Toshiba PDR-M81 > Reviews (1)

Only bought this today, and have managed to take over a dozen pictures and a movie clip, download them onto the computer and edit them already. Within 5 minutes of taking out of the box you can use the most common features, ie zoom (2.8x optical plus digital 2x) and erase those that are no good. There are a total of 9 setting for picture options (combination of quality and size) and the medium setting seems good enough for most snaps (only about 130kb instead of over 1000kb for a similar picture on the highest setting).

I would not have bought at the full original price (£450) but found it in Jessops as an end of line at £200, it only comes with an 8MB smartcard which will not last any time on the highest setting but I bought a 16MB and that takes 99 pictures on the medium setting.

My daughter (2.5 years) loves seeing pictures of herself and has already learnt how to change from a single picture to a movie show on the software provided. She wanted lots of photos taken, but won't stand still but it coped and none came out blurred - you do have to accept that there is a slight delay in taking the pictures with digitals although this was the quickest that I tried out in the shops. Also, she wanted me to take a photo of her in bed with her bears - no light on - and with just the flash the picture still came out reasonably clear (not perfect but better than others I have taken before in semi-darkness).

All in I am very pleased with my choice but I am going to buy extra high power rechargeable batteries (it takes 4 standard AAs) tomorrow in order that I can take as many pictures as I like and test out all the other features, like multi-shots (3 and 16 in one frame for moving objects), self-timer, landscape, portraits and manual focusing/zoom. I cannot comment on how cost of repairs etc and how likely they may be needed since I have not had it long enough. I have started shopping around on the internet and the smartmedia cards are available a lot cheaper on line than I have found in the shops.