Features

• 2.14 million-square, 1/2-inch CCD
• 1,600 x 1,200 maximum resolution
• 2x digital zoom
• SmartMedia removable storage
• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction

Reviews (21)

Great Entry level Digital
First and foremost, I am a fan of SLR's and think that the digital cameras have a long way to go. With all of the technology around it is a great thing to be able to set your own pictures as a wallpaper on your PC. The PDR-M4 is a great camera if it is used on the 1600x1200 resolution and then scaled down to 80x600. The larger resolution is crystal clear and looks even better when scaled down. I had issues with the link cable and ended up buying the smart card reader in order to download. That said, the camera does do exactly what Toshiba says it will. I am an avid hiker and take the PDR-M4 with me all of the time and it seems to be quite rugged as well. Overall, for an entry level camera ( as all digitals are at this point), I would say that this is a great value and it is easy to use.

Best Camera Value
I did alot of shopping around before purchasing the Toshiba PDR-M4. The two selling points were the 2.1 Mega Pixels, which is about as high as they come, and the incredibly fast upload time (almost instant on USB). Other good features include a good software program, an AC adaptor, and a TV input jack (which is real cool). With other cameras with slow upload (like the popular Olympus D-340R), you have to shell out about $ for a floppy adaptor or $ for an external port which reads Smart Memory cards unless you want to wait minute after minute. Finally, the Toshiba camera is perfectly user friendly. You would have to be an idiot to not be able to work it. The instruction manual is helpful and clear. It takes good pictures as far as I can tell (I have no B.S. in photography). The guy at Wolf Camera said it was his favorite camera, too, and he seemed to know about them all. Note: I got mine for $. You should try to match that price.

Do not buy this camera
The mode dial (the round dial on the top right of the camera) falls off after a year or so of gentle, infrequent use. Many consumers have purchased this camera and found themselves writing reviews on the web after the dial fell off.

Toshiba charges the price of a new camera to repair it.

The mode dial is held on by two tiny black 1MM plastic tabs that pop out easily and cannot be reinserted. The camera is clearly defective and should be recalled. Users have reported the same problem with PDR-M60.

Excellent camera (till now)
I have used this camera for over 3 years with great success, but recently I droped it, and now I'm told it would need a new circuit board, so I'm looking for a used camera to buy, one perhaps with a missing control knob. otherwise this one is for sale.

Great product, when it has the dial
This camera has been great until this past week. The dial broke off, so now I can't use it. I've read other places that this is a common problem. So if you like Toshiba, you might want to look at one of their newer models. ... Read more

Features

• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create 2,048 x 1,536 images for medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom for 6x total
• 1.5-inch LCD; AVI extended-play movie mode
• 16 MB internal memory; compatible with Secure Digital and MMC memory cards
• Includes 2 AA alkaline batteries (rechargeables recommended); connects with PCs and Macs compatible with USB 1.1

Amazon.com Product Description

With its brushed-aluminum body and high-tech features, Toshiba's PDR-M70digital camera offers professional photographic quality in an easy-to-usedesign. It has an advanced 3.37-megapixel CCD, capable of recording 2048 x 1536pixel images. With the 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom, the PDR-M70 canproduce sharp color images with little hassle or editing.

The Toshiba PDR-M70gives you advanced photographic controls, including two levels of recordingimages. Shutter speeds can be set from 1/2 second to 1/1000 of a second, whilethe camera's five-mode flash system is easily adjusted to any lighting conditionup to 13 feet from the subject. It offers autofocus and macro focus with aslower shutter speed and includes a built-in dioptric corrector to focus theviewfinder to the user's eyesight.

An exciting movie function capable ofrecording up to four minutes of video with audio keeps your friends and familyup to date. These videos are excellent for e-mail attachments, documentation,demonstrations, or Web pages. The PDR-M70 provides fast connection to your PC or Mac via USB at 12 Mbps, or about one high-resolution image every threeseconds.

Accessories include a 16 MB SmartMedia card, lithium-ion battery, ACadapter, USB and video cables, neck strap, soft case, lens cap, CD-ROM, andoptional filter-ring adapter for 52mm optical filters or lens covers. ... Read more

Features

• 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality prints at 8 x 10 and beyond
• 3x optical plus 2x digital zoom with autofocus
• Included 16 MB SmartMedia card holds 19 images at default resolution
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery and AC adapter included; special features include movie mode, audio recording, burst shooting

Reviews (19)

Nice camera
I've had this camera for a few weeks now. I really like it. It is easy to use for a novice, but has a lot of features for those interested in more than just pointing and shooting. I had no problem hooking it up to my PC and downloading pictures. The software installed and operates smoothly. I download the pictures using the included software, but I like the robust features of my picture editing software (MS Picture It!) so I just reopen the files in that software. The quality of the photos is unbelievable. I think this camera is worth the price.

First Timer...Simple and Easy To Use
I've been wanting to write this review since I started using my Toshiba digital camera a month ago now. Having ordered it online, it arrived in no time. I had it out of the box and clicking pics quicker than you can load film into a 35mm camera. Easy setup and simple operation are some key factors to consider when buying a digital camera, and this one fits the bill. I had spent numerous hours researching products online and it came down to two; one a Sony, and the other the Toshiba.

I've had it for a month now and am still stoked at the performance of the camera. The ease of operation and simpleness makes the camera a pleasure to use. Picture quality is outstanding. The software bundled with the camera is just as easy to use. Connection is through a USB cable, and once connected the computer is 1,2,3... to view and edit pics accordingly. The software does some nice fixes, making up for the camera itself. In some photos the camera tends on the "blue" side of the spectrum.... which can be easily adjusted in no time (with the computer); as you'd expect from your film developing company anyway.

Secondly, crucial to any electronic device is the power source. The lithium battery of the Toshiba is ok; longer life would be nice, yet it is much better than most. (A second battery would be a wise investment.) The battery charges in the camera in about 5 hours. There is an external charger I plan on getting when I do buy the second battery. Charging time is much shorter according to the literature.

A third consideration is the shutter speed, the time it takes when you depress the shutter button to the time it takes for the camera to actually take the picture. For the Toshiba it is no longer than it would for a 35mm camera (A BIG plus when subjects are not always standing still).

Overall, I am quite pleased with the Toshiba PDRM70 and would recommend it to any shutterbugs without hesitation. Happy clicking.....

Con: Flash Pro: Great outdoor photos.
This camera takes great outdoor pictures-couldn't be happier. However, the flash is pretty much useless after one picture, unless you wait 2 or three minutes. I have printed absolutely fantastic 8.5x11 inch photos of various outdoor scenes; cannot distinguish from a regular 35mm camera photo!! Some of the photos of active porpoises, whales, etc. at sea. Came out great!

I haven't begun to tap all the camera's capabilities. I bought when camera first came out( two or so years ago?) at a considerably higher price ... . It still works great and I only wish it were a little more compact. The flash problem doesn't concern me. Sometimes, depending on lighting conditions, indoor photos can be taken with flash "off" and come out fine.

Anyway, camera certainly worth price being asked, assuming in good working condition? "Macro" very good, too.

Better than expected
Yes indeed, this little camera has everything in it--more or less for some one who not just likes to play around but rather likes to use it for business as well as in a semi-professional way.

One tiny problem, the smart-media memory card (I don't like smart media at all !) or the camera ? is not correctly working (had this problem with my previous M-4 as well), formatting the card when bought new is impossible! Toshiba will fix this problem I was told. During this time till I get it back I checked other Toshiba cameras, Discontinued?? WHY?
I got this camera because I needed something with a flash-sync terminal (for pro studio flash equipment) and the ability to attach filters.

Filters cannot be attached without an adapter though. This definitely seems to be the age of the aftermarket-accessory sell. Why can't anyone just thread the lens instead of the "outer ring?"

Strangely, this is one of a handful of cameras (as of late 2001) with the ability to use an external flash (The Olympus C-line only has a proprietary 5-pin terminal, as well as some of the Nikon line.)

There must also be an anti-AA-battery conspiracy throughout the industry, because god-forbid I can find a decent camera using them anymore. Once your Lithium runs out, (and they do, very quickly, even though the meter says otherwise,) you are flat out stuck.

I read another review where someone complained they picked up a Radio Shack adapter on the road, having left their charger at home, and they claimed it didn't work. That was because the amperage rating of the RS adapter was too low. If you are going to pick up a spare, make sure it can supply at LEAST one amp, because the Toshiba requires two amps. (the rating is on the label of the Toshiba charger.)

