Fuji's FinePix 40i is in a category of its own. Though several manufacturers are producing combination digital camera/MP3 players, all of the other cameras are extremely basic entry-level point-and-shoot models. In contrast, the Fuji 40i is a quality camera that would be worthy of praise even if it didn't feature an integrated MP3 player. Instead of thinking of it as a combination digital camera and MP3 player, it's more accurate to call the 40i a supercompact high-resolution digital camera that also happens to play MP3 files.
With the exception of the lens, the 40i is very similar to Fuji's other SuperCCD cameras (the FinePix 4700 and 4900, for example). Images are captured on a 2.4-megapixel SuperCCD sensor, which features octagonal pixels arrayed diagonally instead of traditional square pixels in a grid. Fuji claims that this system offers improved sensitivity and image detail over a standard CCD. To prove this point, the camera interpolates its 2.4-megapixel images up to 4.3 megapixels at the highest-quality setting. Independent tests typically place these interpolated images on a par with pictures from a 3.3-megapixel camera.
Featuring a brushed metal case with integrated sliding lens cap, the camera feels well made and sturdy. Its overall dimensions of 3.4 by 2.8 by 1.1 inches make it one of the smallest digital cameras on the market.
Our biggest disappointment with the camera is its lens. Virtually all digital cameras of this resolution and price feature zoom lenses; to cut back on size, weight, and price, Fuji has included only a nonzoom lens. The camera does feature a digital zoom, but this merely crops pixels from the edges of your photo and enlarges the remaining pixels, something you could do just as easily at home after transferring the images to your computer. If you're accustomed to having a zoom lens, you're likely to miss this feature. Otherwise, the 40i has all of the bells and whistles you'd expect in a quality point-and-shoot camera: multimode flash and white balance, self-timer, exposure compensation, macro, movie mode, and more. Some advanced camera features are missing--there's no shutter priority or aperture priority mode and no manual focus, but these features are often missing from all but the highest-end digital cameras.
As an MP3 player, the 40i is perfectly adequate, with good sound quality. You can't take pictures and listen to MP3 files simultaneously, and the included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds only around 15 minutes of music. If you're serious about using the camera as an MP3 player, you'll definitely want to invest in a larger memory card. A pair of AA batteries should power the player for nearly three hours.
To keep the record companies happy, Fuji has included a number of features designed to discourage users from sharing their memory cards. To transfer music to the camera, you'll need to use the included software, included USB cable, and the newer "ID" variety of SmartMedia card (look for an "ID" printed next to the card's capacity). Non-ID cards won't work for music, and you can't play cards recorded on another 40i, a Rio, or a card reader/writer. Like many personal audio products, the Fuji includes a wired remote that lets you control most music functions even when the camera is in a pocket, backpack, or briefcase. As a bonus, the remote also works with the camera, operating both the digital zoom and the shutter release.
If you're a gadget lover who always needs to have the coolest gizmos, the Fuji FinePix 40i is a great choice. Its combination of supercompact, high-quality digital camera and MP3 player is hard to beat.
Pros:
- Superbly detailed images from an ultracompact camera
- Durable, brushed-metal case with integrated lens cap
- Wired remote controls both MP3 and camera functions
- High-capacity batteries and charger included
Cons:
- No zoom lens
- Copy protection scheme adds complexity to MP3 download process
- Included 16 MB memory card too small for serious MP3 use
Digital cameras and MP3 players utilize the same types of memory cards. Fuji took advantage of that fact when they created the FinePix 40i, which combines an MP3 player with a high-resolution digital camera. The camera uses a 2.4-megapixel Fuji Super CCD to capture images at an interpolated resolution of 2,400 x 1,600. Other possible resolutions include 1,280 x 960 and 640 x 480. The FinePix 40i is also capable of recording AVI movies at a resolution of 320 x 240 at 10 frames per second, for up to 80 seconds.
SmartMedia cards are used for storing both images and MP3 files, and the USB port provides quick upload and download speeds for both images and audio. One note: for copyright management reasons, all songs must be transferred to the unit via the USB cable; a card recorded on a computer-based card reader or on a friend's MP3 player can't be played on this unit. A tethered remote holds all the controls for the audio player, and provides a headphone jack for the included headphones. The video-out lets you preview images on a television. The 40i also comes with rechargeable NiMH batteries, image-editing software, and digital audio software.
1 missing batterys
were not included in package received as specified on web site ?
2 Nice, but probably not worth the money.
An excellent camera with a few major faults:
The obvious one - theres no optical zoom. If you look through the viewfinder, and your subject is only taking up a tiny fraction of the display, YOU're the one that's going to have to physically move yourself closer to the subject. The camera cannot do the zooming-in for you.
