coldsteel7's Full Review: Polaroid i1035 Titanium Including batteries Digit...
In reviewing the Polaroid i1035 camera, I would point out that my rating is based on the value within the context of the type of camera being reviewed. For photography buffs, this camera costs less than some accessories for high end cameras. The Polaroid i1035 is a point and shoot camera designed for personal use by novice picture takers. This review examines the value of the Polaroid i1035 in comparison with similarly designed point-and-shoot cameras.
When I reviewed the Polaroid i531 in December 2007, I found the value to be exceptional for at the price point. To draw a comparison, the i531 is a 5.0 Megapixel camera. For the same money that I paid for that model just over a year ago, I purchased the Polaroid i1035 at Tiger Direct recently. Actually, it was ten dollars cheaper. The models are similar in many ways, but the i1035 is a 10.0 Megapixel model. I point this out to indicate that purchasing a slightly out-of-date technology can produce tremendous savings. The 5.0 Megapixel cameras at Tiger Direct were priced around $59 and would offer an excellent option at a reasonable price. Finding a point-and-shoot camera that you are comfortable with is probably more important than the individual specs.
The digital cameras at Tiger Direct seem to be cheaper than many of the competitors that I have checked. While in the market for this camera, I found the Tiger Direct prices to be consistently lower. Using the Tiger Direct pricing as a guideline, I found the available point-and-shoot cameras in a price range beginning around forty dollars and running into the three hundred dollar range. For forty dollars, you can purchase a Vuescape 5.0 Megapixel camera. Not a bad entry level price, but the zoom is purely digital at 4X digital zoom. The zoom quality would certainly distort the photo quality at 5.0 Megapixel resolution. This camera has a small, two inch viewing window. At the high end, three hundred dollars will purchase an Olympus Stylus with 12 Megapixel resolution. This camera has an impressive 10X optical zoom alongside a 5X digital zoom. The zoom capacity of this camera make it an excellent option if you need to get close in on the action. But there is a price to pay for that option. As of this writing, the i1035 is available through Amazon.com for only $69.99.
The Polaroid i1035 has a decent 10.0 Megapixel resolution. That is slightly less than the three hundred dollar model, but not shabby in the least. The zoom capability runs 3X optical along with 4X digital. Not quite as powerful, but far less expensive. The 32 MB Flash Memory is slightly less than the 45 MB available in the three hundred dollar model. The expandable memory makes that issue unimportant. I purchased a 2 GB memory card for five dollars to expand the memory beyond my personal needs. The three hundred dollar model has stabilization that is probably superior to the stabilization available in the i1035 model. Of course, the expensive model has cool features like panoramic view…things I am unlikely to take advantage of. So, I consider the added expense to be wasted money. In terms of resolution, the Polaroid i1035 maxes out at 3648 x 2736, which was the same top end as the Nikon Coolpix which cost twice as much.
When I purchased the Polaroid i1035, it was on sale at Tiger Direct for $79.99, marked down from one hundred fifty dollars. In talking to the salesperson, I was advised that the price is likely to hover around that mark even after the sale ends. I looked at a couple of similarly priced models inside the store, after researching the models on-line. I looked at the Kodak Easy-Share M893 which was ten dollars more (also marked down from one hundred fifty dollars). The easy share was slightly smaller than the Polaroid. The LCD display was smaller, 2.7 inches compared to 3 inches for the Polaroid. However, the zoom on the Kodak was better. The Kodak boasts a 3X Optical and 5X Digital zoom. I figure I can do the digital zoom myself, once I download the photographs. The Megapixels on the Kodak came in lower, 8.1 Megapixels, which was one of the deciding factors for me between the two. The Kodak is slightly smaller and lighter weight…4.1 ounces to 4.9 ounces for the Polaroid.
GE had two models available for ten dollars cheaper than thePolaroid. The A835 and A830 were both 8.0 Megapixel cameras with similar features and a slightly better zoom (3x Optical, 4.5X Digital). The GE models were unattractive and slightly less powerful than the Polaroid. For ten dollars more, it seemed like the Polaroid was a better option for me. Canon also offers a Powershot which was priced ten dollars more than the Polaroid. The Powershot A470 was a meager 7.1 Megapixels with a 2.5 inch LCD screen. The optical zoom was a bit better than the Polaroid at 3.4X Optical. I did not like the appearance and odd shape of the Canon. I also did not like the fact that the resolution was so much lower.
The Polaroid i1035 comes with a picture bridge for downloading photographs directly to your computer. The picture bridge is a USB cord that connects to the side of the camera. The camera must be turned on in order to transfer pictures. My computer automatically detected the drivers for the camera and self-installed when I hooked the camera to my computer. The camera was set on the factory default one-minute timer to shut off when not in use. The camera shut off in the middle of downloading my photographs, which interrupted the download. I had to change the setting to three minutes using the camera menu and then downloaded the pictures again. The download process took about a minute and a half for thirty large (over 1MB each) pictures.
