Fujifilm FinePix F40fd

Value
The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd will retail for $299 when it comes out in March. This is nearly a hundred dollars less than the recently announced F31fd that has ISO sensitivity up to 3200 and more manual control. When the F40fd 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 F40fd 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 F40fd 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 F40fd. 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 F40fd adds SD card compatibility. The F20 and F40fd 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 F40fd.

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 F40fd 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 F40fd 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 F40fd 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 F40fd 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.