Digital-Camera Reviews

Camera works very well. Only complaint is that it eats batteries. It seems that all digital cameras eat batteries. Rechargable batteries are ok but it sucks them dry even faster.

Takes excellent pictures though. I bought a 128 meg compact flash memeory for it.

I like this camera a lot. It has many features not found in this price range, mainly because it is last year's model, and it's been marked down to it's present price. The detachable lens gives me hope that there will be an upgrade available. The good: 16 mb ram on board makes it a snap to take rapid-fire pictures. The burst mode is really cool for capturing live action sequences. Optical zoom is excellent. Body seems to be solid and well-built, if a little clunky. Digita interface is really flexible, and allows much manipulation to allow you to get the perfect picture. 1.5 megapixel resolution is excellent. The bad: Image in color display is jerky compared to newer cameras. This thing eats batteries like crazy. It really needs a USB interface. What you need to complete the package: NiMH batteries. I got some 1500 ah NiMH batteries and they last forever. Bigger compact flash card. Get at least a 32mb card if you plan on taking a lot of pictures, say of a vacation, or such. Get a Compact Flash Photo Reader for USB. Transfer of pictures is a hell of a lot quicker than the serial cable. Download Digita OS ver. 2.0 from Minolta's web site. The upgrade is painless, and give a lot more functionality to the camera.

Great camera! The pictures are perfect with excellent color. Very easy to use and with my printer EPSON photo 750 using photographic paper it's very difficult to see the difference between a common photograph and my final result. Buy this camera and sell your old camera!!

I searched around and found the least expensive place to purchase cartridges for my Olympus P10. I bought enough for 200 4x6 prints.The price per 4x6 turned out to be app. 42 cents per print. I can go down to my local Walgeens and get prints for 29 cents. I'm not certain about quality yet, but at 42 cents, one has to be careful, or the whole thing can cease being fun.

I bought this for my wife to supplement our P-400 (8x10). We went digital almost 3 years ago with the Olympus C4040 and P-400 and I was looking for something to do 4x6s w/o having to cut 8x10s down all the time. I've always been partial to Olympus, having worked extensively with the OM-1 as a photographer in the early 90s. We were very happy with the results we received from the P-400 and I have to say the prints from the P-10 are stunning, if not better. The cost per print is about 39¢, which is a bit more than taking it to some of the local pharmacies (though we live in the middle of nowhere, we'd more than make up for it in time and gas). Plus there's something to be said for the convenience of printing at home. Print time is reasonable, what you'd expect from a dye sub. The greatest benefit to me is that you don't get the diffusion dot patterns you find with the ink-jet "photo" printers. If you want "photos", dye sub is the only way to go -- and the bottom line is the P-10 gives the quality I want at a reasonable price.

I've had this printer for a couple months now and would recommend it highly for anyone with occasional, low volume printing needs. The prints are indistinguishable from lab prints when printing high resolution shots and have a high quality gloss finish. Because it's a dye-sub printer, there's no pixelation as with many dot-matrix printers. Set-up and use is easy. In fact, I keep mine disconnected and stowed most of the time. It only takes 1 minute to plug it in and connect it. My only complaints are that there's no integrated imaging software to simplify printing (I use Powerpoint with good results) and the paper and dye-sub pack are a bit expensive (equates to 65 cents per print if you order the 4x6 kit for 100 prints). But if you only need a few good prints on an occasional basis, this printer is tops.

There are several "video enhancement" gizmos on the market these days, the majority of them made by Sima. Basically, you want one of these things so that you can transfer a VHS cassette which is copy protected to a DVD-R. However, not many people realize that there are two types of Macrovision--type 1 and type 2. Most of these units ONLY remove "type one" macrovision, leaving "type 2" still fully functional (and you S.O.L.).

So what you really need is a unit which will fully override both types of Macrovision, and to my knowledge, the only thing available is the SIMA SCC-2 Color Corrector 2. This thing is expensive ($150-200 bucks), but it's worth it if you have a big video collection you'd like to transfer to DVD-R. I hope this helps anyone out there who bought a bunch of VHS tapes and simply wants to transfer a few to DVD. Jeez.....