And secondly, the shutter speed is far too slow. Trust me, you cannot take photos of, say, people dancing. All you'll get is a blur.
Oh, and why Fuji neglected to include the AC Adapter as part of the package is beyond me. Supplying two rechargeable batteries, which take about 13 hours to charge simply isn't on...
That aside, it is a good little camera. TV-Out is more of a gimmic than something you'll use regularly, as the pictures look very fuzzy, even on a decent TV. And it's very very easy to use, and produces very good photos.
But personally, I'd think twice about going for this camera over, say, the Canon Ixus V.
3 Great Simple Camera
This is really a simple straight forward tiny digital camera. If you want a huge number of features and a lot of settings this isn't a camera for you.
On the other hand if you want a camera you can take anywhere and tuck in your pocket, you'll never miss a shot with this tiny camera.
It's menus are easy to use, but note that the screen on the back is a bit tiny. No hunting for the flash feature as on many other cameras. It's right on the top so you can flip between Off, Auto FillFlash and Red Eye Reduction.
Great snapshot camera for the pro or as a primary camera for the family photographer who doesn't want to lug around a larger camera.
4 perfect balance
This camera is the perfect balance between high resolution and small size. The photo's I have taken with this camera are so fantastic, that two other picky people from my office finally bit the bullet and bought one too! I have traveled the world for 13 years capturing the moment - therefore -my photo's are important to me. By the same token, if the thing is too large, I am less likely to want to drag it along. This camera is so small, I carry it with me everywhere - traveling or not. It is also easy to use with auto or manual functions if you prefer. The macro lens is great - I have used it in lieu of a document scanner in a pinch. I carry a couple of spare rechargeable batteries (extra 5 bucks) so I am never out of juice and the smart media cards are only limited by MB = hundreds of pictures on one card. Another important consideration is the time it takes the camera to record the shot. Some digitals have more megapixels but are too slow to record initially or between shots. This one is as fast as a film camera. To sum it up - this camera takes beautiful pictures, is easy to operate, fast to act, and small enough to carry in a pocket while skiing. Top this off with ?Ofoto? (Amazon's photo printing service) and the results are amazing - worth framing. If this baby ever dies--> I will buy another one!
The digital video is fun for short takes with sight and sound that can be replayed on the camera. I have never used the MP3 function and I do not care if I ever do.
Best of luck on your camera hunt. From Venice to the Swiss Alps to New Zealand, this is my choice. _ams
5 Excellent
Excellent product. Small enough to fit in your pocket, which is what I found to be the biggest advantage of the camera. Photo quality is very good. Just make sure that you focus on the item that you want to be the focal point of the shot. Strong recommendaiton.
6 Small on Size and Features
It's the perfect size, but the lack of a zoom lense kills it. Also,the indoor photos have a redish tint and the quality of the photos fell far short of the Canon Elph 300. The only zoom on the camera is digital zoom -- just like cropping a photo on your computer.
The MP3 player software forces you to convert via a special process, but if you can get the music on to the camera then it's a great plus.
7 Fun & easy, but be aware of its JPEG-only file storage
I like this camera for its compactness and well thought-out features. BUT, if you are someone who likes to tweak the photos in your image-editing software when you get home, be aware that you'll be working from JPEG originals. This is not ideal, as JPEG is a 'lossy' format, meaning that when you save the edited image, you lose quality. I tried to compensate for this by shooting at the camera's highest quality setting and editing down from that; but the result was still a 2nd gen. JPEG with the typical flaws starting to show. This is true even when you save at the highest-quality JPEG setting (e.g., in PhotoShop).
8 AAA+++ for small ,light and super quality!
This is one of the easiest camera's to use. The quality is great and in such a small , light but durable package! Megapixel !!!! I can't say enough about this camera. So many features. I do use the mp3 player and it works great , but to hold pics and mp3's I have to upgrade my smart media card. I will go to a 128 meg and that will be all I need. (I called Fuji and they said it will handle a 128 meg card) This camera requires a special ID smart media card and Viking makes it. Last time I looked Amazon was selling it [price] dollars for 128 meg. Nice! My wife has her eye on this beauty and now she wants one, so I ordered the metallic blue model. The movie function is nice and includes sound but I really don't use it. I noticed that although the movies have an .avi extension windows media player won't play them but quicktime does. .... Some camera buffs wish this camera had optical zoom, but I'm happy with the digital zoom and after all optical zoom means heavy weight added to the camera. No thanks, I love this baby just the way it is! Enjoy...
