Fujifilm FinePix F40fd

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Performance and Image Quality
While quicker to start up than the F30, the F40fd is slightly sluggish between shots. The camera took 1.1 seconds to start up and capture its first JPEG. After that, it took 2.5 seconds between shots with the flash turned off, slowing a little more to 2.7 seconds with the flash turned on.

However, shutter lag measured a decent 0.5 second in our high-contrast test and 0.9 second in our low-contrast test, which mimic bright and dim shooting conditions, respectively. In our continuous-shooting test, we were able to capture an average of 0.46 frame per second (fps) when capturing 8.3-megapixel JPEGs, and 0.52fps when capturing VGA-sized JPEGs.

Typical continuous-shooting speed (frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Fujifilm FinePix F40fd

0.46

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100

2.3

Kodak EasyShare V803

2.1

Shooting speed
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Typical shot-to-shot

Time to first shot

Shutter lag

Fujifilm FinePix F40fd

2.5

1.1

0.5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100

1.4

1.2

0.4

Kodak EasyShare V803

1.4

4.3

0.6

Image quality is very good, with accurate-looking colors, though we did notice a minor amount of purple fringing in some photos. The camera's automatic white balance produces slightly warm images under incandescent lighting, but does a nice job of neutralizing colors when shooting under fluorescent lighting or natural daylight. There's an impressive amount of sharpness, though of course, some of this becomes obscured at higher ISOs.

We saw some ISO noise even at the camera's lowest sensitivity setting of ISO 100, though it's only really noticeable on computer monitors and won't show up in prints. At ISO 200, noise remains well under control, though at ISO 400, the sharpness of finer details starts to deteriorate, a small amount of shadow detail is lost, and you'll start to notice that smooth objects take on a textured, or mottled look. At ISO 800, all of these conditions worsen appreciably, but you should still be able to get a decent 4x6 print from images shot at this setting.

By ISO 1,600, small text that was viewable at lower sensitivities becomes unreadable, most shadow detail is lost, and the entire image becomes covered in noise that makes images look more like paintings than photos. We recommend that you stay below ISO 1,600 whenever possible, and below ISO 800 if you plan on printing larger than 4 x 6inches.

The Fujifilm FinePix F40fd is a nice, but not exceptional, point-and-shoot camera. Most casual snapshooters will likely be pleased with the images they get from this model.

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