This item is great for backing up your old video tapes to DVD. Especially those videos that will never be released on DVD. I was skeptical at first but when I hooked up the Sima to my DVD recorder I was able to back up a VHS tape that I couldn't before. Heck you can even back up your DVD's to DVD. I must mention this device is so easy to use pretty much a no brainer. Worth the money.

Forget about using those cumbersome and illegal computer programs! The Sima CT-2 signal processor will allow you to easily make "fair use" back-up copies of your store bought DVD's. Simply plug it in between your DVD recorder and DVD player and you'll be good to go. Works with either a S-Video cable or RCA connector. Although not true digital, the DVD images will transfer nicely and are very crisp looking. I've been extremely satisfied with the results. Well worth the price.

640x480 can do alot. Wish I could add memory. Wish it worked on Linux or Macintosh. Closeups work well. It's also fast. You can take about 1-2 pictures a second for capturing some action. 640x480, gotta be close. Also small enough to carry everywhere.

I wanted to do a claymation video, and on TV anything more than 640x480 is wasted. This camera has a feature that no other one in its class can match: a macro setting for extreme close ups. It has a standard tripod screw mount on the bottom.

The only drawback is the interface. You address this little beast as a TWAIN device, like a scanner. That limits the software than can read from it, and the included software is only OK.

I wanted a digital camera, but I wasn't in a position to fork over several hundred dollars. I compromised and bought the StyleCam so I could learn more about digital photography and editing. It doubles as a webcam, and can also shoot AVI movies 60 seconds in length at 3 frames per second.

The camera is a little smaller than a deck of playing cards. It comes with a black pouch that you can attach to your belt, stand, USB cable, Maxell batteries, software CD, instruction booklet, and a small wrist strap. Even if you can't get the strap around your wrist, it's good to wrap around a couple of fingers when you're operating the camera one-handed so you don't drop it. It just barely goes over my hand and my glove size is mens medium.

Picture quality is fair, but you can use the software to make adjustments and improve the pic. Indoor photography was better than I expected even with no flash. I got some very crisp pictures inside a shopping mall, and some okay pics inside my apartment which was only lit by one 60 watt bulb directed at the subject. Daytime outdoor shots are pretty good, but you have to be facing away from the sun or you will get glare. At night, you've got to be in a somewhat well lit area to get a pic, like on a street with lots of street lamps.

The camera has only two buttons, so it's pretty easy to use. It beeps every time you take a picture (even when shooting an AVI) which can get annoying, especially if you're trying to take someone's picture without them noticing you. It has a delay-timer function so you can set it and get in the shot. The software has some neat tools for manipulating and enhancing photos that I've seen on much more expensive programs. They seem to have thought out the package really well. There is even a PDF version of the manual on the CD in case you lose the instruction booklet.

Unlike most digicams, this one isn't a battery hog. That's because there is no LCD screen and no flash. When hooked to your computer, the camera draws power directly from the USB port. It can hold about 60 VGA or 180 CIF pictures before the memory is full. There is no removable memory, and you continue to use battery power while the camera is storing photos, even if the camera is off. If the batteries run out you'll lose your pictures, but the camera will hold your pictures for a few seconds while you are changing batteries. I tested it by taking out the batteries for 30 seconds. My pics were still there.

0.3 megapixels is VGA quality or about 1/10th the size of a picture taken by a "good" camera. With only 0.3 megapixels you're not going to get print-quality pictures. But at less than 1/10th the cost of a "good" camera, this is a great first camera if you just want to post some pics on your website or ebay or just play around. I think it will do nicely until I can get the camera I really want next year.

This camera broke within 4 months, and the warantee only covers 3 months for labor. Therefore, I had to spend $[money] to get it fixed. I had a poor experience with their customer service staff.

I was amazed at the functionality of the controls, and the quality of the pictures. 5 minutes out of the box we were taking pictures and using a majority of the functions. Picture quality on the onboard monitor is pretty amazing, but is hard to see in bright sunshine. In these situations, you can use the viewfinder, and a lcd panel displays camera info. Camera plugs either directly in your pc (usb) or into a television/video thru RCA plugs. The pictures look amazing on the TV ! A 128 memory stick will give you over 1970 (yes, nearly 2000) "standard" quality pictures ! We were considering a digital video camera, brought this instead, and have not regretted our decision. If you mainly take still pictures with occassional video, add this camera to your list to look at. Haggle with the retailer to throw in a camera bag, as you WILL need somewhere to keep the memory sticks, power and connector cords when you travel.

