizontally, but the F40*fd* had a slight advantage when held above the head. The F40*fd*’s screen was easier to view, though, since it has a more effective anti-glare coating on it. This LCD screen is also a big improvement over the F20’s which only had 153,000 pixels on a 2.5-inch monitor.

**Flash
**The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has a built-in flash unit that looks similar to those on compact digital cameras, but it is dubbed "Intelligent Flash" or "i-Flash" by the company. The concept is that the camera measures the lighting on the subject and the ambient lighting in the background, and then the flash automatically adjusts its output accordingly. This translates to more detail in the background of images rather than total darkness and properly exposed faces instead of harsh and unnatural-looking light. The i-Flash reaches from 2-21.3 ft when the lens is set at its widest and between 2-11.5 ft at the farthest telephoto focal length of the lens. This range is more than what most flash units offer from compact digital cameras. The flash component itself is located in the top right corner of the front, which can be problematic when handling the F40*fd*. The left fingers can easily wander in the way, blocking the flash while snapping pictures. The right side of the multi-selector chooses the flash mode from the following selection: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, On, Off, Slow Synchro, and Red-Eye Reduction + Slow Synchro. The F40*fd* also has an interesting shooting mode tailored for users who aren’t sure whether to use the flash: Natural Light & With Flash. This mode snaps two pictures in a short burst – one using high ISO sensitivity and the other using the i-Flash system. The camera then displays both pictures next to each other before saving them both to the memory card. Overall, the flash seemed to produce fairly even lighting that wasn’t too harsh.

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Zoom Lens**

A Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens extends from the right side of the camera’s front when powered on. The lens is the same one found on other F-series models. Earlier models showed some barrel distortion in the macro mode, and the same problem can be seen on the F40*fd* with its bowed frame edges. It measures 8-24mm, which is equivalent to 36-108mm in the 35mm format. The maximum aperture at 8mm is f/2.8, but that shrinks considerably to f/5.1 near the telephoto end of the zoom. The zoom lever on the FinePix F40*fd* is different than on other Fujifilm F-series digital cameras. Other models have a zoom rocker control on the back of the camera, but the F40*fd* opts for a sleeker round lever that surrounds the shutter release button. This lever has a tiny knob on the front so users can push it back and forth with the index finger. The knob is so small, and it isn’t as comfortable. This control looks similar to those on the Canon PowerShot SD-series cameras: trendy and cute. But it isn't  quite as functional or comfortable. The tiny control is also not very sensitive and seems a bit jumpy. I tried tapping it very lightly to see how many focal lengths I could get the lens to stop at and got a maximum of six.

The zoom lens isn’t functional in the movie mode, and that probably isn’t a bad thing because there is no image stabilization. Movies lwill look shaky enough without the extra movement.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance

The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd*’s design remains fairly consistent with previous F-series models. It has more physical differences than the rest of the lineup though. This digital camera is perhaps the trendiest in the series yet. It comes in three colors: silver, blue, and gunmetal. There are chrome highlights throughout that is common on other cameras. The F40*fd* differs from its predecessors because its mode dial is larger, the zoom control is placed on the top instead of the back, and the finger grip is almost nonexistent. Other models have at least some form of protruding grip, but this model has only a little curve in the body. All of the changes may not be great for handling, but the FinePix F40*fd* is one of the most attractive digital cameras Fujifilm makes.

Size / Portability

The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* can slip into a pocket, purse, or just about anywhere. It measures in at 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches and 6.2 oz without the card or batteries. This seems a bit heavy for the camera’s size, but it won’t hurt a wrist and seems sturdy. The camera’s body is constructed of plastic, and metal elements and plates, and seems fairly durable. There is an eyelet on the right side of the camera where users can attach the included wrist strap to tote the camera around easily.

Handling Ability

The F40*fd *

may be easier to look at, but it isn’t any easier to hold. Fujifilm made a few changes to its design that benefited the camera’s looks, but its handling suffered. Older F-series cameras have a zoom lever on the back of the camera for the thumb to push. The new F40*fd* has a lever around the shutter release button with a tiny knob for the index finger to struggle with. The finger grip has also disappeared on the new model, and it consists only of a shallow curve. Sweaty palms won’t be able to hang on to this camera so that wrist strap will come in handy.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size

One of the biggest changes in this camera, as compared with previous F-series models, is the user interface. The mode dial on the F40*fd* is larger and easier to turn than the F20’s. When it is rotated, a text explanation appears on the LCD screen explaining the icons on the mode dial. The icons are fairly intuitive, but it’s still a nice touch for beginners. The user interface is similar to Sony's recent T-series digital cameras. The buttons on the Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* are nicely spaced so users won’t accidentally push two at the same time and are all labeled with text or intuitive icons.

