Toshiba PDR-3300 Review

Click to take a QuickTime tour of the PDR-3300

Designed as the next generation of the popular PDR-M71, the Toshiba PDR-3300 retains and improves upon the features that resulted in PC World recognizing the PDR-M71 with its World Class Award in this year's "digital cameras under $500" category. It joins the entire family of Toshiba digital cameras including the newly introduced PDR-3310 and PDR-T10 models.

The PDR-3300 makes a striking impression with its highly polished black and slate gray color scheme. Employing a 1/1.8 inch, 3.2 million pixel CCD the camera gives digital photographers greater edge detail in picture file sizes up to 2048 x 1536 pixels. The PDR-3300 is equipped with functions that make it attractive to the more experienced shutterbug. These include a Canon all-glass 35-100mm F2.9 optical zoom with Macro mode, a five-mode flash system; Aperture-priority AE, Shutter-priority AE and Full Manual AE; 1.6 inch (60K pixels) LCD monitor, Manual White Balance and Exposure Compensation (+/- 2.0 at 0.3EV); ISO sensitivity (100/200/400); and enhanced signal processing technology for smooth burst mode shooting.

The camera records JPEG images at three compression modes ‹ Fine, Normal and Basic ‹ and in three resolution settings (2048 x 1536, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480). The camera is compatible with SD media up to 256MB that can store as many as 3,901 images on a single, postage-stamp sized card. It also captures AVI video clips (PAL/NTSC) at QVGA (320 x 240) or Q2VGA (160 x 120) resolution at frame rates up to 15 FPS. As many as 180 seconds of AVI video can be stored on a single 8MB SD® card.

PDR-3300 Features:

• 3.2-megapixel CCD
• Image sizes: 2048x1536, 1024x768 or 640x480
• Three JPEG quality levels (fine, normal, basic)
• 2.8X (35-100mm) optical Canon F2.9 zoom lens
• 1.6" color LCD, polysilicon TFT monitor
• Small, compact and lightweight
• Builtin 5-mode flash (auto, red-eye, forced, slow sync, force off)
• AVI movie 320x240, 15fps, max 30/45/60 secs of recording
• Automatic exposure, Aperture and Shutter speed priority, full Manual
• Mechanical shutter 1/2 to 1/1000 sec (up to 15 secs in Manual)
• Playback includes exposure data and histogram display
• ISO sensitivity of 100, 200 or 400
• White balance: Auto, Outdoor, Cloudy, Incandescent, Flourescent I and 2
• Video output format user-selectable NTSC or PAL
• Secure Digital (SD) storage, 8MB included, compatible up to 256MB
• Wireless infrared remote control
• Epson PRINT Image Matching (PIM) compatible
• USB 1.1 port for Windows and Macintosh
• Powered by standard AA type batteries

The PDR-3300 is immediately available at leading retailers with an MSRP of $349. It comes bundled with 8MB SD card, USB cable, video cable, hand strap, wireless remote control, and a CD-ROM loaded with award-winning ACD Systems imaging software, USB driver and instruction manual. Toshiba backs the PDR-3300 with a one-year warranty.

Physical Views

Toshiba PDR-3300 and standard CD disc for size comparison.

Toshiba PDR-3300 Specifications