Fujifilm's 2002 metal ultra-compact — 2.1MP Super CCD, 38-114mm zoom, SmartMedia and NP-60 power
The FinePix F401 Zoom was announced by Fujifilm on 30 May 2002 as a stylish metal-bodied ultra-compact in the F series, the line that sat above the budget A models. It followed the F601 Zoom's Super CCD approach in a smaller, simpler package aimed at pocket carry, and shipped with a dedicated dock system for charging and image transfer.
It uses a 2.1-megapixel Super CCD whose interpolated output reaches 2304x1728 pixels, behind a Super EBC Fujinon 3x zoom equivalent to 38-114mm with up to 3.6x digital zoom on top. Sensitivity spans an unusually high-for-2002 ISO 200-1600, movie clips record with sound, storage is on SmartMedia cards, and power comes from an NP-60 lithium-ion battery in a body weighing under 200g.
It appeals to collectors of early-2000s CCD compacts and shooters who like the Super CCD's distinctive interpolated rendering. As a daily camera it is genuinely pocketable and quick, though the honeycomb-sensor output rewards modest print sizes, and everything is automatic with little photographer control.
SmartMedia is the deciding factor: no new cards are made, so a working card effectively comes with the deal or the camera is a shelf piece. The NP-60 battery is a common size with third-party cells still sold, but the charging cradle is often missing, so check how the seller charges it. Inspect the battery and card doors, both delicate, and confirm the lens extends without error messages.