Polaroid Camera

Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 2300Z Digital Camera

Long a household word in film-based photography, Polaroid started out as a strong contender in the digital marketplace, introducing one of the first high-quality digicams -- the PDC-2000 -- in 1996. At a retail price of $2,500, it fell squarely between the low-end digital point-and-shoots and the expensive high-end portable digital cameras, making it a popular choice for studio-based photographers. Since then, Polaroid has introduced a number of digital imaging products, including the PDC-3000 (another professional quality camera), several high-quality desktop film scanners, a line of complete digital studio systems, and the PhotoMAX series of low-end consumer digicams. The PhotoMAX 2300Z is the first in that series to offer 2-megapixel resolution with a robust imaging software package. As we'll see though, the 2300Z really doesn't live up to the Polaroid tradition of imaging excellence.

Overview
The PhotoMAX 2300Z is marketed as a complete Digital Camera Creative Kit, providing all the tools you need to capture and download your images to a Windows-based computer (including e-mail capabilities). The camera design and operation are very basic, with only one Record mode and a handful of controls to adjust image resolution, flash setting, exposure compensation (brightness), and white balance (color). It's targeted at the novice or amateur photographer who doesn't want to make a lot of exposure decisions -- just point the camera and shoot. The 2.3x optical zoom lens has a focal range equivalent to a 38-90mm on a 35mm camera, providing just enough flexibility to shoot indoors in cramped interiors or outdoors where your subject can be distant or close-up. (Note: a 90mm zoom is adequate for location portraiture but not great for capturing sports action from a distance.) Image resolution is 2.3 megapixels, high enough to make 8 x 10-inch prints or very sharp 5 x 7's.

The 2300Z comes equipped with a built-in flash, 8MB CompactFlash memory card, AC adapter, video cable (for hooking up to a TV), two computer connection cables (Serial port and USB), camera case, wrist strap, and Arcsoft's PhotoMAX Pro Software. The software supports Windows computers only, with image acquisition, photo manipulation (by ArcSoft), special effects, printing setups, optional frames and titles, e-mail, and Internet access to the PolaroidDigital website, where you have 50MB of free storage space provided with the purchase of a camera. While we appreciated the nice complement of supplied accessories (including the all-important AC adapter, which is usually sold as an option), we were disappointed with the difficulty we had in performing simple operations, such as turning the Mode dial or removing the CompactFlash card or AA batteries from their compartments. Latches tended to stick and the Mode dial was very difficult to turn -- with only small plastic nubs around the edges to provide a grip for your fingers.

The 2300Z's Mode dial sets the camera's main operation modes, including Record, Play, Setup, Erase, and PC connection. Each mode has a very short on-screen menu, activated by the Menu button and navigated with the Zoom lever on top of the camera (see Camera Operation). Selections are made with the OK button, which is located directly underneath the Menu button on the back panel. The LCD monitor is activated by the LCD button (also on the back panel) or by engaging the Macro and Digital Zoom modes. (Unfortunately, once you turn the LCD monitor on, you can't turn it off again without switching off the camera.) To our eye, the LCD image display is very poor, with dark muted colors that are difficult to see (impossible in sunlight). In fact, we found it necessary to adjust the monitor to its brightest setting (+5) just to lighten it up enough so we could see what we were shooting indoors.

On the positive side, the optical viewfinder is very clear, and it zooms along with the 2.3x lens, so you have a pretty accurate view of your scene without having to turn on the LCD menu at all. (Framing was also pretty good as far as optical viewfinders go.) In general, the control buttons were well placed, with the four non-menu adjustments lined up along the Status Display panel on top of the camera (Quality / Resolution, Macro, Self-Timer, and Flash). Adjustments for these buttons are reported as black icons in the Status display window, making it very easy to follow along as you make changes. The shutter button was relatively slow, with a long delay between the time you press down all the way to the moment it actually fires the shutter.

Basic Features

* 2.3-megapixel CCD with six image quality modes
* Optical viewfinder
* 1.8-inch color LCD display
* 1.3-inch black-and-white Status display
* All glass 2.3x zoom lens (equivalent to 38-90mm)
* 2x Digital zoom
* Built-in flash
* CompactFlash removable storage, 8MB CF card included
* USB or Serial computer connection
* Four Alkaline, Li-Ion, NiMH, or NiCd AA batteries (4 Alkaline batteries included)
* AC adapter included
* Polaroid PhotoMAX Pro Software CDs (Windows only)

Special Features

* Macro (close-up) lens adjustment
* White balance (color) adjustment
* Exposure compensation (lighten / darken) control
* Self-timer option for delayed shutter release
* Slide show playback feature
* NTSC video cable for viewing images on a TV

Recommendation
The PhotoMAX 2300Z is simple to operate and provides a fairly robust hardware and software package (if you're a Windows user!). However, we'd like to see some design improvements before we put it on our recommended buyers list. At $399, we would expect better quality parts and smoother operation, especially with functions like the Mode dial, CF card eject, and camera battery installation. The camera is pretty bulky, which appeals to some users, but for our tastes we prefer a more streamlined model. We also felt that image quality could be better, particularly in the current market: At $299 with a zoom lens, this would be a marginally OK deal, but at $399, you can do a lot better these days. If you want a complete digital imaging package, and don't mind the minor inadequacies, this just may fulfill your needs. However, we recommend trying it out in the store before you take it home.