Menu

The menu system on this digital camera isn’t very different from other Fujifilm FinePix models. The menu system is split with the frequently used settings located in the menu that appear when the "F" button is pushed.   

The other menus are accessed by pushing the Menu button in the center of the multi-selector. The recording, setup, and playback menus are all expressed in text, with only a very few icons that are easy to understand, though. The following is the recording menu.
   

There are live views in the exposure compensation, metering, and white balance portions of the menu. Live views make it easy for beginners and veteran users to choose the correct settings. The setup menu has a gray background and is broken up into four different sub-menus accessible from the top of the screen.
 

The camera examined in this review is a pre-production model. As a result, these menus could change before the F40*fd* hits store shelves in March. One menu item bound to change is the language preference section. The model on display had only English and Japanese languages but more languages are expected for the final model.

One annoyance that probably won’t change, which is found on other Fujifilm cameras, is the difficulty of navigating through the menus. Going forward with the multi-selector is easy but going back in the menu system is difficult. Sometimes users can push the left side of the multi-selector to go to the previous menu, but other times, there is no way out. In the setup menu, users can’t change more than one setting per jaunt into the menu. They have to enter and re-enter the menu to change more than one setting.

**Ease of Use
**The glitch in the menu system (discussed above) can be a pain, but the Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* is otherwise a fairly simple camera to use. The mode dial is large and easy to rotate. When it is rotated, a text explanation appears to clarify the selected shooting mode. The live views in the shooting menu also make life easy for beginners. The handling of the camera body isn’t as comfortable as previous F-series models, but it shouldn’t be a hindrance.

Modes

Auto Mode

The auto mode is located directly on the mode dial, thus making it easy for beginners to locate and use. The menu is shortened considerably and only a few options are available such as: flash, self-timer, macro, face detection, color modes, and image size.

**Movie Mode
**Fujifilm hasn’t really made any improvements to its movie mode in the past few years. The resolution is still the same at 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixels, the frame rate is still 30 fps, and the audio output is still monaural. There aren’t many options to choose from since only the resolution can be changed in the menu. Despite this, the FinePix F40*fd* seemed to perform well in the convention center. Video looked properly white balanced, focused (except shooting close-up), and exposed.

Optical zoom isn’t available and that is a little disappointing. However, having it would be detrimental to movies because of the lack of image stabilization. Videos can be played back but cannot be rewound, fast-forwarded, or edited. When compared to other Fujifilm F-series models, the movie mode is the same, but when compared with some compact competitors, the Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* falls behind.

**Drive / Burst Mode
**The burst mode is activated through the shooting menu, but it is very disappointing. Top 2, Final 2, and Long Period continuous shooting modes are available, but all of them are quite slow. Fujifilm claims a 1.3 fps rate. We didn’t get to test this effectively in the convention center. It seemed quite slow though, so that figure sounds accurate. Perhaps because of the resolution hike up to 8.3 megapixels, the camera is slower and can now only capture two pictures at a time rather than three like other F-series models. The Long Period mode can capture pictures longer (up to the memory card’s capacity) but at an even slower 0.6 fps rate.

The bottom of the multi-selector activates the self-timer and can be set to delay for 2 or 10 seconds.

**Playback Mode
**There is a playback mode accessible from the designated button, but there is only one way to exit the playback mode and that is by pushing the shutter release button. In the playback mode, the following options emerge from the menu.  

This menu is fairly short when compared with competitors that have long lists of cool effects, video editing, and such. Still, there is voice memo recording up to 30 seconds available. Some of the playback mode’s features are hidden though – outside of the main menu structure. The following menu is from the "F" button.

Another hidden feature emerges when the face detection button is pushed: the boxes that appeared around the faces in the live view now appear around the faces again. When the button is pushed again and again, the LCD screen shows a close-up view of each face in the frame so users can check to see if the faces are exposed and focused as they should be. Pushing the Disp./Back button will sort images by date and display 9 images at a time.

