Fujifilm FinePix F · on sale spring 2007
The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd: the low-light compact that took SD cards and found faces
We found no other regional name for it; the announcement and the reviews we read use the F40fd name. Trusted Reviews says a basically identical model, the F45fd, was made exclusively for the UK retailer Argos.139
In January 2007 Fujifilm followed its low-light F-series cameras with an 8-megapixel model for $299, with face detection and, for the first time on a FinePix, an SD card slot. Reviewers liked the price and the high ISO, then disagreed about how good the pictures were.
- Launched
- January 2007
- Sensor
- 8.3 MP CCD
- Lens
- 36–108 mm, 3×
- Card
- xD-Picture Card, SD Memory Card
- Battery
- NP-70
Fujifilm FinePix F40fd specs: sensor, lens, battery, memory card and cable
The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd is an 8.3 MP CCD compact camera with a 36–108 mm (35 mm equivalent) 3× zoom lens, launched in January 2007 at $299. It uses xD-Picture Card and SD Memory Card and runs on the NP-70 battery. Sources
- Sensor
- CCD, 1/1.6", 8.3 MP source
- Lens
- 36–108 mm equivalent, 3× zoom source
- Memory card
- xD-Picture Card, SD Memory Card. We found no maximum size in the maker's guide, so we show none Card type only source · card guide · all cards
- Battery
- NP-70 source
- USB / A/V cable
- See our Fujifilm cable page
Which xD card for the Fujifilm FinePix F40fd?
The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd takes xD-Picture Card, SD Memory Card. We found no maximum size in the maker's guide, so we show none. Card type only source
More: xD card guide · lookup table · the full memory card guide
Meet the camera
It is a slim compact with a two-tone silver and champagne finish, about 95.7 by 59.0 by 23.3 millimetres and 155 grams, according to PhotographyBLOG, which said it looks and feels more expensive than it is.3 The reviewers did not describe the body alike: PhotographyBLOG called it metal and plastic in one place and all-plastic in another, Trusted Reviews an all-metal body weighing 181 grams with battery and card, and Neocamera metallic and solid.397 Fujifilm announced it at CES in Las Vegas on 4 January 2007 as the newest model in its F series, for $299 and on sale in March, in silver, gunmetal or blue.1 Imaging Resource's table also lists $299 and March 2007.2
Its sensor was an 8.3-megapixel Super CCD HR of the sixth generation, with an octagonal pixel layout, and its lens a 3x zoom from 36 to 108 millimetres.12 PhotographyBLOG's review came late, in October 2007: it reported a price of around £150 or $250 online by then.35
Why this one was interesting
Two kinds of card
Fujifilm's announcement called the dual slot that takes both xD-Picture Cards and SD cards a first for FinePix cameras.1 Imaging Resource said it expected the SD support to appeal to people upgrading from SD-based cameras.2 Trusted Reviews noted that it does not accept SDHC cards, and asked whether the dual slot was an admission that xD had failed.9 See our memory card guide for what that means when you shop for cards today.
Face detection in hardware
A dedicated chip found up to ten faces, framing the main one in green and the others in white, and used them to set focus and exposure. In playback it could zoom to the main face.2 Fujifilm's announcement quoted 0.05 seconds for taking a picture with face detection.1
An 8-megapixel F-series with face detection
PhotographyBLOG listed the changes from the F20: resolution up from 6 to 8 megapixels, face detection and a new rear mode dial.3 Its F20 had won a Highly Recommended award a year earlier.5 For the F-series cameras around this one, see our FinePix F30, F31fd, and later F100fd and F200EXR reviews.
What was lost
PhotographyBLOG found the F40fd slightly slower and less responsive than the F20, with more obvious purple fringing, and noted that rivals offered mechanical image stabilisation, longer zooms and larger screens.5 Neocamera pointed out that the older F10, F30 and F31fd each managed at least 500 shots per charge, against a CIPA rating of 380 for the F40fd.8 The F40fd also drops the aperture and shutter priority modes of the pricier F50fd.3
The dark: its strong point, and its limit
The reviewers disagreed on where its low-light pictures started to fall apart. Neocamera found noise very minimal under ISO 400, ISO 800 still usable with some lost detail, and ISO 1600 and 2000 recognisable but noisy at 4 by 6 inch prints.8 PhotographyBLOG saw virtually no noise at ISO 100 and 200, noise and a loss of shadow detail at ISO 400, quality "deteriorated quite a lot" at ISO 800, and said ISO 1600 should be avoided; it called only ISO 100 to 400 really usable.4 Photo Review said resolution declined significantly from ISO 800, that ISO 1600 tested better than many competitors but was very noisy, and that it should be a last resort.6 Trusted Reviews was far more enthusiastic: it called ISO 2000 usable and its ISO 1600 better than many cameras manage at ISO 400.9
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Real photographs taken with this camera. The sensitivity shown is recorded in each file's own EXIF data; the pictures may have been resized and edited by their authors.
Like that look? See recent eBay sold listings for this camera ↗
The flash was a second tool. Fujifilm's announcement described an intelligent flash that adjusts for the subject and light, and a Natural Light and Flash mode that takes one picture with flash and one without, shown side by side.1 PhotographyBLOG found the built-in flash worked well indoors, with noticeable vignetting at the wide end and obvious red-eye in auto, which red-eye reduction only lessened.4 Photo Review found auto flash exposure inconsistent: ISO 400 and 1600 were right, but ISO 800 came out about 2 stops under.6 Neocamera said it works well when a scene is one stop or less underexposed, and behaves like an ordinary flash otherwise.7
On eBay right now
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The little wins
Face detection that mostly worked
Photo Review found it outlined faces well, though it struggled with profiles and hats, and it showed no false detections.6
How it drew the picture
PhotographyBLOG scored image quality 3.5 out of 5 and called out-of-camera files "average", sharp at the default setting but with fairly bad purple fringing around overexposed areas.45 Photo Review found resolution outstanding near the centre, only average at the edges, and contrast high enough to block up shadows in harsh sun, though shade and overcast produced some excellent pictures.6 Neocamera, more generous, rated image quality among the best in its class, with only a few ultra-compacts looking better, and likewise named above-average purple fringing as the main flaw.8
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Photos taken with this camera, from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.
Where it let you down
Neocamera said the "Manual" mode does not give full manual control, so exposure is automatic, and the faster continuous modes shoot only two frames, at about 1.3 frames per second.78 It also criticised the lack of a viewfinder for moving subjects, the few zoom steps, and the review delay that lengthens shot-to-shot time.7 PhotographyBLOG said that with no viewfinder the screen can be hard to see in very bright sunlight, and Photo Review said the camera disappoints in bright, harsh light.36 Photo Review also listed few compression settings, no in-camera sharpness or contrast controls and no 16:9 mode.6 Neocamera added a poorly placed tripod mount.8 The reviewers did not agree on the battery: Fujifilm and Photo Review gave a rating of up to 300 shots, Neocamera 380.168
What the reviewers said in 2007
| Outlet | Date | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Neocamera | 12 May 2007 (usability page) | Rated Excellent: low-noise images, good speed and battery life, held back by a narrow shutter-speed range, fringing, weak drive modes and a poor tripod mount.78 |
| PhotographyBLOG | 18 Oct 2007 | Recommended. Design 4.5, features 4, ease of use 4, image quality 3.5, value 4.5 out of 5. A good point and shoot, but "no longer a great one".35 |
| Trusted Reviews | 2007 (page undated) | Scored 9 for value and 9 for image quality: outstanding image quality and exceptional high-ISO performance, but slow in operation, especially at start-up.9 |
| Photo Review | Undated | 8 out of 10 overall (build 8.5, ease of use 8.5, image quality 7.5): will satisfy many as a snapshot camera; best in moderate light.6 |
Imaging Resource's page is a preview built from manufacturer data, so it is not listed as a review.
The timeline
- 4 January 2007Fujifilm announces the F40fd at CES: $299, March availability.1
- March 2007Expected on sale in the US.12
- 12 May 2007Neocamera's usability page is dated.7
- 18 October 2007PhotographyBLOG publishes its review, with the camera at about $250 online.35
Should you buy one now?
Buy one if you want a cheap, slim 2007 CCD compact that is good in modest light and handles both xD and SD cards, and you can live with soft corners and fringing. It launched at $299;1 what it sells for now is a question for the sold listings, not for us. Before you bid, check these:
- The name. Search the FinePix F40fd; the F50fd is a different, pricier camera.3
- The battery. It uses an NP-70;6 a fresh one is on Amazon ↗.
- The card. It takes xD-Picture Cards or SD;1 the battery door also covers the card slot.7 See our memory card guide.
- The screen. It is the only viewfinder, so check it for scratches and dead pixels.3
- The lens. Check that it extends and retracts cleanly and the glass is free of scratches.
If you are wondering why cameras like this are being hunted down again, we tell that story once, in Pictures that never left the card.
See recent sold prices on eBay ↗Shop on eBay ↗NP-70 battery ↗
Sources
- PhotographyBLOG, Fujifilm FinePix F40fd announcement (4 Jan 2007, CES: $299, March availability, dual xD/SD slot)
- Imaging Resource, Fujifilm F40fd preview and specification table (manufacturer data, not lab-tested; MSRP $299, availability 03/2007)
- PhotographyBLOG, Fujifilm FinePix F40fd review by Mark Goldstein (18 Oct 2007; Recommended; several pages)
- PhotographyBLOG, F40fd review, image quality page
- PhotographyBLOG, F40fd review, conclusion page
- Photo Review (Australia), Fujifilm FinePix F40fd review (undated page; RRP A$449)
- Neocamera, Fujifilm FinePix F40fd review, usability page (12 May 2007)
- Neocamera, F40fd review, performance page (rated Excellent)
- Trusted Reviews, Fujifilm FinePix F40fd review (page undated; written in 2007, after the January announcement; scores 9 for value and 9 for image quality)
Photographs are credited under each one, all via Wikimedia Commons. Links to eBay and Amazon are affiliate links.