The Polaroid PDC 1300 is a potent little point-and-shoot digital camera. The 1.3-megapixel CCD captures images at 1,280 x 960--great for almost anything. A 2x digital zoom makes up for the lack of an optical one at the cost of some image resolution. A built-in flash helps ensure good photos and features a red-eye reduction mode. For those who like the look of old photos, the Polaroid lets you take black-and-white pictures. The PDC 1300 is good for just about any purpose and is a great tool for sharing photos with your friends and loved ones. Not only can you make great quality prints, but you can also post the images on your Web site or e-mail them to your friends.
1 Had some challenges but worked them out
Well, I too have faced some of the challenges that you have all mentioned and once I worked them out, I have been very pleased with this camera.
I received it as a gift and found immediately that it wouldn't load on XP - quick trip to Polaroid.com and I found easy instructions on how to install it on XP - now it works - I agree about the Win2000 issues though - what's up with that?
Then I had the issues with the camera freezing up, weird pictures, stopped working, etc - then a guy at Circuit City suggested I buy a new memory card - I did and was able to take 100 pictures in a row without error. Haven't had problems with that since.
I have also encountered the battery issues - however, I found that if I keep the LCD off (which I prefer anyway) and, this is the key, use RECHARGEABLE batteries specifically for electronic devices - I've had much better luck with the battery - again, took over 100 pictures with flash.
Is this a lot of work - sure, but it was a gift and was better than nothing so I tried to figure it out. Now that I have, I really like it and have some pretty good pictures as a result.
2 XP Distaster
The PDC1300 software does notwork with Windows XP and I cannot find an update.
3 support needed
I have a hp computer with pentum 4 program ,windows XP and i can not load it on to my computer to view my pictures. Can you send me a disk that will work with windows XP.
4 not good service
latch on door breaks very easily and cost to fix is [money] had to take 2 back and 3rd one had to pay the cost plus shipping. Pictures are excellent but would not buy again. Feel like it is poor quality..
5 Learn how to use a camera before bashing it
I have used this camera for a while and it takes a real nice pictures. ...The freezing up problem is caused by a corrupt picture (called Polaroid) and is an easy fix. As for short battery life all cameras have this problem. I've been in the tech field for about 10 years and know how these things work and why they don't. ...If you format the card through Windows (as someone did) don't expect the card to work in the camera. Windows formats cards using FAT32. Digital cameras use FAT16. Guess why it doesn't work. Overall the camera is not perfect but if you are willing to take 2 seconds to do it correctly ...you may have a little better luck. A good deal for under [the money].
6 This camera ...!!!
I recieved this camera as a Christmas gift. The very first time I tried to take a picture, it froze up on me and the only way I could do anything with it was to remove the batteries. As soon as I tried to take another picutre, it did the same thing all over again. I returned the camera and got my money back because the store didn't have any more in stock for an exchange. Later, I bought another camera - same model. This time, I can take 4 or 5 pictures and it freezes up again! Unfortunately, I bought the second camera at a store that went out of business so I'm stuck... can't return it! DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$ ON THIS CAMERA.
7 Good For Basic Use
My wife is an avid 35mm camera buff and is still not sold on digital photography. Well I came across a good deal on a Polaroid PDC 1300 camera and despite some shortcomings, I am quite impressed of what you get for the price.
First of all, Windows XP users may be a bit frustrated. The camera will not work with the simple and easy to use "built in" digital camera software that works so well with scanners and other input devices. So, you have to install the Polaroid software though a compatibility wizard. It installs but I was unable to use the USB cord, so I had to go with the much slower (seems like it) serial plug. A good solution would be to spend a little extra money and get a universal CompactFlash reader that works like a disk device in Windows XP. Makes it much easier!
Now, on to the camera. It takes really good pictures. They are clear and crisp at all resolutions. The only bad picture I had was when I was taking pictures outside at dusk. They seemed to be quite dull. There isn't an adequate zoom on the camera, so you really have to move in to fill the frame. The LCD screen and the menu options work quite well and are an added bonus for the low cost to the camera.
The included software is pretty basic but if basic is what you want, XP's software is much easier and faster to use. Windows 95/98/ME users will have no problems installing the software.
The camera consumes the batteries quite quickly, so be sure to turn it off when not in use. The LCD screen also eats a lot of power. When the batteries are low, there really is no warning and when you go to take a picture, it will flash and then turn off. I would recommend taking a pocketful of batteries with you on trips.
It also includes a USB and Serial cord, a protective case and an 8 Meg card. I would recommend getting at least a 32 meg card.
