Fujifilm FinePix F40fd First Impressions Review

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 F40fd has IrSimple technology that can wirelessly communicate with F40fd and F31fd 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.

Battery
The F40fd 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 F31fd that gets more than 500 shots per charge. The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd 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 F40fd has 25 MB of internal memory that is to the F31fd. 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.