The Fujifilm FinePix 40i is an ultrasleek piece of technology that combines a 2.4-megapixel camera with an MP3 player. Its image quality and camera features put it in a class by itself in the world of hybrid camera/MP3 player devices. But behind the music there is trouble, and audiophiles should take a careful listen before handing over their credit cards.

Compared with other digital camera/MP3 player hybrids, the Fujifilm FinePix 40i's image quality and camera features place it in a class by itself. With its 2.4-megapixel sensor, the FinePix 40i far outpaces the VGA-resolution capabilities of other hybrid devices, instead competing with other midrange consumer digital cameras. Of course, it also costs roughly twice as much as other hybrid models, and the device's MP3 features are, unfortunately, less impressive than its image quality. But if you're looking for good image quality with MP3 playback as a bonus, the FinePix 40i represents your only real choice.

About the size of a wallet, the FinePix 40i has an ultrasleek design. Its aluminum-and-magnesium body feels solid and well-constructed, and intelligently placed controls make operating the device easy. Reading the menu on the 1.8-inch LCD can be a bit of a strain if your eyesight is less than perfect, but the screen is bright and easy to use as a viewfinder. The FinePix 40i doesn't have a zoom lens (although there is a digital zoom feature), but it does offer a multimode flash and a built-in microphone. Experienced photographers will appreciate controls such as exposure compensation and a true macro mode that focuses down to 2.3 inches. You can even resize an image you've already captured within the camera to save space.

The FinePix 40i delivers good image quality for its camera class, with a respectable dynamic range and an adequate level of detail in shadows and highlights. We did notice that details in very bright highlights tend to blow out. Our test images looked slightly soft, as well as noisier than average. Though the camera produces pleasing colours, its white balance isn't entirely effective: Images shot indoors with the automatic white balance setting tended to be very warm, and we noticed a green cast in images shot under tungsten light with the indoor setting. In close-ups, we also saw some curvature caused by lens distortion.

In addition to still images, the FinePix 40i captures 10 frames per second of AVI video with sound, with a resolution of 320x240. With the included 16MB SmartMedia card, you can shoot up to 90 seconds of video; upgrading to a 64MB card lets you capture some 6 minutes of video. You'll probably want to upgrade the provided 16MB card anyway, since it holds only nine pictures at the highest resolution or two to four MP3 files on average (MP3 file sizes vary dramatically according to bit rates and song duration). Because Fujifilm needed SmartMedia's slimmer profile for this minimarvel, you're currently limited to its 128MB maximum capacity. (CompactFlash offers solid-state capacities of 320MB and miniplatter microdrives that can hold up to 1GB.)

But before you worry too much about how many MP3s you can fit in the FinePix 40i, consider this: It ain't called the "FineSong 40i." Although audio quality is decent, with good range and volume, getting MP3s onto the unit can be a real hassle. While most other hybrid camera/player devices let you simply drag tracks onto the media with a reader or PC Card adapter, the FinePix 40i requires you to use RealNetworks' Jukebox software.

Before you can play them on the FinePix 40i, MP3s must be "registered" to your SmartMedia's unique ID as part of a copyright-protection scheme. This prevents files from being copied from the SmartMedia card to another device, and, like most copy-protection setups, it can be a real pain. On top of this, the FinePix 40i's elaborate software-based transfer system frequently rejected our test MP3s, citing a variety of incompatibilities. Sometimes the problem was as simple as an unsupported bit rate, but often it was cryptically described and we had no choice but to abandon the track.

These audio hang-ups are unfortunate, because though the earbud headphones provided with the FinePix 40i are only passable, the device ships with a sophisticated in-line audio remote that not only controls volume but also forwards tracks and sets separate bass and treble levels. The remote also doubles as a remote trigger for the camera.

The camera features and generous package (a rechargeable battery and charger are included) offered with the FinePix 40i make it easy to recommend if you're a shutterbug first and foremost. But if music matters to you, take a look at the other hybrid options available, or consider a standalone MP3 player before making your choice.

Fujifilm FinePix 40i
Company:Hanimex Australia
Ph: Sydney 9466 2900 Regional & National 1800 226 355
Price: AU$1,398
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