We were starting to get a bit worried here at ThinkCamera at the lack of camera releases recently but it seems the New Year hangovers have worn off and new camera announcements are starting to trickle in. First out of the blocks is Fujifilm with three cameras, the A610 and the A800 from its entry-level series and the more interesting F40fd.
The F series is Fujifilm's flagship compact range and represents the best camera technology they have to offer so it's no surprise that the F40fd is packed with features. For starters it has the Face Detection system that first appeared at Photokina in the F31fd. This improves autofocus on portraits by concentrating on up to 10 faces in a scene and setting exposure for the best result. Other important features are the Real Photo Processor II and Super CCD HR VI technology that both ensure image quality is high, ISO 2000 for low light performance and an 8.3 MP sensor. The only disappointing feature is battery life which is claimed to be just 300.
The camera is interesting in two ways other than specification, the biggest being it's dual memory card slot that can take SD cards and xD cards. The reliance on xD cards has long been a sore point with Fujifilm owners as they are expensive and can't offer the storage space of alternatives so it's good to see this addition.
The camera also offers a redesign of the F range, taking it away from the boxy shape of the F30 in favour of a slimmer and curvier design, which I have to admit I'm not a fan of, what's the dark line on the left edge all about? It also has a mode dial and improved button layout on the back. The user interface has changed too with the aim of being easier to use with more pop-up prompts to help (or annoy) as you take photos. As usual with compacts the F40fd is available in different colours, in this case three shades of grey - silver, gunmetal and blue.
The F40fd will be available from March 2007, prices haven't been set yet.
Fujifilm F40fd specification
| Mega-pixels: | 8.3 |
Photo: | JPEG |
| Optical Zoom: | 3x |
RAW: | No |
| Digital Zoom: | 4x |
Aperture: | f/2.8-5.2 |
| LCD: | 2.5 inch |
Focal Length: | equiv. 36-108mm |
| Dimensions: | 95.7 x 59 x 23.3mm |
Shutter: | 4 sec to 1/2000 |
| Weight: | 15g5 |
Exposure: | ISO 100 to 1600 |
| Storage: | xD, SD |
Movie: | 640X320@30fps |
| Int. Mem: | 25mb |
Battery: | NP-70 Li-ion |
| Interface: | USB 2.0, AV |
PictBridge: | No |
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