9 Good camera
This camera is small sleek and fits right into your pocket. although i do think the built in mp3 player is not very useful they should have taken it off and made a better digital focal lense. It also has that remote with earplugs but i think that it would be more useful if consumers could use the ear buds to listen to the video recordings while watching them for better sound quality. But, i wouldnt complain 4.3 megapixels in one tiny wallet sized camera, mp3 player and video camera id say it would be worth it all the way with these great features. If you are into tiny gadgets, this is a camera for you.
10 Everything I ever wanted in a digital camera
I love this camera!!! It has everything I ever wanted in a camera: excellent resolution, LCD screen, USB connection. And it all fits in my shirt pocket!
Of course this is a big step up from my other digital camera (a Kodak DC50). Right now I am keeping everything on automatic and even then it takes great photos. I need to learn play with the white balance some but it is nothing I cannot fix in a photo editor - I use VuePrint.
It also takes good action photos. Something I never thought to do with my previous digial camera. And the movies it makes are great.
The only thing I would recommend is go ahead and purchase a 64Mb card MINIMUM. I purchased the 128Mb card.
My only wish list item for this camera is to have the battery charger built in the camera so I can plug the camera in overnight without taking out the batteries. But I would gladly keep this off to keep it from getting any bigger.
11 Best camera of my life! Size quality, ease of use...
I love this more than my second child.
The tiny size means I take it more places. The video only does a few minutes, but I end up using it only for a few "great momement" seconds shots and I can upload it to the net in no time fast.
the only grip I have is the MP3 is almost impossible to use. They have copyright protection that makes uploading music into the camera a beast.
I recommend a 32 meg card.
This camera is awesome, but make sure NOT to let your friends hold it without putting the strap on. It is easy to drop with the size.
Also get rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride or else your everready will only last like 1 day.
12 Huge Piece of Garbage
DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA ! I have owned two so far, both have stopped working. The first one broke the same day as purchased. Replacement one broke on my vacation(Less then 90 days old). It is now on it's way back to Fuji for repair. I have nothing good to say about this camera. Wish I never bought the piece of sh**.
13 Great camera but what about the "avi's"?
I've had my 40i for just over 3 months and I'm very happy with it's performance. The major advantages for me have been it's size, picture quality and, of course, the very handy digital video recording functions. I would definately recommend it to friends because, in my opinion, it's the best all round performer. OK, with that out of the way, I have one major problem with the video function: Having used the camera on a regular basis, I've found myself recording more and more videos. I now have 2 64meg cards to support my habit. The videos are saved as .avi files which I thought would be ideal to send to friends to view the videos. Unfortunately, if the video is double clicked on a standard Windows PC it does not act as a standard .avi file and it cannot be viewed ie it can only be viewed either from within the Exif Viewer software (supplied with the camera) or by opening Quicktime then opening the file itelf. I'm happy to be proved wrong on this. I've tried renaming the file to .mov so that it can be recognised by Quicktime and I've also tried changing the file associations in Explorer so that the file is viewed by the standard .avi viewing software. When the file is double-clicked in Explorer a connection to the net is made to attempt to download the appropriate decompressor (which, of course, fails). My suggestion is simple - if the file generated is indeed given a .avi extension, can it be viewed as any other .avi please? I'm sure that there's a very good reason why this occurs but try explaining it to the average Joe who tries to view the video without Exif Viewer or Quicktime.
14 You'll regret the lack of zoom, believe me
Nice pictures, nice camera. But clearly, this is an attempt at selling a cutesy camera that has a humongous, and that means incredibly large, flaw. Or should I say, lack of a feature. You may think "aw, how often would I use a zoom?" Trust me, it makes a huge difference. And a digital zoom does nothing - you can do that on your computer, blowing the picture up, but without any increase in resolution - in other words, grain city. You need at least a 3X *optical* zoom. For this price, it should be there.
Get rid of the darn MP3 player and get a zoom. Since when is an MP3 player needed on a camera? You can get an MP3 player that is much smaller anyway.
Nice to have movies with sound - smart. But wow, no zoom was the biggest mistake that Fuji, or I, could have made. I cannot believe that management of such a quality company could possibly think that absence of a zoom would not be a big deal. This item will have a very, very high return rate.
I have one bit of advise: please...save your receipt, and wait for Fuji to wake up and smell the coffee. I am sure they will.
15 Great camera but not an mp3 player
I bought the Finepix40i, thinking it would be great to combine a digital camera and mp3 player. But I realized after I bought it, that this isn't really the case. Not that the mp3 feature is that bad, but i'm afraid to use it to listen to mp3 because of the possiblity of me dropping it or the increased chance of someone stealing it. also you can't even change bit rates of mp3s to fit more, of the camera wont accept it. The pictures are great though. Really sharpe and brillant. And the movie feature is actually a great and little handy bonus. So I guess you can some up my review like this: Its a great digital camera with a well done video recording feature, but if you are seriously into mp3s, you'll probably be better off buying a stand alone mp3 player.