The Fujifilm F40*fd* is equipped with IrSimple wireless communication technology much like the recently released F31*fd*. When this is activated through the "F" menu in the playback mode, a red lamp lights up on the left side of the camera and IrSimple devices within range are located. The technology is easy to use and makes this camera ideal for users who already have IrSimple devices. The IrSimple format isn’t as prevalent at competitors like Bluetooth though, so Bluetooth fans may be a little disappointed.

Custom Image Presets

The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has two scene positions on its mode dial ("SP1" and "SP2") that is similar to Panasonic compact digital cameras. The following are located in the scene position menus: Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum, Party, Flower, and Text. These modes limit access to the shooting menu.

A few of the more interesting scene modes are found directly on the mode dial and include the Picture Stabilization mode which uses an ISO 2000 setting and a quick shutter speed to reduce blur. Even more interesting than that is the dual shot mode, Natural Light & With Flash. It snaps two pictures with and without the flash and then displays them next to each other on the LCD screen before saving them both. This is nice when users can’t decide if they want natural lighting or want to use the flash.

Control Options

Manual Control Options

The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has an "M" position on its mode dial, but it should be more accurately titled a "program" mode instead of "manual." Exposure settings cannot be changed individually, but several options like exposure compensation, white balance, and ISO can be set. Some other F-series cameras have more manual control but the F31*fd *only has aperture and shutter priority modes.

Focus
Auto Focus  

With its new Real Photo Processor, the F40*fd* is now endowed with face-detection auto focus technology that can recognize up to ten faces at a time. Once faces are recognized, the camera automatically adjusts the focus so portraits are sharp. The face detection auto focus mode works well. It recognizes faces quickly and tracks them surprisingly well. The face-detection auto focus mode is easy to access with a designated button in the bottom right corner of the back. The face detection must be turned off to access the other auto focus modes in the shooting menu: Single, Continuous, Center, and Multi. However, the continuous auto focus mode is distractingly noisy; it really does sound like a metal butterfly stuck in a tin can. The center and multi auto focus options show yellow brackets where they are focusing. An AF illuminator can be turned on and off in the setup menu too. The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd*’s auto focus system reaches from 60cm to infinity normally. A macro focus mode can be activated by pushing the left side of the multi-selector, and its range reaches from 7-80cm in wide and 30-80cm in telephoto.

Manual Focus

There is no manual focus mode on the Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* digital camera.

**ISO
**More and more compact digital cameras are including higher ISO sensitivity, but some are "cheating" and using higher ISO settings but only with reduced resolution. The Fujifilm F40*fd* doesn’t cheat and allows users to adjust the ISO sensitivity manually from 100 to 1600 at the full 8.3 megapixels; the ISO settings are found in the "F" menu. When the Picture Stabilization or Natural Light modes are used, the maximum ISO 2000 is used. This is still less than the F31*fd*’s max of 3200, but it is sufficient to keep decently low light shots illuminated and still better than most of the competition. There are also three "auto" settings: Auto 1600, Auto 800, and Auto 400. Although if you’re going to set these, why not manually set them?

Fujifilm’s previous F-series cameras produced very little noise even when the higher ISO settings were used, so this is an area we will keep an eye on when we review the camera in the coming months.

**White Balance
**The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has several white balance settings in the main shooting menu. They can be scrolled through with a live view: Auto, Fine (daylight), Shade, Fluorescent 1 (daylight), Fluorescent 2 (warm white), Fluorescent 3 (cool white), Incandescent, and Custom. The fluorescent modes are ambiguously titled with numbers in the menu, but the live view is probably more helpful than text anyways. The selection is good, and the custom setting is easy to use.

Exposure

The Fujifilm F40*fd* has more than a dozen exposure modes, most are automatically oriented. The exposure settings cannot be tweaked individually, but users can adjust the exposure compensation within the +/- 2 scale in the shooting menu. The standard 1/3-step increments are available. A live view is behind the scale that makes it easy for beginners to see the effects of their choices on the scale.

**Metering **

Fujifilm calls its metering system "photometry" in the recording menu. The following options are available with a live view: Multi, Spot, and Average. The F40*fd* uses a 256-zone through-the-lens metering system that seems to work well.

