![]() ![]() (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). ![]() The LCD monitor is activated by the LCD button (also on the back panel) or by engaging the Macro and Digital Zoom modes. Selections are made with the OK button, which is located directly underneath the Menu button on the back panel. 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). The 2300Z's Mode dial sets the camera's main operation modes, including Record, Play, Setup, Erase, and PC connection. ![]() 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. 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. 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. 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. ![]() (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 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. 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 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). 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). As we'll see though, the 2300Z really doesn't live up to the Polaroid tradition of imaging excellence. The PhotoMAX 2300Z is the first in that series to offer 2-megapixel resolution with a robust imaging software package. 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. 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. 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. ![]()
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