Fujifilm has replaced its ultracompact FinePix F20 point-and-shoot with the even slimmer FinePix F40fd -- that's fd for face detection, an increasingly common feature in pocket cameras.

Fuji's version can identify as many as 10 faces in a scene and adjust focus and exposure accordingly. That's a handy tool, but perhaps more remarkable is the F40fd's upper light-sensitivity limit of ISO 2000. In addition to the obvious advantages for low-light photography, the camera's high ISO options are combined with fast shutter speeds by the F40fd's Picture Stabilization mode to reduce blur.  If the F40fd can pull off ISO 2000 images that aren't a muddy mess, we'll be impressed.

Other fancy features on the F40fd's list include the i-Flash system that Fuji claims does a superior job of evaluating light levels to set flash intensity, a Dual Shot mode that takes one shot with flash and one without in quick succession, and support for the IR-Simple standard for fast infrared image transfer to compatible devices such as TVs and printers.

The F40fd also employs the dual xD-Picture Card/SD media slots and new graphical user interface that Fuji is introducing throughout its lineup of pocket cameras. Equipped with an 8.3-megapixel Super CCD HR and a 36mm-108mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.1 3x zoom lens, this new F model also sports a 2.5-inch LCD with a high 230,000-pixel resolution.

The FinePix F40fd will be available in March 2007 for a retail price of $299.

Key Specifications

Number of effective pixels: 8.3 million pixels

CCD sensor: 1/ 1.6-inch  Super CCD HR 

Number of recorded pixels
Still image: 3,296 x 2,472  / 3,504 x 2,336 (3:2 format) / 2,304 x 1,728 /1,600 x 1,200 / 640 X 480 pixels
Movie: 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames/sec.), 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.)

Storage media: Internal memory (approx. 10MB) / xD-Picture Card ( 16MB - 2 GB ) /SD memory card (512MB, 1GB, 2GB)

Lens: Fujinon 3x Optical zoom lens, F2.8-F5.1

Lens focal length: f=8.0mm - 24.0mm, Equivalent to 36-108mm on a 35mm camera

Focus: Auto Focus (Single, Continuous, Center, Multi)
AF assist illuminator available

Focus distance
Normal: Approx. 60cm to Infinity
Macro: Wide Angle:  Approx. 7cm  to 80cm
Telephoto: Approx. 30cm to 80cm

Shutter speed: 3 sec. to 1/2000 sec. (depends on Shooting mode)

Aperture
Wide-angle: F2.8 - F8, 10 steps in 1/3 EV increments
Telephoto: F5.1 - F8, 10 steps in 1/3 EV increments

Sensitivity: Auto /Equivalent to 100/200/400/800/1600(standard output sensitivity)/(up to ISO2000 on Picture Stabilization/Natural Light mode)

Exposure control: TTL 256-zones metering(Multi/Spot/Average)

Exposure mode: Programmed AE

White balance
Automatic scene recognition
Preset (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light), Custom
LCD monitor 2.5 inches, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Approx 230,000 pixels, Coverage Approx. 100%

Flash: Auto flash
Effective range: (ISO AUTO): Wide-angle: approx. 0.6 - 6.5m / 2.0 - 21.3 ft
- Telephoto: approx. 0.6 – 3.5m / 2.0 – 11.5 ft
- Macro: approx. 0.3m – 0.8m / 1.0 ft - 2.6 ft
- Flash mode : Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro.
- Red-eye Reduction + Slow Synchro.

Self-timer: Approx. 10 sec./2 sec. delay

Video output: NTSC / PAL selectable

Digital input/output: USB High-speed

Power supply: NP-70 Rechargeable Battery, AC Power Adapter AC-5VC

Dimensions: 3.8"(W) × 2.3"(H) × 0.9" (D) (excluding accessories and attachments)

Weight: Approx. 5.4 oz. (excluding accessories, batteries and xD-Picture Card)

Camera functions

Shooting  modes
Normal: Auto, Picture Stabilization, Scene Position ,Macro, Movie, Burst/Continuous
SP: Natural Light, Natural Light & with Flash, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Underwater, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower Close-Up, Text
Continuous:
1.Top-2 (max.1.3 frames/sec., up to 2 frames)
2.Final-2 (max.1.3 frames/sec)
3.Long-period (max.0.6 frame/sec. Up to memory card size)

Movie recording: 640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
With monaural sound, AVI format (Motion JPEG)

Voice Memo: Up to 30 sec. WAV format

Color modes: B&W/CHROME/STANDARD

Photography functions: Intelligent face detection, power management, Best framing, Frame Number memory

Playback functions: Intelligent face detection, Slide show, Trimming, Single frame, 9 Multi-frame, Sorting by date, Image rotate, Voice Memo, Automatic playback, IR Communication

Accessories included 
- Li-ion battery NP-70
- Battery Charger BC-70
- Hand Strap
- USB cable for the FinePix F40fd
- A / V cable for the FinePix F40fd
- CD-ROM:
·FinePixViewer
·ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix
- Owner's Manual
Optional accessories 
 - xD-Picture Card TM : 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB
- PC Card Adapter  DPC-AD
- CompactFlash Card Adapter DPC-CF
- AC Power Adapter AC-5VX
- Battery Charger BC-70

*With Fujifilm's commitment to constant improvement, the company reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice.