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Toshiba PDR-M70 Toshiba brings true photographic features to their new 3 flagship model! Select a topic 13. Reference: Datasheet 14. M70 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 --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 8/17/2000

Operation and User Interface
As we mentioned earlier, we found the PDR-M70's user interface very friendly and straightforward. Although we generally like to see less reliance on the LCD menu system, we did find the PDR-M70's menus very smooth to navigate. The camera remembers which menu option was last changed. When you reenter the menu, it automatically highlights the previously changed selection. We also found that, with the exception of the three small control buttons on the camera's top panel, the PDR-M70 could conceivably be operated with one hand. The inclusion of the small status display window on top of the camera is also nice, as you can quickly check the camera's settings without activating the LCD monitor. You can also change the image size and quality settings without the LCD, through the control buttons. Now, we'll take you through the function of each button and control on the PDR-M70.


Shutter Button: Located on the top of the camera, encircled by the power switch, this button sets the focus and exposure when halfway pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed.


Power Switch: Also located on top of the camera, cradling the shutter button, this switch powers the camera on and off.


Mode Dial: Positioned on top of the camera, this notched dial controls the camera's operating mode with the following choices:

• Automatic Exposure Mode (red camera icon): Puts the camera in charge of aperture and shutter speed, with a variety of presets available for special shooting situations.
• Shutter Priority Mode (indicated by Tv) "Time Value": Allows the user to set the shutter speed from eight to 1/1,000 seconds while the camera determines the proper aperture.
• Aperture Priority Mode (indicated by Av) "Aperture Value": Allows the user to set the lens aperture from f/2.0 to f/8.0 while the camera selects the corresponding shutter speed.
• Movie Mode (movie camera icon): Sets the camera to record short movies with sound.
• Audio Mode (microphone icon): Provides the ability to record sound clips to either accompany images or serve as reminders. (As noted in the main body of the review, this option really goes beyond the usual digicam "audio annotation" function.)
• Setup Mode: Calls up a Setup menu for changing various camera settings.
• Digital (PC) Mode: Readies the camera for connection to a computer, for downloading images from the SmartMedia card.
• Playback Mode (green playback icon): Allows the user to review captured images and delete or protect them.

Self-Timer Button: Centrally located on top of the camera and marked with the traditional self-timer symbol, pressing this button activates and cancels the self-timer mode. Pressed sequentially, the button cycles through 10 second timer, two second timer and off settings.


Quality / Size Button: Located directly to the left of the Self-Timer button, this button cycles through each combination of image size and quality.


Flash Button: Situated on the left side of the Quality / Size button, this button controls the following flash modes:

• Automatic: The camera fires the flash based on existing light levels.
• Redeye Reduction Automatic: The camera determines when to fire a small pre-flash before the main flash, to reduce the Redeye Effect.
• Redeye Reduction Forced: The flash fires in Redeye Reduction mode with every exposure, regardless of light levels.
• Forced: The flash fires with every exposure.
• Suppressed: The flash never fires.
• Slow Synchro: The camera synchronizes the flash with a slow shutter speed, best for night subjects.

Wide/Tele Zoom Lever: Positioned on the top right corner of the back panel, this lever controls the 3x optical zoom, and when enabled, the 2x digital telephoto. In Playback mode, when playing back movie or audio files, the "T" end of the lever increases the playback volume and the "W" end of the lever decreases volume. When playing back still images, the zoom lever controls the playback zoom. When playing back Multi-Shot images, the "T"end of the lever starts the sequential playback of the 36 small images.


Rocker Toggle Button: Centrally located on the back panel of the camera, this rocker button with arrows in all four directions serves many functions. In both Playback and Record menus, the arrow buttons navigate through menu items and the center of the button, when pressed, serves as the Enter function to accept changes. In any of the record modes, the right and left arrows control the exposure compensation from -1.5 to +1.5 in 1/3 EV increments. In Automatic Exposure mode, the up and down arrows provide access to the following presets:

• Portrait: Adjusts the aperture so that the background is blurred and more emphasis is placed on the subject.
• Landscape: Sets the focus to infinity for capturing distant scenes and landscapes.
• Fast-moving Subject: Increases the shutter speed for capturing fast paced action.
• Night: Adjusts the shutter speed and aperture for capturing night subjects such as cityscapes.
• Multi-Shot: Takes 36 images continuously in 0.07 second intervals and saves all the images as one 2048 x 1536 image.

In Shutter and Aperture Priority modes, the up and down arrows adjust either the shutter speed or lens aperture.

In Playback mode, the right and left arrow buttons scroll through captured still images and activate the playback of movie and audio files. Once zoomed into a captured image, the four arrow buttons allow you to scroll around within the image to investigate small details.



Menu Button: Adjacent to the LCD monitor, this button accesses the control menu in all of the record modes as well as in Playback mode.


Mode Button: Located to the right of the Menu button, this button cycles through Single Shot and Burst options while in any record mode, and also through Auto Exposure Bracketing while in Shutter or Aperture Priority modes.


Macro / Infinity Button: Directly beneath the Menu button, this button cycles through the Macro and Infinity focus settings when in any record mode.


Erase Button: Sitting to the right of the Macro / Infinity button, this button erases images in any of the record modes as well as in Playback mode.


Dioptric Adjustment Dial: Located on the left side of the optical viewfinder, this dial adjusts the optical viewfinder to accommodate eyeglass wearers.

Battery Compartment Lock: Positioned on the bottom of the camera, in the center of the battery compartment door, this button unlocks and opens the battery compartment when pressed down and toward the front of the camera body.