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Fuji FinePix 40i Look! There in your pocket! It's a camera! It's an MP3 player! It's... The Fujifilm Finepix 40i! Select a topic 13. Reference: Datasheet 14. FinePix 40i Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:Viewfinder Review First Posted: 11/03/2000

Viewfinder/Monitor
For composing images, the F40i features an eye-level optical viewfinder and a 1.8-inch LCD monitor with a total pixel count of 110,000. The eyepiece for the optical viewfinder is located in the top left corner of the camera's back panel. It's small, but sharp, and includes a circular autofocus target in the center for setting exposure or focus lock. An LED lamp to the right of the viewfinder indicates the status of various camera functions. For example, a steady green light means the camera is ready to shoot, or if blinking, indicates that either autofocus or autoexposure is in progress (it can also signal a camera shake warning). A steady orange light means the image is being recorded to disk, or if blinking, the flash unit is charging. A red light indicates some kind of problem with the SmartMedia card, battery charger, or lens operation. Details of these red-light warnings are displayed on the LCD monitor.

The 1.8-inch, D-TFT, color LCD monitor is controlled by the Display button just over its top left corner. In Record mode, the Display button cycles through the LCD monitor's image and information displays. The first press activates the monitor image and shooting information (Auto/Manual mode, frame count, and pixel resolution); the second press brings up a framing grid to help you line up your shots; the third press turns off the grid and information display, leaving just the image; and the fourth press turns the LCD monitor off entirely. When the framing lines are displayed on the LCD monitor, you can use the right and left arrow buttons to scroll through three different guideline setups: Scenes (grid pattern), Group Shots (single frame), and Portrait (three vertical frames for close-up, head-and-shoulders, and half-body shots). When shooting in Manual mode, the LCD information screen changes, and the framing guideline is no longer available. The LCD monitor is never disabled in Manual mode. Instead, the image display disappears, but the exposure information remains on the monitor. Top of the screen readings include: Manual mode, frame count, and pixel resolution. Bottom readings include: Macro on/off, Timed Exposure on/off, Exposure Compensation EV setting, White Balance setting, and Exposure mode.

We found the F40i's optical viewfinder to be pretty tight, showing approximately 81.8 percent of the final image area at all three image sizes. We also noticed that images framed with the optical viewfinder shift toward the upper right corner of the image, and slant slightly toward the lower left corner. The LCD monitor was much more accurate, showing about 95.3 percent of the final image area, also at all three image sizes. Based on these tests, the F40i LCD monitor came pretty close to our ideal standard of 100 percent frame accuracy. We also noticed that images framed with the LCD monitor were slightly centered toward the lower left corner, with a very slight slant toward the lower right corner. When we recorded an image with the camera's 3.75X digital telephoto setting, we were unable to judge the final image area with much accuracy. The digital telephoto setting seemed to blur the image in the LCD display, making it difficult to precisely frame our target image. We also noticed increased noise and softer resolution with the digital zoom.

In Playback mode, the LCD monitor can display one full-size image at a time, or up to nine indexed thumbnail images on the screen. When the Playback mode is first initiated, the LCD automatically displays the last image captured, along with the operating mode, frame count, and date and time the image was taken. Press the Display button once and the exposure information disappears, leaving only the image capture; press it again, and the monitor switches to Index mode. While in full-frame image display, you can hold down the right arrow button to initiate a "Fast Forward" action. This function allows you to fast-forward through a stream of thumbnail images along the bottom of the screen, viewing them in sets of three. While in this mode, the last selected image is displayed full-size in the background. As you scroll through the images with the arrow keys, you can stop at a new selection, discontinue the fast forward function, and whatever image you have highlighted will be the new full-frame image display. You can zoom in on a playback image by using the zoom toggle switch in the upper right corner of the back panel. A Zoom bar on the left side of the monitor indicates the degree of zoom. Press the right and left arrow keys to scroll to different parts of your enlarged image.