Toshiba PDR-3300 Digital Camera Review - The Breakdown: Good, Bad, and Ugly
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The Good
You simply don't find this kind of quality or versatility for this price(about US$130.00). Most in this range are either start-up companies that you can't rely on, or toy cameras from the likes of HP or Kodak, aimed at bringing the average Joe into the digital age.
The PDR-3300 is neither of those things. With dependable names like Toshiba and Canon, we know we're getting quality. And there are no worries that we're sacrificing the advanced features, as you've gleaned from this article.
The picture quality is exceptional. I have used the camera now in several different environments, including a well-lit car-show to a low-lit rec-center, and the pictures have turned out consistently well. With the maximum size and quality setting, you should be able to get 8x11 prints without a problem.
A highlight of this camera is the incredible number of manual settings you can modify. At this point I've mastered only a fraction of them.
I also like the fact that the memory is secure digital, the versatility of which speaks for itself.
The time it takes to store each image is acceptable, and the manual even claims that you can continue to snap another shot while waiting for the first to be stored. Very cool.
The remote. I love the remote. No need for me to set the 10 second timer, rush across the room and try to pose and force a smile before it goes off! Just point and click. Too bad the battery in mine was dead on arrival.
The Bad
Memory and Batteries. In the package are all the accessories you'll need to get going. But the included memory card will only allow you to take 5 shots on high quality. So you basically have to factor in the price to buy more memory, of which I would recommend a 256MB secure digital card. You also need some rechargeable NiMH batteries, otherwise you'll find yourself going through Duracells like candy.
The software. I personally don't use any of the software they provided. I just put the camera on transfer mode, plug in the USB cable, and Windows XP takes care of the transfer for me, even renaming the files. I then use fireworks to do my editing. ACDSee, the image editing software included in the package, is fairly mickey-mouse, providing the basic editing tools.
One area I've found I've especially needed the better software was with red-eye removal. Yes, I know, I have to get using the red-eye reduction flash mode, since without it most people look like vampires.
The only other truly "bad" thing would be the zoom, and this is only relatively bad. You can pick up a camera with much better than 2.8 optical zoom, but it's entirely sufficient for the average Joe's needs.
The Ugly
The camera. Well, I didn't find it particularly ugly, but my wife does, and she's the one with the eye for beauty. (Don't ask why she picked me.) But like I've mentioned already, what we're investing in here is the technology, I'll leave the beauty up to the subjects of my photography.
Next: The Long and Short Of It All >>
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