16 My first digital - this is a camera!
The instructions...very poorly written. English as taught in Seoul. I immediately bought extra batteries and a speed charger at Radio Shack. Have not regretted it. I've had it about two weeks. I love it. Never was big on cameras but being able to erase bad shots, edit good ones, email, print, take close ups from 6-8 inches. It is fun. Fits in my shirt pocket, sometimes I forget I have it with me. I am tempted to upgrade the memory but I have not reached its capacity yet. The picture quality is excellent. The video capability is a lot of fun too. It seems too tiny to do so much. Everyone who has seen it is impressed with it. I would buy it again.
17 After a year of ownership....
After a year of owning this camera I have to say I am still pleased with it. It has been the ultimate device to have for traveling & vacation, especially when visiting museums where you can use all the functions - still camera, video, and MP3 player.
Those who wrote less than favorable reviews, seemed to have higher expectations of this camera than what was advertised. If you want to take professional quality photos, have lots of little buttons and settings on the camera to play around with, and be able to zoom in on distant subjects, then just buy a digital camera that has those features. Or those who expect more from the MP3 player, like ID3 tag support and being able to fast forward through songs, should just buy an MP3 player that has these options. After a year of using this camera I found I don't care about ID3 tags.
I think the only legitimate complaint people should be posting are about it's reliability problems. I recently had a problem with the automatic shutter door not closing, so I have to send it in to be repaired - so 1 star off for that. But I am confident that once fixed, I'll resume using this great little camera.
18 Awesome Camera
I first fell in love with this small cute camera. Then for the sake of having a better resolution, returned it and bought a Canon Powershot 20; but it was too heavy (compared to the Fuji) and the image quality was not any better. I don't care for the MP3 but this camera is cute, ultra-compact, very light, sexy and produces amazing quality pictures. I am very pleased with it and take it every where. It also shoots a movies for 1mn30s. It does not have an optical zoom but the other comparative ones don't have a great zooms either. I definitely recommend this camera. ... Shahin
19 A MP3 Player and a Digital Camera into ONE, wha'd ya expect?
For those of you who have read the previous reviews, and think this thing is just what they said, your wrong. What do you expect from a Digital Camera and MP3 Player into one for only 500 dollars? Didn't think so.
One thing is the design of this thing, it's just plain out nasty. Why would any one wanna buy a thing which looks a fat,overloaded, 25 dollar camera?
The music quality isn't good either, and not to leave out the picture quality. The pictures come out too dark, even though you can make them light.
IT JUST ISN'T WORTH IT!
20 Finepix 40i. Brilliant.
Ok, I have been dubious about digital cameras for a while now and have been very dubious over the 4.3mp claims of the fuji range, it is after all an interpolated octagonal 2.4 mg chip at the end of the day. Well all that doesn't matter. This baby rocks.
First off I had no problems with mp3's, I got mine ... and stuck 'em in the 40i and off I went. NO PROBS!!
This camera is tiny, it's light and it a joy to hold and use. The quality of the pictures are amazing, I took a shot of the sky just before sunset and the detail in the clouds is unreal.
The 16MB supplied card is a bone of contention for me. Yes it will store 19 or so max resolution pics. But compact flash would have been the way to go Mr Fuji.
The smartmedia is ok but it's wafer thin, looks like it could easily break with removing it all the time to go in a card reader and the industry seems to support the bigger CF cards. So why not Fuji?
I reckon a 64meg card would give you almost 80 pics at the max setting. Maybe enough for a holiday/vacation hmmm maybe.....
I did print out some pics first at max setting, then at norm setting and I couldn't tell the difference - even at 10 by 8 size so maybe a 64 meg card would do it.
Anyway, this is the camera for me, I don't buy things unless I am totally happy with them and I am totally happy with this purchase.
21 FinePix 40i sets a new standard for small digital cameras
I had been looking for a digital camera for the last month, and my uses are primarily recreational. I wanted something that was small/convenient (for frequent traveling a must! ) and easy to use. The three cameras I originally evaluated included the Canon PowerShot S100, Canon PowerShot S20, and Fuji FinePix 4700. Additionally, I also considered the marvelous Nikon Coolpix 990 (one of my best friends owns it).