I purchased this camera not too long ago. The quality of the pictures is great, the controls are conveniently located and the menu commands are very easy to use. The battery life is OK but not outstanding, a spare battery is a must. I used with a 32 MB memory stick, plenty for all your needs even working at the highest picture quality level (about 40 shots). Overall a very good product. The battery charger is very bulky,this is why I do not give it 5 stars.
Jose Lopez

I've had this camera for almost 2 years. Although it has never really perfomed as well as I'd hoped, the biggest complaint is in their support.

My camera was working just fine (besides a complaint of poor auto-focus since day one). Following Toshiba's recomendations and instructions posted on their website I downloaded and attempted to install a firmware upgrade (1.06A).

The "upgrade" managed to WIPE out all of my camera's operating system. So now I have an useless camera, and because the warranty expired after 12 months, Toshiba won't give me any help except to tell me to send my camera to Bensonville Illinois. ... A good consumer aware company should provide some sort of consideration for the fact that their recomended update is what damaged my camera.

Before this fiasco, I have always had issue with the quality of "auto-focused" shots. Bottom line is: even when making absolutely sure that the object that you want in focus is in the center of the viewfinder when pressing the button down half way before taking the shot-- it is a miracle if the shot comes out focused properly. I have borrowed other camers (specifically elf and minolta) and they are MUCH more likely to return sharper images.)

I have a Toshiba TV and DVD which work fine, but Toshiba has managed to squash my goodwill with this incident. In my opinion it is a very short-sided business strategy.

The Toshiba PDR-M71 is a "jack of all trades--mater of none" sort of package. I got one fpr my workplace as I needed a relatively inexpensive unit that provided a wide array of features and provided at least decent performance on all counts.

The M71 certainly has the features, including:

·3.2-megapixel CCD delivering image resolutions as large as 2,048 x 1,536 pixels.
·Real-image optical zoom viewfinder and 1.5-inch color LCD monitor.
·2.8x, Canon 7.25 - 20.3mm zoom (equivalent to a 35 - 98mm lens on a 35mm camera).
·Full Automatic, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and six Scene exposure modes.
·Adjustable White Balance with six modes.
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·Built-in flash with four user-selectable modes.
·Two- and 10-second Self-Timer modes.
·Movie mode with sound.
·Images saved in JPEG format to SmartMedia cards (8MB card included).
·USB cable and interface software for quick connection to a computer.
·A/V cable for viewing images on a television set.
·Power from four AA batteries (set of four alkaline batteries included).

All of the features work well-none are spectacular. Picture quality is truly good only at the highest resolutions-but that sacrifices quantity. Photos at lower resolutions have a sort of pinkish tint to them. The Movie Mode and Sound feature is better than I expected. Zoom works well but is limited-action shots blur, but close in set shots come out well. Battery life is OK.

This works well for the purpose I obtained it-a general use business camera. I think this would be a good choice for the first time user-for a relatively modest price you can get, use and evaluate a wide array of features and decide what you'd really want in a "serious" camera. If you are a serious user looking for a really good unit, I would expect that this unit would frustrate and disappoint you.

this is a pretty nice camera. the resolution is great, it has all the features I wanted -- both auto and manual focus, great zoom, short video capacity with sound, connects to a PC easily, etc. the manual lens cover is annoying, and the battery cover pops off if you hit it, which can be a pain. but overall, it's a good camera, and for all the features the price is nice.

This is a light weight camera that is easy to carry on hikes and other outings. The picture quality has been good and the controls easy to use. This camera has several draw backs: it will not focus in low light, very bright, or low contrast conditions. It is also impossible to manually focus in these conditions using the LCD screen. I also don't like the red-eye flash being the default. You can change the flash to another mode but when you turn the camera off the next time you turn it on it defaults back to the red-eye flash mode. This is my first digital camera and through this experience I have learned what to look for in my next one.

This is a compact camera, handles well, spunky looking, but a few drawbacks. I like natural-light photography and this is the wrong digital camera for that. First, it has trouble focusing and the manual (LCD) focusing is pretty hopeless in dim light - can't see anything on the screen anyway! Second, the sensitivity is not good - certain other digital cameras have ISO/ASA ranges 100-400, but the Minolta's are just 100. I guess if I was just taking pictures of the Grand Canyon in daylight these wouldn't bother me. I'll be more careful of natural light capabilities in my next purchase. If you take many high-resolution pictures without downloading you'll want to invest in at least 1 16 or 32 mb flashcard ($50 or so.)

