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Toshiba PDR-M60 Toshiba introduces a "value-priced" 2 megapixel camera with nice image quality and a 2.3x optical zoom. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Toshiba PDR-M60 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on Toshiba PDR-M60 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:Viewfinder Review First Posted: 1/12/2001

Viewfinder
The PDR-M60 sports both an eyelevel optical viewfinder and an LCD monitor for composing images. The optical viewfinder zooms along with the lens, but doesn't show the 2x digital telephoto, which must be viewed on the camera's LCD. We noticed that at the full wide-angle setting, the lens barrel is just barely visible in the bottom left corner of the viewfinder. While this may be a bit annoying when composing images, it does not appear in images taken at the wide-angle setting. A status LED on the viewfinder's eyepiece indicates the camera's operating status. A solid green light appears when the camera has locked focus and exposure and is ready to shoot. If the LED flashes green, the camera's metering system is indicating a slow shutter speed, or the self-timer is in operation. A solid red LED means that the camera is writing an image to the SmartMedia card or that the lens cannot focus due to an obstacle. A flashing red LED indicates that the lens cannot focus or that the exposure conditions are too bright or too dark.

The 1.8-inch, amorphous silicon, TFT LCD monitor features a color display with approximately 71,760 pixels. The LCD automatically turns on when the camera is activated, but it can be turned off by pressing the Display button. The Display button also controls the information display, which reports various camera settings, including shooting mode, number of available images, flash, macro, self-timer, digital zoom, date, time, and battery consumption. To cancel the information display, press the Display button once. A second press cancels the LCD display altogether, and a third press brings back both the image and information displays. In Playback mode, the Display button cycles through a similar pattern, displaying both the captured image and standard on-screen display (file name and number), then the image with its capture information (resolution, date, and time), and finally just the image itself. The LCD brightness level can be adjusted in both Playback and Record modes through the settings menu.

In Playback mode, the LCD monitor provides an index display of up to nine thumbnail images on a page, as well as an image enlargement option that zooms into captured images for a close-up view. Captured images can be enlarged up to three times their actual size, using the Zoom button on the camera's back panel. The nine-image index display is activated by pressing the Enter button.