Based on overall performance and features alone, let's be realistic - the first three cameras pale in comparison to the 990 (except the 4700's pixel count). The 990 has the most depth of features for taking pictures. But the criteria for size eliminates the 990. During the time that I was looking, the 40i was not yet available. Between the S100 and S20/4700, my decision came down to smaller size of the S100 vs. the pixel count of the other two. I eliminated both the S20 and 4700 based on size (though the 4700 is pretty impressive). While I was still a little concerned because the S100 only has 2.1 megapixel resolution, I ordered the S100 through Amazon. On a trip to Istanbul, I ran across an electronics store in Heathrow Airport that had just gotten an initial shipment of the 40i. I got to compare the S100 (called Ixus in UK) head to head against the 40i. For roughly 10-15% more in price, you get a camera that's about the same size BUT you get better resolution AND MP3 player capability. Looks and size were essentially a tie, but I liked the feel of the 40i better and the blue color version was, how can I put it, just sweeeeeet! I think the one shown on Amazon right now is the silver version so make sure you check out the blue one. I returned the S100 and am keeping the 40i.
In terms of experience using it, the camera is great - you can take it anywhere easily and you'll find yourself clicking away. I also bought a 64MB Smart Media ID card which lets me get 79 pictures on the normal setting on the highest resolution. Here are the positives and negatives on the camera:
Positives:
1) The small size comparable to S100 - these two cameras are head and shoulders above all others - make it tops for traveling.
2) The 40i has super easy navigational controls (the dial in the back for setting, electronic menus, and the on/off switch are all great).
3) The MP3 capability with remote control and headphones included is a differentiator and the avoided cost of not having to buy a stand-alone MP3 player should be factored in.
4) This camera can record and playback short movies up to about 1 1/2 minutes. You really need more memory to use this feature.
5) Rechargeable battery pack, travel pack, strap, headphones, A/V cables, and remote control are all included in the kit.
6) Fuji has included really easy user manuals for all hardware/software needs.
7) Pretty standard these days - the camera has USB interface and A/V connection for TV viewing.
8) And of course, because I have to live with it - it looks great in that blue color with its design. The "oooh and aaaahhh" factor is up there.
Negatives:
1) The limited zooming capability (digital) makes it hard to take certain pictures (ex. close-ups of a building in the distance), and this zooming capability is not available on the highest resolution setting.
2) Flash capability is only helpful for shorter range stuff; distance nighttime shots are darker than expected unless other light sources aid the picture. The 990 rules in this category.
3) Battery-chewing appetite - it feels like you go through a new set of batteries (using monitor full-time and flash 1/2 of time) every 20-30 shots. I think this problem is common to all digital cameras (blame the segment!).
4) While a 16MB Smart Media card is part of the kit, you need at least 32MB to have more flexibility and do serious damage.
Overall, the Fuji FinePix 40i is superb - it's fun to use and will exceed your expectations. Make sure you're able to live with negatives #1 and #2. When compared to its peers and the criteria above (size, ease of use, breadth of features), it sets a new standard for digital cameras.
22 All in one with no comprimises!
I was stunned when I first saw this Fujifilm camera. I was originally looking for the Cannon Ixus, but this was smaller, very light-weight, and had a 4.3 million pixel definition! The advantage of this is that you do not need to zoom with the camera. It will allow for a 2400x1800 resolution, so you can zoom in on a quarter of an A4 sized picture with the software whilst hardly losing picture quality. The Quicktime movie mode works well and is fun showing a webcam like video with sound. Finally, it is an MP3 player which is hardly bigger than the dedicated ones. Sound is good, the MP3 player alone is worth having, allowing you to do voice recording and pictures when necessary. Oh, it also looks very cool! Only drawbacks that I've seen so far are no onboard memory and the MP3 player doesn't take VBR encoded files. I say nevermind!
23 The coolest camera I've ever used.
The 40i is a truly amazing little camera. Not only does it play MP3's and take great hi-res pictures, but it also takes digital video with sound, which you can review instantly on the LCD screen on the back of the camera. The 40i is easy to use, the smart card media cards hold tons of pictures and the whole thing easily fits in my pocket! (It's about the size of a wallet). I have used the 40i to send pictures and videos of my baby to my family in Texas and Atlanta and they are always amazed by the quality. If you are considering getting this or the Canon Elph, get the Fuji 40i. It's just as small (actually, it feels smaller), but it does a whole lot more.
24 Best Digital Camera in the World!
This camera has the same image quality and features as the Fuji FinePix 4700, but it is smaller. Also, it is an Mp3 player. That alone is worth about $200. This is the only digital camera and Mp3 player in one. I ordered this camera from somewhere else before it became available here. This is the best digital camera there is. I'm sure that it will be a hot christmas item this year.
