Polaroid PDC 5080 reviewed/trashed by PC Mag

If you ever needed proof that megapixels aren't everything in a digital camera, look no further than PC Magazine's review of Polaroid's PDC 5080 5 megapixel cam, which sells for just $90. You know things are bad when the best they can come up with on the pro side is "light" and "cheap." The problems with the camera, on the other hand, read like a comedy of errors, from the open-at-your-own-risk blister pack the camera comes packaged in (rule #1, don't buy a digital camera in a blister pack), to the way below average image quality compared to other 5MP cameras, to the 9 frame per second "video" capabilities, to the images that mysteriously dissappear from the SD card. Stay away from this one, folks, and warn your friends.

[Snarky @ May 28th 2006 4:12PM]

I am looking to purchase a new digital camera. I want a good, small camera that can take good pictures and fit in my pocket. I am considering the Sony Cybershot DSC-W70. Would anyone recommend that one or a different one? Thanks.

[Aaron @ May 28th 2006 4:21PM]

I had a Polaroid that was similar to this a few years back. I got it as a graduation gift (I already had what I though was an OK Samsung) and it had the same problems. It recorded "video" that looked like a slide show and would frequently lose pictures or corrupt the whole memory card. I forgot the model but it wasn't much bigger than a credit card but was thicker.

[Scoobydoo @ May 28th 2006 5:13PM]

I don't know why they even bothered to test this... The specs and brand name alone should be reason enough to skip it...

[NeoteriX @ May 28th 2006 6:55PM]

I dunnno about anyone else, but I actually like reading poor reviews of things more than great reviews...

[Jake @ May 28th 2006 8:08PM]

Polaroid sells junk. I recommend not buying anything (with the possible exception of actual Polaroid instant cameras) with the Polaroid name on it. I'd rather license the CyberHome name than the Polaroid name.

[Frank @ May 29th 2006 3:06AM]

#1

Well, I'm very happy with my Kodak C330.
Simple, good battery life, I like the pictures (although I'm no photography expert at all)

129 EUR at Amazon

Guess that makes about 129 USD in the US.
Because retailers can't sell at such prices in the US? (129 EUR equals 177 USD)

[Kevin @ May 29th 2006 8:34AM]

#1

Checkout the Canon SD series cameras as well. They have been making nice small cameras that take great pictures for awhile:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

[Snarky @ May 29th 2006 10:44AM]

#6,#7 Thank you very much for your suggestions.