**Shutter Speed
**The camera’s shutter speeds are automatically chosen and range from 1/2000th of a second to 3 seconds, depending on the selected shooting mode.

**Aperture
**The Fujinon lens has a wide aperture at its wide 8mm focal length: f/2.8. At 24mm (full telephoto), however, the aperture withers away to f/5.1. This doesn’t leave much light for photos, so users may often find themselves bumping up the ISO sensitivity. Still, a larger aperture is preferable to be sure to keep noise out of images. The smallest the aperture gets is f/8, with 10 steps between f/2.8 and f/8.

Image Parameters

Picture Quality / Size Options

The F40*fd* is the first Fujifilm F-series camera to have more than 6.3 megapixels. It has 8.3 megapixels, in fact, on a relatively large 1/1.6-inch Super CCD HR sensor. More thorough resolution testing will be done later when a full in-office review is made and we expect good things since previous F-series cameras have tested well. However, we'll reserve judgement until we evalaute a production model since this is a brand new untested sensor. The following image sizes are selectable from the "F" menu: 3296 x 2472, 3054 x 2336 (3:2), 2304 x 1728, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480.

**Picture Effects Mode
**Also available in the "F" menu is the lackluster set of color modes available on other Fujifilm digital cameras. It includes Black & White, Chrome, and Standard options. Competitors include more effects ranging from red, green, and blue filters to swapping colors in recording and playback modes. On the FinePix F40*fd*, though, these colors can only be used in the recording mode.

Connectivity / Extras

Connectivity
Software

The F40fd will come with a CD-ROM that includes FinePix Viewer software for basic photo editing and organization.

Jacks, ports, plugs

There is a rubber cover on the left side of the camera that hides the USB/AV and DC jacks. The USB connection is hi-speed 2.0 and connects the camera to computers, printers, and other USB-enabled devices. The AV cable connects to televisions and projectors and can be set to output in NTSC or PAL format. The AV and USB cables can connect in the same jack, and the DC-in power adaptor fits into the other jack below the cover. If users want to chuck all wires, they can as long as they have an IrSimple enabled computer or device. The F40*fd* has IrSimple technology that can wirelessly communicate with F40*fd* and F31*fd* digital cameras, enabled computers, printers, mobile phones, and other devices. The technology is easy to access in the "F" menu of the playback mode, where the camera can search for devices in range and transfer pictures to and from the camera. IrSimple is more popular in Europe and Japan, and Fujifilm expects it to take off in North America within the next year. The IrSimple feature is cool, and Fujifilm hopes to appeal to the younger crowd that is more technology savvy – but it has its limitations. For instance, the IrSimple devices have to be within about three feet of each other. This makes the picture transfer more "secure," said a Fujifilm rep at CES. However, it also means that it’s almost just as easy to whip out the USB cable.

*Direct Print Options
*Print orders can be created from the "F" menu in the playback mode. Scrolling through large amounts of photos and making selections isn’t as easy as on some other digital cameras, but it isn’t a painful process either. When the face detection button is pushed, the camera recognizes the faces in the picture and orders enough prints so everyone can take one home. If users want to manually order, they can order up to 99 prints for each file. The date can be added to pictures as well. Users can also print directly with the USB cable to PictBridge compatible printers or can transfer pictures wirelessly to IrSimple enabled printers.

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Battery*

The F40*fd* runs on the same skinny lithium-ion battery that the F20 has. This is a smaller and less efficient battery than the one in the F31*fd* that gets more than 500 shots per charge. The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* gets about 300 shots per charge on its NP-70 battery. The camera comes with a power adaptor, and a wall-mount charger is an optional accessory.

Memory

The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has 25 MB of internal memory that is to the F31*fd*. The new model really sets itself apart by offering a card slot that can accept both xD-Picture and Secure Digital cards. All other Fujifilm compact digital cameras accept only xD-Picture cards. This dual slot is located near the battery in the compartment opened from the bottom. The SD card format is much more popular than xD and generally employs faster write and transfer speeds, so it’s a move toward the mainstream for Fujifilm; perhaps they’re looking for a larger audience – and they just may have found it by adding SD compatibility.

