Toshiba PDR-M71
 Click to take a QuickTime tour of the PDR-M71
The PDR-M71 has a 3.2-megapixel imager with 2048 x 1536 resolution and the same advanced feature set as competitive digital cameras retailing for hundreds of dollars more. It's an ideal first digital camera or upgrade for users at all levels. Surprisingly lightweight (8.5 oz) and compact, the sporty PDR-M71 is a breeze to take along anywhere, whether it's a business trip, a ball game or a family picnic. Its fashionable all-black exterior makes a striking impression, while the ergonomic design fits easily in the palm of the user's hand. The affordable PDR-M71 employs a Canon all-glass 2.8x optical zoom (35-98mm in 35mm) lens with macro, built-in five mode flash system with red-eye reduction; AVI movie/audio recording; SmartMedia storage; a full range of shooting modes and options; USB connectivity; and enhanced signal processing technology for fast, continuous shooting and quick operation.
The PDR-M71 is intuitively easy to understand. Its control dial and zoom are set so that
they can be manipulated with either a thumb or index finger. Each function of the camera
is clearly indicated on the control dial with an icon. In fully automatic mode the
PDR-M71 focuses and adjusts its settings for perfect pictures every time. For the advanced
shooter seeking greater flexibility, the camera has manual controls including Program AE,
Full Manual (shutter and aperture), Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, ISO
sensitivity (100/200/400), flash (auto, red-eye, forced, slow sync, force off), white
balance, and exposure compensation. Unique to "affordable" digital cameras, the PDR-M71
also has a histogram function that enables photographers to check the distribution of
brightness levels on the LCD once a picture is taken.
 In addition to the automatic and manual settings, photographers choose the resolution (2048x1536, 1024x768, 640x480) and the JPEG format compression (fine, normal, basic). In addition to taking outstanding still images, the camera has an AVI movie mode that lets users film up to three minutes of video at 160 x 120 resolution (15 fps), or 60 seconds at 320 x 240 (15 fps). Sound can be recorded during the filming by using the camera's built-in microphone. When the video is finished it can be viewed on a computer monitor, a television (NTSC/PAL), or on the camera's 1.5-inch polysilicon color LCD.
Accessories included are: an 8MB SmartMedia card, a
USB cable for fast downloading of images, serial cable, wrist strap, protective lens cap,
a soft carrying case, and a CD-ROM containing a USB driver and Sierra Imaging's popular
ImageExpert® software for managing, editing and accessing images. The camera is Windows®
(98/2000/NT) and Macintosh® (OS 9+) compatible. Four AA-sized batteries power it.
Physical Views
 Toshiba PDR-M71 and the palm-sized Nikon Coolpix 885 for comparison. |
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Page Two
Toshiba PDR-M71 Specifications
CCD Sensor
1/1.8 inch 3.37 million pixels (total)
3.0 million pixels effective
Image Resolutions
2048 x 1536 (FULL)
1024 x 768 (HALF)
640 x 480 (SMALL)
Lens
Canon® F2.9-F4.8, 7 elements in 5 groups, f=7.25 to 20.3mm
(equivalent to 35-98mm on a 35mm camera), all glass lens
Zoom 2.8X Optical, 2.2X Digital
Auto-Focus
TTL contrast detection
Auto-Focus Range
Normal mode: 31 in. to infinity
Macro mode: 4 in. to infinity (wide)
10 in. to infinity (tele).
File Format
JPEG (EXIF 2.1), DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) and DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compliant
Image Quality
Fine, Normal or Basic
Burst Shot
1.25 Frame Per Second
Exposure Control
Program AE, Full Manual (shutter & aperture),
Shutter-Priority AE,
Aperture-Priority AE, Exposure Comp ( +/-2.0 at 0.5 EV)
White Balance
Auto, Outdoor, Cloudy, Incandescent, Flourescent I and 2
Sensitivity
Equivalent to ISO 100/200/400
Shutter
Mechanical shutter 1/2 to 1/1000 sec
Maximum of 15 seconds for extended exposures
Aperture
F2.9 to F8 automatic or manual selection
Recording Modes
Single, MULTI (16 continuous), Bulb Mode
Movie Mode
AVI Video Recording with Audio
160 x 120, Max 3 minutes @ 15fps
320 x 240, Max of 60 secs. @ 15fps
Fine, Normal or Basic quality possible
Built-in Flash
Adjusting range 2.6 ft to 9.8 ft Wideangle, ISO 2x
(Auto, Red-Eye, Forced, Slow Sync, OFF)
Video Interface
Provides NTSC and PAL video output signal
Microphone
Built in
LCD Monitor
1.5" color LCD monitor. Polysilicon TFT
117,600 pixels (490 x 240 resolution)
Storage Media
Supports SmartMedia 3v 2MB to 128MB, ships with 8MB
Optical Viewfinder
Real-image optical viewfinder
Status Display
User selectable controls and LCD status display
Self Timer
10 or 2 seconds
Tripod Mount
Built-In
Data Communication Interface
USB
Power
Includes four AA Alkaline batteries. Accepts four AA sized batteries (alkaline, lithium, Ni-Cd and NiMH). Optional AC adapter, rechargeable batteries and charger.
Software on CD-ROM
Sierra Imaging Image Expert, USB Storage Driver
Camera Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions (W x H x D)
107mm x 71mm x 47mm
4.2" x 2.8" x 1.8"
Weight without batteries: 8.5 oz.
System Requirements
Windows: 98/Me/2000. Macintosh: System 9 or higher
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