Click to take a QuickTime tour of the PDR-4300
The Toshiba PDR-4300 is a four-megapixel digital camera that creates images up to 2400 x 1600 pixels and incorporates a high quality Canon 2.8X optical zoom lens. The PDR-4300 is an easy to use camera for the beginner yet offers manual options for control of light and exposure for the more experienced user. And with a suggested retail price of just $379 it's also quite affordable.
The 4.0-megapixel CCD image sensor yields a maximum image size of 2400 x 1600, with user-selectable 1200 x 800 and 720 x 480 resolutions also available. The all-glass 2.8X Canon zoom lens is equivalent to a 35-100mm lens on a 35mm camera, has macro capability as close as 6-inches, and a wide F2.9 aperture for improved light gathering. The automatic shutter speed range is from 1/1000 sec. to 1/2 second. The camera's flash, which is effective to a distance of 10 feet, provides four modes: automatic, red-eye reduction, fill in flash, and off.
The PDR-4300's manual controls allow users to adjust the exposure compensation, manual exposure, light metering (center, spot), ISO sensitivity (100/200/400), and continuous shooting. Exposure modes are program, full manual, shutter-priority, aperture-priority and scene select, while white balance modes are automatic, daylight, cloudy, incandescent light and two for fluorescent light.
The camera captures 320 x 240 resolution video clips at 15 fps just as easily as it shoots still images. It's equipped with a bright 1.6-inch polysilicon color LCD monitor (279 x 229) and an optical viewfinder. USB connectivity allows for easy and fast transfer from camera to compatible computers (Windows 98/2000/ME/XP, Mac OS 9.2 or later, Mac OS 10.1 or later). Video output is also provided (NTSC/PAL).
PDR-4300 Features:
- 4-megapixel CCD
- Image sizes: 2400x1600, 1200x800 or 720x480
- 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, and off)
- AVI movie 320x240, 15fps, max 30/45/60 secs of recording
- Automatic exposure, Shutter speed and Aperture priority and 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, 16MB included, compatible up to 512MB
- 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-4300 is expected to ship in mid-March with an MSRP of $379 and comes with a 16MB SD memory card, 4 AA batteries, USB cable, video cable, an IR remote control, a hand strap, and a CD-ROM containing ACD System™ photo editing software, USB driver and an in-depth instruction manual.
Physical Views
 
Toshiba PDR-4300 and standard CD disc for size comparison. |