Other features
Optional Waterproof Case – Fujifilm created a waterproof housing specifically for this digital camera. It isn’t large, but a bit heavy – which is good when you’re swimming below the surface of the water. The case will sell for $179 that is fairly affordable when compared to housings made by Canon and Olympus.

Illumination – This is an ambiguously titled option in the setup menu. It doesn’t refer to the screen brightness or the AF illuminator. After grilling about twelve Fujifilm employees, we were told it referred to the LED strip down the front. If users want, the LED strip can light up blue. This can be turned on and off in the setup menu.

Overall Impressions

**Value
**The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* will retail for $299 when it comes out in March. This is nearly a hundred dollars less than the recently announced F31*fd that has ISO sensitivity up to 3200 and more manual control. When the F40*fd is compared with other 8-megapixel digital cameras, it is fairly priced. It isn’t a fantastic bargain, but it is definitely not overpriced either. The F40*fd* has a nice feature set, including 8.3 megapixels, face detection, high ISO sensitivity, and a trendier looking housing; however, it lacks other features like manual control and optical image stabilization.

**Comparison
***Fujifilm FinePix F20* - The Fujifilm FinePix F20 was released last year with many classic characteristics of the F-series line: 6.3 megapixels on a 1/1.7-inch Super CCD, a 36-108mm 3x optical zoom lens, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and ISO sensitivity up to 2000. The new F40*fd* has more resolution at 8.3 megapixels on a Super CCD sized similarly at 1/1.6 inches. The zoom lens is the same, but the LCD monitors on the two cameras are different. The F20’s has less resolution at 153,000 pixels and a narrower angle of view than the F40*fd*. The exposure modes and ISO range on the two cameras are the same. The Fujifilm FinePix F20 does not have internal memory, and does not have the dual memory card compatibility. The FinePix F20 has only xD-Picture card compatibility, while the F40*fd* adds SD card compatibility. The F20 and F40*fd* both run from the same lithium-ion battery. The Fujifilm F20 originally retailed for $299 when it was released last year, but it has since dropped in price to $199 to make room for the fancier F40*fd*.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – This camera is built for these consumers with its simple interface and mostly automatic exposure modes. Point-and-shooters can easily activate the face-detection auto focus system that ensures perfectly focused and exposed portraits even with beginners at the helm.

Budget Consumers – At $299, the Fujifilm F40*fd* is fairly priced especially for its 8.3 megapixels, face detection and IrSimple technology, and ISO sensitivity up to 2000. Consumers on a budget are definitely allowed to look and drool.

Gadget Freaks – Usually, cameras that are for the budget crowd aren’t for the gadget crowd. The FinePix F40*fd* isn’t the typical camera though. It has face detection technology that can recognize up to 10 faces at a time, IrSimple technology that communicates wirelessly with other enabled devices, and real digital imaging guts to boot.

Manual Control Freaks – These consumers will be freaked out by the F40*fd *but not in a good way. It has plenty of automated modes and controls, and while it does have room for a few manual settings, it isn’t enough to satiate the manual control freak.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – For these users, the F40*fd* likely won’t make for an acceptable backup or travel camera since it doesn't have the manual control of some of its siblings or competing compact models. 

Conclusion

**Conclusion
**The Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* has a 1/1.6-inch Super CCD with 8.3 megapixels – more than any other F-series digital camera so far. This model isn’t the flagship of the line though. It doesn’t have manual control, its burst mode is terribly slow and short, and it doesn’t have the high ISO sensitivity of some of the other models. Fujifilm made a few physical changes like enlarging the mode dial, using a different type of zoom lever, and eliminating the finger grip. These changes bring both good and bad results. It's overall better looking, but it is less comfortable to hold and handle.

Fujifilm also made some less obvious changes to the FinePix F40*fd. The 2.5-inch LCD screen has a slightly wider viewing angle than the F31*fd’s screen, a graphic user interface was added to enhance understanding of the mode dial, and the card slot by the battery accepts both xD-Picture and SD memory cards. This is a huge change, as all other preceding compact Fujifilm digital cameras only accepted xD. SD is the most popular and cheapest format used on the market. The IrSimple and face detection technology make the Fujifilm FinePix F40*fd* a very desirable digital camera, especially at its fair price of $299.

Check back to DigitalCameraInfo.com soon for the full review, when we can get the camera off the show floor and into our testing studios for some more rigorous analysis. **Spec Sheet
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