Polaroid iON 230 Review

Click to take a QTVR tour of the iON 230

The iON 230 digital camera is an ultra-compact 2-megapixel digital camera that measures just 3.5 x 2.8 x 0.95 in. (WHD) and weighs a mere 122 grams. This pocket size camera is very durable and stylish with a brushed aluminum silver body. It has a fixed focus lens which means nearly instantaneous image capture when the shutter button is pressed. It comes with 16MB of internal memory to store pictures and videos plus there's an SD card slot that is compatible with card capacities up to 512MB. There's a 1.6-inch color monitor for image review that can also be used to frame your shots or you can use the optical viewfinder. Exposure is completely automatic for truly "Point-n-Shoot" operation.

The iON 230 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery pack with enough power for up to 60 minutes (200 shots) of use. The battery is recharged whenever the camera is docked. There's a second battery slot on the dock to charge a spare battery out of the camera. And unlike most small cameras with a dock, you don't need to take the entire dock to charge the battery when you're on the road. The AC power supply comes with a special pigtail USB connector -- this is all you need to charge the battery in the camera.

Images and movies are transfered automatically whenever the camera is placed in the included docking station. The "smart" dock connects to Windows or Mac computers via USB and allows the iON 230 operate as a webcam with software like MS Net Meeting. And unlike most USB devices it doesn't just consume one of your USB ports, it gives you three more on your desktop thanks to its built-in USB hub. Also included is a nice soft case that holds the camera, a SD card and an extra battery and has a belt loop on the backside.

iON 230 Features

• 2 Megapixel CCD imager for up to 1600x1200 pixel images
• 5-element glass lens with fixed focus, 2X digital zoom
• 1.6" color LCD monitor and optical viewfinder
• Compact and durable aluminum body weighs only 122g
• 3-in-1 camera for stills, video and webcam
• 16MB built-in memory and SD card slot
• Auto Exposure and color correction
• Built-in flash with three modes
• Powered by rechargeable 500mAh Li-Polymer battery
• Smart Dock/charger with 3-port USB hub and 2nd battery charging slot
• Automatic image downloading, photo sorting software with easy to use editing tools, instant slideshows or e-mail photos.
• Windows 98se, Me, 2000, XP, Mac OS 9.2 - 10 compatible

Physical Views

The iON 230 compared in size to an average CD disc.

The iON 230 and the super-compact Pentax Optio S

iON 230 Specifications