Toshiba PDR-M61 2MP Digital Camera
Toshiba PDR-M61 2MP Digital Camera
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Product Type: Photography
Editorial Review:
Product Description
Toshiba's PDR-M61 is a high-quality, low-cost 2.3 Megapixel digital still camera that incorporates state-of-the-art imaging performance with exceptional ease-of-use. PDR-M61 boasts the professional-level features of digital cameras costing hundreds of dollars more, such as lightning-fast USB downloading, a five-mode automatic flash system, and advanced circuitry for quicker booting and less time between shots. Key to its success is an innovative 2.3 megapixel, 1/2-inch CCD that captures vivid color pictures in high resolutions.To further improve lens performance, a Macro mode has been built-in for close-ups. And with the use of an optional filter / lens ring adapter, commercially available 52mm optical filters or lens can be attached to this camera. To frame pictures, PDR-M61 is equipped with both an LCD and an optical viewfinder. The camera's five-mode flash system (automatic, red-eye reduction, forced-fill flash, slow synchro and force-off) is easily adjusted to any lighting condition, extending the camera's effectiveness to a wide range of lighting conditions, indoors and outdoors.
Average customer rating: 
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Toshiba PDR-M61 2MP Digital Camera
Manufacturer: Toshiba ProductGroup: Photography Binding: Electronics  All Digital Cameras
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ASIN: B00005B5DT |
Product Description
Toshiba's PDR-M61 is a high-quality, low-cost 2.3 Megapixel digital still camera that incorporates state-of-the-art imaging performance with exceptional ease-of-use. PDR-M61 boasts the professional-level features of digital cameras costing hundreds of dollars more, such as lightning-fast USB downloading, a five-mode automatic flash system, and advanced circuitry for quicker booting and less time between shots. Key to its success is an innovative 2.3 megapixel, 1/2-inch CCD that captures vivid color pictures in high resolutions.To further improve lens performance, a Macro mode has been built-in for close-ups. And with the use of an optional filter / lens ring adapter, commercially available 52mm optical filters or lens can be attached to this camera. To frame pictures, PDR-M61 is equipped with both an LCD and an optical viewfinder. The camera's five-mode flash system (automatic, red-eye reduction, forced-fill flash, slow synchro and force-off) is easily adjusted to any lighting condition, extending the camera's effectiveness to a wide range of lighting conditions, indoors and outdoors.Customer Reviews:
camera's fine, but interface terrible.......2004-04-23
Not if you have fast moving kids.......2003-03-01
- Indoor shots over 5 feet away are too dark most of the time (with flash; without flash, they are too blurry).
- The pre-shot focus takes 2-3 seconds, then you actually take the shot (another second). Very frustrating when your kids have learned to walk or crawl fast; they're already gone when you want to take the pic.
- Sometimes if the batteries die while writing the image to the smartmedia card, THE WHOLE CARD REQUIRES REFORMATTING. Any pictures you took on the card but did not download are now gone forever. (The battery meter is useless too, everyone I know just uses a camera until the batteries are dead).
- When trying to take alot of pictures at one time, almost every other time I pressed the shutter to snap the picture, the camera would auto-focus (taking an eternal 3 seconds) but then give error beeps when I tried to snap the shot. This led to up to 10 seconds between pictures, again, an eternity with fast-moving kids.
Conclusion:
- If I were only taking occasional outdoor pictures in bright sunlight with stationary subjects, this camera produces great images. But for fast-moving kids indoors, this camera induces a high level of frustration; many times I have had to resist the urge to throw it across the room.
Good features, with a few drawbacks.......2001-11-30
Drawbacks: the focus is slow. The proper way to take a picture is to compose it in the viewfinder, press the trigger half way down and wait for the auto-focus to do its thing. This takes 1-2 seconds. Then a small light in the viewfinder lets you know you can go ahead and shoot your picture. In normal 35mm cameras, this takes a fraction of a second. I don't understand why it has to be so slow on this camera. You do get used to this, but it's still an annoyance to have to explain it to someone who is going to take your picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, and who only speaks French. Better bring a tripod!
The zoom is jerky, not continuous. This was a little irritating at first, but I got used to it in no time. The camera only comes with an 8 MB memory card, which is way too small to be useful. The battery door is somewhat difficult to open and close. The included software is below average.
These inconveniences are relatively small, compared with the resulting images: the clarity is beautiful, the colors saturated, and objects are in sharp focus, at all levels of resolution. There are some manual modes to play with, which yield good results, like the Bulb setting and the Multi Shot.
Recommendation: buy rechargeable NiMH or Lithium Ion batteries, or you'll go through a couple of sets of alkalines before you fill up your memory card.
Overall, this is a fun camera, which offers a lot of features and quality for the money.
Average deal for the price.......2001-10-30
A few other cons that PCWorld.com mentioned were that the zoom lens partially obstructed the viewfinder and difficulty in opening and closing battery compartment. Although minor annoyances, they were hardly reasons for disliking the camera.
As to battery life, the set of rechargeable NiMh lasts for about 200-300 shots. That is far better than most digital cameras on the market.
In summary, I feel that the camera is probably just an average deal for the price. I don't think that PCWorld.com did as thorough a review on the Toshiba PDRM61 as they did on the other ones in the article. It seemed that the reviews on the other cameras provided more information that I could have used. Anyhow, I will be exchanging the camera to the store for either a CANON A20 or Nikon E775. I believe that either one is a better product than the Toshiba.
What a Great Camera.......2001-10-28
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