There is a simple and inexpensive way around this, if you need more batttery power: Use a 6-volt lantern battery ... and make an adapter cable to connect them ...

The camera takes extremely high quality and sharp images, except in dim light.

BUT I discovered (like an idiot, after a YEAR of owning it,) the hidden secret of this camera that makes it worth the money: You can set it to COMPLETE MANUAL OPERATION! Hold down the Menu button as you turn it on, and you have complete control over the focus, aperature and shutter!

No more out-of-focus shots in the dark!

I've never had any trouble with the SmartMedia, as someone else mentioned. If you do, you can always go to Toshiba's website and download the latest BIOS for the camera.

"Histogram?" A feature no one ever asked for. It's a bar-graph in the lower right of the LCD (a pretty fair amount of LCD real-estate, by the way,) that shows the color intensity across the color spectrum, except there's no reference numbers or symbols to even explain what values you're looking at.
Why didn't they give an option to turn it off?

The camera saves all images once taken, and you must 'go into' trash mode to delete them, rather than having them linger until you decide.

At least the USB interface is fast between your computer and the camera.

Subsequent models still don't have the all-useful flash-sync or filter-attaching capability, which is something all 35mm cameras, even the cheapest models, have had since the invention of photography.

It's like the 'touchpad' on laptops: No one asked for them, if anything people have revolted en-masse against it, and yet they persist.

But still all the other issues are worth it for the control and flexibility and classic styling this camera offers! ... Read more

Features

• 2.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 8 x 10 prints
• 2.3x optical plus 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 4 MB SmartMedia card holds 17 images at default resolution
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 4 AA batteries (alkalines included)

Reviews (26)

GO FOR IT
I bought this camera refurbished and let me tell you it works GREAT!!! You have to get NiMh batteries. They lasted me over 4 days of taking pictures on vacation. The camera has been sitting for over a week and the batteries are still good. The only other thing you need to get is a higher capacity memory card 32Mb or 64Mb. You can take plenty of pictures at the BEST resolution.(about 1meg/pic.)
I printed my pictures at home on a Epson Stylus Photo 870 and you can't tell them appart from 35mm pictures. Plus you only print the good ones, you crop out unwanted items and you can do digital editing!
The only problem I could find was the lower left corner of the view finder was blocked by the lens frame. It is a tiny portion of the window and it dosn't effect the pictures.
The camera fits great in your hand and the quality is excellent.
Buy it, you will love it.

Dial broke
I had this camera for about a year when the dial broke. Of course, repairing this is far more costly than a new camera, so here I am. I found the camera did take good quality pictures, but if it isn't going to work after a year, then what's the point?

The dial broke...
I've had it for a year and half... it has it's good, and bad sides, but 2 days ago, the dial just fell off... upon inspection I've discovered that it was made to brake... which was supported by numerous reports of the same problem... don't buy this camera, or any other from toshiba...

Who needs AC Adapter?
I bought this camera in 2001 and it's dead now. When I just got it, it sarted giving me problems with batteries(kept showing "low batteries"), so I bought AC Adapter to avoid this problem(I used it indoor only), and that same problem came back again 2.5 years later, "low batteries" with AC Adapter. It made noise, kept blinking until went completely dead. I did take same good photos with this camera, but since it's dead now, I have AC Adapter that's perfectly fine and doesn't go with any other camera. I payed $60, if anyone wants it, I'll sell it for $25. Email me: DukyTheDog@yahoo.com

Buyer Beware
This camera is a decent general use camera, but buyers should be VERY aware of some inherent flaws with the camera and Toshiba's lack of support for their own engineering flaws. The camera has 2 reoccuring problems. First, the tabs in the battery compartment are weak. Extreme care must be taken opening and closing the compartment to prevent wear and breakage. Second, the mode dials on these cameras fall off in normal use. The plastic pins which hold it in place break off no matter how gently used. Toshiba has stopped supporting the camera with replacement parts. If the dial falls off outside the warranty window, your only option will be to trade the camera in for a refurbished camera. The price of the trade is not justifiable considering the problems, and you will be better off buying a new camera from someone besides Toshiba. I currently have a worthless PDR-M60, and will not buy from Toshiba again. ... Read more