The menu on the back of the camera is intuitive (especially if you have used Polaroid cameras in the past). The icons assist in the process of navigating the menu. However, the camera comes with an instruction guide which walks you through the steps to change whatever settings you wish to change. By using the instruction manual to become familiarized with the camera, it won’t take long to be able to do it on the fly. The menu is not overly complicated. The Polaroid i1035 has an automatic flash that detects ambient light to determine if additional flash is needed. I have used the flash indoors, taking several pictures. The flash seemed to work well except in a dark room with large windows that provided ample light in a far corner of the room. In this scenario, the pictures appeared dark and grainy with the flash failing to activate. Aside from this scenario, the flash has produced ample light for crystal clear pictures that have impressed me with their detail.
As with most cameras (and even cell phones), the Polaroid i1035 has a video option. The video is capable of recording clear images while the camera is in motion, without annoying blur. The video resolution is listed at 640 x 480, which was equivalent to similar cameras (such as the Nikon Coolpix) which were quite a bit more expensive. There is a microphone located just below the zoom lens that captures sound along with the video feed. During playback, the sound is provided through a small speaker located on the top ridge of the camera. The video is surprisingly sharp for this price point.
The Polaroid i1035 has a self-timer that allows you to set the camera to snap a photo while giving you time to get in the picture. I have not used this feature, nor do I see any future need for it. It’s there for those who don’t trust strangers to snap a picture during your travels. For $79, I don’t have a lot of problem trusting a stranger with my camera for a few moments.
The battery life seems to be about average for a point and shoot camera. The cheap Chinese batteries that came with the camera lasted longer than I expected. Because the camera has an automatic shut off (that comes preset at one minute) the camera makes an attempt to save juice. The more flash you use, the quicker the batteries will drain. The higher quality battery you use, the less frequently you will be feeding the beast. It doesn’t hurt to have a back-up set of batteries with you…when the batteries start getting low, it doesn’t take long for them dry up on you.
The f-stop range on this camera runs between f/2.9 to f/5.2 which does not limit the like intake into the aperture as much as a higher quality camera. In layman’s terms, which is the best I am capable of, the f-stop is a fraction that equates to the size of the opening that allows light in. Because this camera automatically detects available light, deploying the flash when needed, there is very little requirement for understanding film speeds, f-stop settings or lighting. Suffice it to say, this camera has a limited range of capability. For my use, that is not a problem.
The Polaroid i1035 has a memory expansion slot located next to the batteries inside the battery compartment, which is accessed through a door located in the bottom right of the camera. I purchased a 2 GB memory card, which snaps into place with relative ease. 2 GB should be plenty for normal use, depending on the number of pictures you intend to take and the size settings you have on each photo. At a fairly high resolution, the camera indicates that I have over 400 photographs available using this card (which was only an additional five dollars). When you consider the fact that 400 photographs is equivalent to around sixteen rolls of film, that is an adequate capacity for most uses.
I conducted some color testing with my Polaroid i1035 to determine how true the colors are to the original. Using both the LCD screen and my computer monitor to compare against the original objects, I first did a couple of skin tone tests which looked good to my untrained eye. I then photographed a variety of objects with different textures, patterns and colors. I primarily focused on a rainbow range of colors to determine which colors stayed true. I photographed yellows, greens, reds, blues, pinks, oranges and purples and several colors in between. I also photographed a tightly striped pattern to check for bleeding. The striped pattern held up fine on inspection. I noticed that the flash bleached some of my colors out, but it seemed that each of the colors stayed true. The one exception I noticed was in the red range where it seemed that several of the reds seemed to tilt a little bit toward the orange range. For the price, the color quality seemed more than adequate. If I were photographing for a contest I would use a different camera. The colors in this camera are close, but not perfect.
I considered several options when deciding on a point and shoot camera for my amateur purposes. I intend to use this camera to record football games, vacation memories and family gatherings. The factors I put into this decision included price, size/weight, LCD viewing area, intuitiveness of the function buttons, and Megapixels capability. Most models have a built in flash, so that was not a factor. The timer was also a non-factor in my decision. The amount of memory built into the camera was a slight factor but not important since I intended to expand the memory of whichever camera I purchased. Based on the differences in “included memory,” all of the models I considered would have required expanded memory. I found the Polaroid i1035 to meet or exceed my expectations on all counts. In comparison to other point-and-shoot cameras, I found the Polaroid i1035 to be the best of the lot…all things considered. I would rate this camera five stars out of a possible five.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 79 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
the i1035 compact camera will offer a powerful range of high-end easy-to-use functions. it will allow you to capture those special occasions with life...More at UnbeatableSale, Inc.
Megapixels: 10.0 Megapixels Features: Self Timer, Color TFT LCD Screen Display Size: 3.0 " Zoom: 4.0 X Digital , 3.0 X Optical Memory: 32MB Built In M...More at Amazon Marketplace
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