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Toshiba PDR-M71 Toshiba introduces a feature-packed, value-priced 3 megapixel model! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PDR-M71 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 PDR-M71 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 08/24/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The PDR-M71 stores image files on a SmartMedia card and an 8MB card is supplied with the camera. Larger capacity cards are available separately (as large as 128MB). SmartMedia is easily protected by placing a write-protection sticker over the designated area on the card. Likewise, removing the sticker disables the write-protection. (The stickers can only be used once and write-protection may fail if the sticker gets dirty.) You can also protect individual images from accidental erasure (except through card formatting by activating the write-protection option in the Playback settings menu. Protected images are denoted by a key symbol beneath the image. Protection can be removed through the same process.

The PDR-M71 organizes captured images into storage folders. When the SmartMedia card is formatted, it automatically creates a folder entitled 100TOSHI. You can create a new folder by pressing the Folder button in any record mode. Movies are recorded to a separate folder indicated by a movie camera symbol. Once the image number reaches 9999, a new folder (101TOSHI) is automatically created. When there are two or more xxxTOSHI folders, the playback folder default is the folder assigned the largest xxx value. You can change the playback folder by pressing the Folder button in Playback mode, and selecting a folder from the list.

Three resolution sizes are available on the PDR-M71: 2,048 x 1,536; 1,024 x 768; 640 x 480 pixels. Images can also be saved at one of three JPEG compression levels: Fine, Normal, and Basic.

Reducing image size saves memory and allows you to continue taking more pictures. Low-resolution images (640 x 480 pixels), taken in the 16-Frame Multi mode, protected images, and images from another camera cannot be resized. While in Playback mode you have the option of selecting which images you want to resize and are given the option to reconsider before executing the command. Also through the Playback menu, you can compress images, except those already stored in Basic quality, images from another camera, and protected images (including those on write-protected SmartMedia). The quality setting will be noted under each image by the number of stars (three for Fine, two for Normal, one for Basic).

The PDR-M71 allows you to copy an image from one SmartMedia card to another through the Playback menu. Select the image (or images) to copy and press Enter (you can cancel a selection here as well). If you execute the copy, a Change Card message will appear, allowing you to remove the old SmartMedia card and replace it with a new one. Follow the menu prompts and select OK when finished. Don't remove the SmartMedia card (except when indicated) or turn the camera off during the copying procedure to avoid damaging the card.

You can erase images in either Playback or record modes. When in Playback mode, use the arrow buttons to select the image and hit the Erase button on the back panel. You'll be asked to confirm this decision. Protected images cannot be erased, nor can images on write-protected SmartMedia. When in a record mode, hit the Erase button and it selects the last image taken. Again, you are asked to confirm this decision. The Erase menu also allows you to erase folders and format the SmartMedia card.

The table below shows the number of still images and their compression ratios for an 8MB card:

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 16MB Memory Card		Fine	Normal	Basic
Full Resolution 2048x1536	Images (Avg size)	6 1.2 MB	9 0.8 MB	19 0.4 MB
	Approx. Compression	5:1	7.5:1	15:1
XGA Resolution 1024x768	Images (Avg size)	27 0.30 MB	41 0.20 MB	82 0.10 MB
	Approx. Compression	5:1	7.5:1	15:1
VGA Resolution 640x480	Images (Avg size)	41 0.20 MB	62 0.10 MB	124 0.06 MB
	Approx. Compression	5:1	7.5:1	15:1

The PDR-M71 is accompanied by a USB cable and interface software for connecting to a computer. It appears on the USB bus as a "storage class" device, meaning that no driver software is needed for Mac OS 8.6 or greater, or for Windows Me or 2000. We clocked the PDR-M71's download speed at 614 KBytes/second on our G4 PowerMac. This is very fast, at the top end of USB-connected cameras we've tested. A caution though, for those readers interested in using a card reader with the M71: There appears to be something strange about the formatting Toshiba uses on SmartMedia cards. We couldn't read cards from the M71 with card readers attached to our Windows machines, but they read fine on our Macs. Given that the camera's own USB connection is so fast, this may not be an issue, but we thought it was important to note anyway.