Overall, if you can find this camera [at a good price it is] very good for basic use. Those wanting more features are better off with one with more "bells and whistles."
8 Argh!
I've had the PDC1300 for a while now and have used it on several occasions. Yes, the battery life is very short and my unit has developed some display wackiness. What I'm most concerned about is the CompactFlash.
I've been using a SanDisk CompactFlash reader rather than the built-in USB to fetch the pictures from the unit. Works great. Until I decided to erase all the pictures on the card by formatting it in Windows. Now the camera refuses to access the CompactFlash card. The CompactFlash card works fine in Windows.
Polaroid tells me I need to find a friend with a more advanced camera to reformat the card in a way compatible with the PDC1300. This really, really bugs me. It also makes me afraid to buy a new CompactFlash card for the unit. How do I know, before trying it in the camera, if a new CompactFlash card has a format compatible with the camera?
So right now I have no camera as a result of doing something really simple and obvious to the CompactFlash card. I have a perfectly working CompactFlash card, except the camera refuses to use it. And I have no confidence that a CompactFlash card I buy off the shelf won't have a format the camera doesn't like. I am not happy.
9 Incredibly bad product and service
The kit was supposed to be complete except for batteries. It arrived without: memory card (so would not function even if it worked), serial cable, wrist strap, camera case, quickstart guide, users guide. The camera will not even power up on batteries (does using an AC adapter). SO NO VALUE at all. Obviously this kit had ZERO inspection. NO REPLY TO EMAILS. this is the worst experience that I have had buying from an online vendor.
10 Unnecessarily low-quality
Yes, I know this is a moderately-priced camera. That's no excuse for not providing Windows 2000-compatible drivers, for having serial-cable downloads that take house (sometimes), or for having a USB cable that never worked at all.
Also note that a set of batteries lasts about half an hour, so you'd better make good use of the AC adapter!
Also note that the camera is not Mac-compatible.
11 What a piece of [junk]...
My folks bought one of these cameras...it just quit working all together...after less than 2 weeks and less than 100 pics taken! It was like a computer freezing up; nothing worked at all. What a piece of junk.
12 a camera for beginners
Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 1300 and HP c215 share the same platform, design, features and functionality. There's almost no change in it. The one I have is the hewlett packard version.
I bought the camera last summer when I was having a vacation abroad. The first few weeks of the cam's operation are quite nice, though I experienced some horrible breakouts in the battery consumption (as mentioned by others who reviewed the same product). A month later, I came back to my country, and problems went out from time to time. First, there's the inconsistent memory failure. The counter works strange, it actually skips numbers and goes back to where it started. Sometimes, when I scrolled up and down, indefinite numbers as high as thousands would suddenly appear and suddenly the whole camera hangs itself. I took the camera to the repair shop and they told me that they had no one to repair it. So, it was like saying my camera's gonna be a .... After hours of arguing with them, they told me that they're gonna ship the camera back to US and had there repaired. A week after, they told me that the camera's was just working out fine. And I myself could not believe what had just happened to it. Isn't that camera strange?
Anyweys, the camera still worked fine. Because of its fast draining battery consumption, I was forced to buy separate rechargeable Ni-MH batteries and recharger. It costs almost .... Despite all these inconveniences, Im still happy with this cam. Features are just satisfactory. One noticeable low-down is that flash is relatively late in delay time. The menu is also a bit choppy. Well, after all this cam's target is the low-end beginners like me.
13 Polariod PDC 1300 digital camera
I was enjoying the camera until I bought a compact flash card.
I tried to remove the original card,but it was not easy.
I inserted the new flash card and the pins inside the camera were bent in the process. Now I have a camera with no memory.
I was very upset. I emailed Polaroid twice and I have yet to hear from them as to how to get the camera fixed.
Meanwhile I tried straighten the pins to no avail.
I bought the camera in June of 2001. I was learning how to use a digital camera. I was doing fine until this.
Now I have a new 64 mb memory card for a new camera that I can not use anymore.
I am still waiting for Polaroid to email me back with some help.
If I hear from them I will let you know.
14 Useless with windows 2000
I just received this camera as a gift and when I went to load the software it was incompatable with windows 2000. After calling customer support I was told that no drivers are available for windows 2000 and they were unable to tell me when they will be available. You would think a company of Polaroids size would be able to keep up with the times.
15 Save you money and buy a quality camera
I bought this camera and actually got the pictures to download one time through th usb cable, never through the serial. It never downloaded again. The lcd didn't work right. It only showed half the picture and half the time you could not even get it to come on. The one time it downloaded, the pictures did look good. I called support a number of times and that was a total waste of time. Three different people, three totally different answers and no help at all. Finally took the camera back and exchanged it. More problems than before. Forget this camera. Save your money and buy a decent camera like the Olympus D-450 or Sony Cybershot.