I was looking for a durable and high-quality camera to take some pictures that I could quickly access. For the money I paid, I was a little disappointed in the Minolta Dimage. The quality of the pictures is pretty good, and the 3x zoom lens is nice when you want to get closer (which a lot of other cameras don't have).

Pros: *1.8" LCD display on back (you can see pictures you take!) *lightweight (for the mobile photographer) *usb connectivity (faster photo d/l to your pc)

Cons:

*the camera is expensive for the quality of images it produces.. you can find 3 megapixel cameras around the same price range *the LCD display is kind of small

Don't buy this if you are buying a 8700 - the filters are the wrong size and your left with a very expensive bag. The bag seems to be a good quality. The card reader is average. I can't comment on the filters (the primary reason I purchased this) because they don't fit. So, if your dropping the cash for the 8700 (I love it by the way), save about $50 and pick up a LowePro bag instead.

A good value if you need the filters and the USB compactflash reader/Writer. The filters must used with a UR-E6 adapter (around [good price]) if you want to use them on a Coolpix 5000. The USB compactflash reader/writer works fine, but a FireWire reader/writer is even quicker(around [a good price])The small leather case for Coolpix 5000(around [a little less]) fits in the large adjustable divider compartment very comfortably. There is room remaining for 2 or 3 lenses and a mini tripod in the large adjustable divider compartment. 2 fair sized latching side pockets and thin zippered divided front pocket can be used for whatever else you may like to have with your camera. I still suggest carrying your camera and case in a ugly worn Gym bag or something less attractive to deter theft.

First, the bag is ok to put all the lenses, camera. The bag for the 28mm lenses are pretty bad.
This pack is ok for regular user. If you are a new user in coolpix, you can put this to your future shop list. Not recommend to people who has SK-E900 and additional flash.

This is a great camera for what I paid for it. The only down side is that it use up batteries very quickly, but I overcame this by buying recharable batteries. It takes excelent pictures, but it has a delyed recation from when you press the shutter button to when it takes the picture.

the only niggle is the slow shutter speed which means timing your photo a lttle in advance of when you want to take it, the quility of the pictures are really very good, for the money I paid £150.00 its a good entry leval camera, Ive had no problems with it other than its hunger for batteries saying that i get 60 pictures + on a freash set if I rest the camera between shots and switch the lcd off. Not the best camera in the world but brilliant for the price.

This camera is really good Everything about the camera is wonderful. The image quality is great, easy to use, the optical zoom works great, This camera is the best! I love it

I am very disappointed with this case. It is a very close fitting wraparound two piece case. It has five snap buttons that need to be aligned and snapped together to close it. It is rather difficult to push the camera into the long sleeve and keep it aligned so the snap buttons line up for closure. It usually takes me a few tries to get it right.

If you have the camera in this case and a quick photo opportunity appears, forget it. By the time you get the camera out of this case, the opportunity will be long gone.

Once the long sleeve is off, you can use the camera with the lower part still attached, as long as you don't need to change the memory card or the battery. To open the door that covers these, you need to manouver the leather piece around the neckstrap boss out of the way before it opens. If you want to plug the AC adapter in, you will have to completely remove the lower part of the case, as it covers up the opening for the AC adapter plug.

On top of all that, it has no place to store any accessories, not even a miniscule memory stick. Any self respecting owner will have an extra memory card and a spare battery along, wherever he goes. It would be good to have a place for those in the camera case.

It does what it is designed to do so in that sense it's a 5-star case. Beyond that it's quite poorly designed. You shouldn't have to have a Ph.D in structral engineering to put a camera in a case. The button closure system here is ridiculously over engineered. You will actually have to practice putting your camera in this case.

And as for taking it out quickly to get a shot ... well, good luck.

This camera is definately for the serious photographer. Well worth the extra $ for quality in pictures. Surprised by the color quality and detail clearness in close range. Easy to hold and balance. Eyepiece and screen veiwers let the user choose what they prefer in taking pictures. Alot of options. Had this camera two months, and still learning how to use the options.
Very thrilled to have this camera.