Polaroid i832W Digital Camera
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Similar in Digital Cameras
- Digital Zoom: 4x
- Camera Type: Standard Point and Shoot
- Weight: 0.31 lb.
- LCD Screen Size: 2.4 in.
- Resolution: 8 Megapixel
- Optical Zoom: 3x
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Only Acceptable
Pros
Excellent internals - takes outstanding pictures; many configuration options.
Cons
Power hog. Does not remember flash setting when powered off.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
If you got one use it and enjoy it. If you're looking for something new avoid this model.
I've been generally pleased with this camera; of the camera's I've tried in the past it is the best of the bunch. However, that says more about the cameras I've previously bought than it does about this camera in particular.
I picked up this camera on impulse when I saw it on sale at Walmart. (Display model ~20% off.) I had been wanting a good, high pixel camera and this one fit the bill while wondering through the store.
The internals are excellent. The technology employed seems (close to) state of the art. Although it is not a 35mm class machine like a friend has, it produces close to or equal quality photos.
The user controls are few enough but it did take a while for my fingers to learn what to push when. Many of the button definitions change depending upon what your trying to do when. The four-way directional buttons are the most re-mapped of the bunch.
The software behind the camera presents very many configuration options including many I had not expected. (Like taking sepia-tone photos, why?) Nevertheless, you can configure many aspects of the camera's operation. If I knew more about photography I expect I would be pleasantly surprised to see some of the options available. Once you learn the keyboard accessing the options is reasonably simple.
From a "let me take a picture" point-of-view this camera provides a commendable result. I've used the other video and audio recorder modes very little. Although the camera provides these options they are of no value to me for what I wanted the camera for. I'll make no further comment about these two options.
It is the package surrounding the camera which begins to show its down sides. I do wish, generally, that fewer consumer items were constructed out of plastic. Particularly items I spend hundred(s) on. Within the first week of use I had to repair the battery door with a small, external metal reinforcement just to keep the door closed and the electric contact complete. (Actually, I think I did a good job with my repair. No failures since repair completed.)
Another packaging problem is that, while a screw hole is provided to attach the camera to a tripod, there is no corresponding lock-hole to ensure the camera does not "twist" on its mount. This may be comparatively normal on this class of camera but I still miss the security a lock-hole provides.
The single biggest problem with the camera is it consumption of batteries! Additionally, it is over-sensitive to the amount of available power. After the camera rejects a set of batteries they still test as full on my little battery checker. In other words, it must be a full, fresh battery - no exceptions. At least you'll have batteries available for less power-hungry devices after the camera has found them unacceptable.
Truthfully, it is the battery situation which makes me wish I had shopped a little longer before acquiring the i832!
The only other operational "fault" I've found disturbing is that the camera *always* wakes up in auto-flash mode. I'll sometimes change to no-flash (and use a tripod) for some special-effect shots. I've been happily impressed with the effects I've achieved. However, if I turn off the camera to change position or to orient to a different picture (and save power) I have to remember to restore the flash setting when I turn the camera back on. This does little to increase the battery life because the flash starts charging as soon as you turn the camera on.
Bottom line - I'm going to keep the device and will continue to use it for the foreseeable future as my primary camera. I'll just have to learn to cope with its short comings. Not impossible as long as I don't forget to pack spare sets of batteries!
I picked up this camera on impulse when I saw it on sale at Walmart. (Display model ~20% off.) I had been wanting a good, high pixel camera and this one fit the bill while wondering through the store.
The internals are excellent. The technology employed seems (close to) state of the art. Although it is not a 35mm class machine like a friend has, it produces close to or equal quality photos.
The user controls are few enough but it did take a while for my fingers to learn what to push when. Many of the button definitions change depending upon what your trying to do when. The four-way directional buttons are the most re-mapped of the bunch.
The software behind the camera presents very many configuration options including many I had not expected. (Like taking sepia-tone photos, why?) Nevertheless, you can configure many aspects of the camera's operation. If I knew more about photography I expect I would be pleasantly surprised to see some of the options available. Once you learn the keyboard accessing the options is reasonably simple.
From a "let me take a picture" point-of-view this camera provides a commendable result. I've used the other video and audio recorder modes very little. Although the camera provides these options they are of no value to me for what I wanted the camera for. I'll make no further comment about these two options.
It is the package surrounding the camera which begins to show its down sides. I do wish, generally, that fewer consumer items were constructed out of plastic. Particularly items I spend hundred(s) on. Within the first week of use I had to repair the battery door with a small, external metal reinforcement just to keep the door closed and the electric contact complete. (Actually, I think I did a good job with my repair. No failures since repair completed.)
Another packaging problem is that, while a screw hole is provided to attach the camera to a tripod, there is no corresponding lock-hole to ensure the camera does not "twist" on its mount. This may be comparatively normal on this class of camera but I still miss the security a lock-hole provides.
The single biggest problem with the camera is it consumption of batteries! Additionally, it is over-sensitive to the amount of available power. After the camera rejects a set of batteries they still test as full on my little battery checker. In other words, it must be a full, fresh battery - no exceptions. At least you'll have batteries available for less power-hungry devices after the camera has found them unacceptable.
Truthfully, it is the battery situation which makes me wish I had shopped a little longer before acquiring the i832!
The only other operational "fault" I've found disturbing is that the camera *always* wakes up in auto-flash mode. I'll sometimes change to no-flash (and use a tripod) for some special-effect shots. I've been happily impressed with the effects I've achieved. However, if I turn off the camera to change position or to orient to a different picture (and save power) I have to remember to restore the flash setting when I turn the camera back on. This does little to increase the battery life because the flash starts charging as soon as you turn the camera on.
Bottom line - I'm going to keep the device and will continue to use it for the foreseeable future as my primary camera. I'll just have to learn to cope with its short comings. Not impossible as long as I don't forget to pack spare sets of batteries!