16 it could be better
i recieved this camera as a christmas present and was initially very pleased with it. however, once i started using it more i began having problems. the camera would click and then shut off without taking a picture. if i put brand new batteries in it, it will work, but after about 10 pictures it starts doing that shutting off thing again. i talked to polaroid and they basically told me that the batteries will not last long and that's the problem. i rarely use it now because the batteries won't last (even if i don't use the lcd monitor). also, it won't keep an accurate record of how many pictures i've taken. i don't think it's right when it tells me how charged the batter is either, because it says it still has half a life and then it shuts down due to batteries. all it all, shop around before you buy this one!
17 Hope you have better luck than I.
I bought this camera and had nothing but trouble with it. I got a really good deal and thought I'd try it. I ended up returning it to the store and did not get another. I didn't want another! I had lots of trouble with the camera freezing and had to do things over and over AND OVER!! It drove me crazy. I am giving up on cheaper digitals and going for something decent the next time.
18 Great camera for the price
I've owned my Polaroid pdc1300 for a couple of months now and I am very happy with it. I actually bought a Kodak dc3200 ...just before I saw this one, but the pdc1300 was on sale ...with a ...rebate - I couldn't pass it up! So, I had time to test out the two cameras. They have similar features but the pdc1300 goes one better on a number of features: 1.) higher res photos 2.) USB and parallel download 3.) macro mode (photos are quite clear) 4.)Flash works great even close up - doesn't white out the subject 5.) Slightly larger LCD 6.) AC adapter included. Positives: Very easy to use, great pictures, great price. Battery life is actually pretty good if LCD is kept to minimal use. Some negatives: long delay when taking picture, no lens cap, indoor photos are a touch dark (but easily fixed with a bit of photo editing) while outdoor photos are slightly bluish, poor photo editing software.
19 I Love This Camera
I had been looking to buy a low-end digital for a few months. When I saw this one on sale recently, I bought it. I am extremely happy with it. If you turn it off when you are not using it and if you plug it in when possible, the batteries will last a lot longer. It turns itself off after a few minutes, so the batteries will not drain if you forget.
The pictures are great. Even when taken at the poorest quality, which allows 78 pictures on the card, and printing on plain paper, they look decent.
The software is easy to use and a lot of fun. You can play with the pictures and turn them into card, novelties, etc.
20 ...
This camera is horrible! It had problems the third day I used it to take pictures. The camera froze up on me and the only way that I got it to work again was to take the battery out and restart it. Polaroid told me that it was the flash card and sent me a replacement to fix the problem. Then it happened again, the camera froze and I lost all the pictures that I took. Then I called polaroid again and they told me that it was the camera. I sent the camera into repairs and they said that their was nothing wrong with the camera and sent it back to me without doing a thing about it. They even had the nerve of telling me that I needed to insert the flash card correctly to have it working properly. Now, they want to send me a refurbished camera to replace the camera that I currently have. Hell NO! I don't want anything from Polaroid, that company is crap and the camera is crap. If I could give this camera a rating of ZERO I would. DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!
21 Great Memory Keeper
Ilove this camera! I paid a lot less for it though. It was an X-mas present, so I could capture all of my daughters growing up. It is easy to use, and I love the software. I have done amazing things with the pictures I have taken. I am even using the "new" versions of the pictures to paint. That's something I couldn't have even imagined doing, without all of the editing capabilities. There are 2 drawbacks though, you need to pre-plan the picture, it's delayed between the time you hit the button, and actually taking the picture. Also, either use the AC adaptor,or use rechargeable batteries, it kills them quickly. [...], if you us the camera correctly for the situation, and have a good printer, the printing quality is better than most cameras. I recommend the HP Photo Smart P1000 printer. All in all, this camera is a better than more expensive cameras, at a cheaper price.
22 Polaroid PDC 1300
I saved for a long time to buy this camera. I have had some trouble with the pc card. When I take a picture it takes to long to take a picture. I have took alot of pictures of him and when the camera decides to take it he has moved and i have a picture of something else that is around him. I have to put new batteries in it very 15 to 20 pictures or take them out when I get done useing it so I dont have to buy batteries every day. And the printing quality is not that great either. I am not very pleased with the camera as you can tell and I thought it would be a good choice to buy something like this but i was wrong.
23 Great Cam!
Bought one about one and a half month ago, and its of very good value for the money. Battery life could be better, but we cant expect miracles with an lcd display. Love it!
