For photographers who want to do more than just point and shoot, the camera offers several advanced settings, including a multimode flash with slow synchro, adjustable white balance, exposure compensation, and macro (for small objects as little as two inches from the lens). Shots can be captured in black and white or color. If you're hoping for more features like shutter priority, aperture priority, and movie mode, check out Toshiba's PDR-M71.

For power, the camera uses four AA batteries or an optional AC adapter. The big benefit to using standard AA batteries instead of a custom proprietary battery is that AA batteries are available virtually everywhere in the world, so missing a once-in-a-lifetime shot due to dead batteries won't be an issue. The downside is that a digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display. If you're an occasional photographer, you can get by with high-power disposables, but if you plan to take more than a handful of photos a month, a set of rechargeable batteries (scroll up to our Accessories section) is a virtual necessity.

To compose your image, either look through the traditional viewfinder or use the 1.8-inch color LCD display on the back of the camera. Pictures are stored on SmartMedia cards. The included 8 MB card holds approximately nine images at the camera's default setting. The card is reusable, but if you're hoping to take more photos before returning to your computer to transfer the images, you'll want a larger SmartMedia card. The camera recognizes cards up to 64 MB; to use 128 MB cards, you'll need to upgrade the camera's firmware, a free process that can be performed by visiting Toshiba's homepage and downloading the latest version of the camera's operating software.

In addition to its 3x optical zoom, the camera includes an additional 2x digital zoom. This feature merely crops the edges off your picture and blows up the remaining image, enlarging your picture at the expense of image quality. Most photo-editing software will let you do the same thing to your picture once you've transferred it to your home computer, so it's a camera feature that's not often used.

The camera's 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for sharp prints, even at 11 by 14 inches. If you frequently use the digital zoom, print 11 by 14 prints, or crop your photos, you may want the even-higher resolution of the 4-megapixel (and more full-featured) Toshiba PDR-M81.

The PDR-M65 comes with Image Expert software, an 8 MB SmartMedia card, hand strap, USB cable, lens cap, and four AA alkaline batteries. The camera is covered by a one-year warranty.

If you have Win 98 you will more than likely have problems connecting it to your USB. It can be done, but it's a bigger process than the manual states. There are drivers not on the CD-Rom that you need for installation. Their in you computer, but finding them is tricky.

The pictures are great though. Even at the lowest resolution they are incredible. The highest? WOW!! what detail. The included software is great for beginners. If you have Photoshop or the like however, use those instead.

The autofocus is a bit slow. I would've liked a manual option but oh well.

All in all, for a 3.3 Megapixel [at this price]. This is a good deal. I recommend it to any newbies to digital photograpy.


First digital camera   April 15, 2002
Jim R. (Ft. Worth, Texas)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I bought this camera 2 weeks ago. I quickly found out I did not like the placement of the viewfinder. It looks like your thumb is in the way every time. At first, the images did not look that great but I found out it was the software. The software that comes with the camera is OK but not great. I have Photoshop 6.0 and PhotoImpact 6 Web Sudio Pro. What a huge difference the software makes! The same pictures that I thought were terrible looked very good with the PhotoImpact.I read reviews on this camera and some negatives were that you did not have a lot of choices for adjustments (aperture, etc.). Those things were not important to me and i bought it for [price]. I thought that was a pretty good price for a 3.3 Megapixel camera. I also like the fact that I don't have to mess with a lens cap. I have not printed the manual from the CD. I just played around with the controls on my own and the little booklet they give you. It was pretty easy to work with and I've taken about 150 pictures in all types of lighting situations and they range from excellent to pretty good.


Toshiba Digital Still M 65   January 3, 2002
6 out of 9 found this review helpful

Although the camara is easy to use, the software is difficult. Additionally, battery time is < 2 hours of consistent use (alkaline). The USB software for downloading is difficult to use.You can only save to A drive, or a CD. I would like to save it to my ZIP disc (D-drive) so I can use less discs and port it to my other computers which have Zips. The accessories are expensive... I also don't like the fact that you have to print out the manual (105 pages) or read it on CD. For practice use and to learn how to use the camara, you must print it out. My PC won't recognize the USB port for this camara (and there is nothing wrong with the USB port) so I can only use it with my desk top. The "on-line" help is helpless. The Toshiba company places you in a "loop" for Q and A (ie: "here are the most asked questions and answers")!


Get down Digital!!!!!   December 29, 2001
4 out of 11 found this review helpful

I bought this camera, it is a beatiful camera the pictures are better than any film cam can do! If your thinking about this please do it you'll see it was worlth it!!! I got this for my birthday. I took pictures of my familly, Mom,dad,cousin's!
with over 3.0 megagix's your pictures will be as clear as if you were still there. It hook's up to your comp nicely. But it u perfer to take this camera places and not hooked up to the comp u can do that to with the Memery it has.
i say BUY IT!!!