Digital Camera Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Toshiba Digital Cameras > Toshiba PDR-M81

Toshiba PDR-M81 Toshiba steps into the 4-megapixel arena with a value-priced, full-featured model. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PDR-M81 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-M81 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:Viewfinder Review First Posted: 08/24/2001

Viewfinder
The PDR-M81 is equipped with a real-image optical viewfinder and a color LCD monitor for composing images. The optical viewfinder zooms along with the lens, but it does not show digital enlargement, which requires the LCD monitor. Though there is no diopter adjustment, the optical viewfinder does have a fairly high eyepoint, which should accommodate most eyeglass wearers. An autofocus target crosshair in the center of the view indicates the camera's focus area. An LED lamp on the right side of the eyepiece reports camera status. For example, if it lights green, focus and exposure are set. A flashing green light indicates that the autofocus or autoexposure systems are having trouble taking a reading. A glowing orange light indicates that the flash is charging, and a red light appears when the camera is writing information to the memory card. If the LED lamp flashes red, the camera has an error and an error message should appear on the LCD screen.

 

The 1.5-inch, wide-view, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD monitor has approximately 117,600 pixels. The LCD displays an abundance of camera information, including exposure mode, battery power, exposure settings (in manual modes only), the number of available shots, flash mode, file size and quality, a histogram (also in manual modes only), and any exposure adjustment settings, such as Exposure Compensation or White Balance. The Display button below the LCD monitor controls the information and image display, cycling through the following options: Image with information display, image only, and no display. In addition to the LCD-based menu system, the LCD also displays direct menu options along the left side of the screen. These menu options are accessed by pressing the "Enter" button in the center of the Four Way Arrow pad. (We have to admit that we found this a little tricky at first, and had to refer to the User Guide to understand how to activate the menu, although we soon found it a faster way to change exposure settings than the main menu system.)

In Playback mode, the PDR-M81 offers an Index display mode that shows as many as nine thumbnail images on the screen at once. You can also enlarge captured images on the LCD screen and check on fine details or framing.

In our tests, the M81's optical viewfinder was quite tight, showing only 81 percent (wide-angle) to 83 percent (telephoto) of the final frame area. The LCD viewfinder did much better, showing 96-97 percent of the final image. We like to see optical viewfinders showing 90 percent or more of the final image area, and LCD viewfinders showing as close to 100 percent as possible. On that basis, we gave the M81's optical viewfinder poor marks, but the LCD received fairly good ones.