5 Megapixel Digital Camera $150 (Gateway T50)

[shadowjack]

WorstBuy has the Gateway T50 5.25 megapixel digital camera (a rebranded Toshiba PDR-5300) for $150.

Specs:
* 5.25-megapixel CCD for high-resolution prints up to 11" x 14"
* 3x optical/4x digital/12x total zoom
* 1.5" TFT LCD; optical viewfinder with zoom

Most of the reviews aren't kind: it is slow and has low quality. But they were reviewing a $400 camera; as the price drops so do expectations. I'm sure for lots of purposes this is just fine.

Go to www.bestbuy.com and search for "DC-T50". (I can't figure out how link it directly without a time-sensitive ID in the URL.)

These are out of stock online, but many local stores still have them.

I'm not buying one and don't have any more information. I just wanted to pass this along given all the great tips I've gotten from AnandTech. Your mileage may vary.

I dug out some information so you can make an informed decision.

Review of the T50:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/t50.html

This camera is a rebranded Toshiba PDR-5300. Reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/review...ba/toshiba_pdr5300.asp
http://www.steves-digicams.com...3_reviews/pdr5300.html

Some other reviews, which are not as kind:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1300530,00.asp
http://reviews.cnet.com/Gatewa...5-6501_7-30527040.html

That's all I know! (Honest!)

 

[GoingUp]

The gateway stores had these for $80 when they were going out of business and I wouldnt even touch them. They get god awful reviews.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
The gateway stores had these for $80 when they were going out of business and I wouldnt even touch them. They get god awful reviews.

Not to trash your thread, but I did hear the same thing about these cameras. I would personally invest my money in a Canon A60(2 Megapixel) vs. a Gateway 5 Megapixel camera.

 

[shadowjack]

fibes: Not to trash your thread, but I did hear the same thing about these cameras. I would personally invest my money in a Canon A60(2 Megapixel) vs. a Gateway 5 Megapixel camera.

No offense taken; I didn't endorse it and I'm not buying one.

I've got a 2.1 megapixel Fuji FinePix with zoom, and I'm really happy with it, even if it is a few years out of date. (Nothing like a decent sensor with a good lens.) Anything I really care about I shoot on film with my manual camera.

I just wanted to pass along the potential deal with a YMMV warning. (I think it's probably as good as any consumer digital camera in its class, and some of them sell for twice the price. )

 

[klingsor]

I bought this camera a few months ago and despite some mixed reviews my personal experience has been very good. It has more features than most cameras in it's class, letting you either be a point and clicker or a micromanaging f-stop tweaker. And the quality of photos it takes is better than any digi I have owned (I'm on #6 now) I highly recommend this camera. Give it a chance at this price, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

It's only drawback is speed, it takes a moment to start up and has a fairly long shutter lag.

 

[ericlp]

Steve's Conclusion....

As they say, size isn't everything and, in the case of the DC-T50, the 5-megapixel imager is not able to overcome the color balance and shooting performance issues we experienced; we honestly can't recommend this camera.

That is the FIRST time I've heard steve say ANYTHING (BAD) about a cam. So, if he says to stay away I would....Usually he gives glowing reviews to cams that I think suck.

 

[caivoma]

"sually he gives glowing reviews to cams that I think suck"
lol

 

[klingsor]

I saw Steve's negative review and was very surprised by it, as I think he is pretty accurate on most cameras (though he often skims over shutter lag).

I've had no negative experience with color balance or any such thing. There was a review in Mobile PC magazine last month that was absolutely on-spot.

So again, arm yourself with data from user reviews, most of these bozos here are repeating things they have heard or read. You will notice that no one who owns this camera dislikes it.

This camera takes very fine photos.

I have some photos I took with this camera on my last trip to Zion National Park. I don't know how to post them here but if you want me to email you one or two, just ask. I don't want to give out my new Gmail address here (when are they going to pass a law about spammers?), so PM me with the request. :beer:

 

[girishkr]

Originally posted by: klingsor
I bought this camera a few months ago and despite some mixed reviews my personal experience has been very good. It has more features than most cameras in it's class, letting you either be a point and clicker or a micromanaging f-stop tweaker. And the quality of photos it takes is better than any digi I have owned (I'm on #6 now) I highly recommend this camera. Give it a chance at this price, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

It's only drawback is speed, it takes a moment to start up and has a fairly long shutter lag.

I agree, I bought this camera and I am not at all disappointed with it. Works great except for the long shutter lag and time taken for the next picture to be clicked. Picture quality is great. I also own a kodak 4 MP camera and i don't see much difference between the photo quality between the two.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: klingsor
I saw Steve's negative review and was very surprised by it, as I think he is pretty accurate on most cameras (though he often skims over shutter lag).

I've had no negative experience with color balance or any such thing. There was a review in Mobile PC magazine last month that was absolutely on-spot.

So again, arm yourself with data from user reviews. This camera takes very fine photos.

I have some photos I took with this camera on my last trip to Zion National Park. I don't know how to post them here but if you want me to email you one or two, just ask. I don't want to give out my new Gmail address here (when are they going to pass a law about spammers?), so PM me with the request. :beer:

Just search off-topic for some hosting options (all free)... I would love to see pictures from this camera.

 

[LennyZ]

after taking 100's of pictures with this camera my only complaint is the shutter lag.
i love it!

 

[rgb213]

Horrible camera, great price. I guess this would be a good thing to buy and resell to those less fortunate in the knowledge department

 

[klingsor]

Sweet! My first web site! Here is a link to four phots I've taken with this camera

My sample DC-T50 photo page

 

[beserker15]

thanks for the pics, they look pretty nice. Here's a pic resized to 1600x1200.
*copy and paste link for picture to work

 

[Beldar]

You can get one here

 

[dym]

owned one, sold it as I didn't like it... I think the quality of the product is not always consistent...
I'm happy with my FZ10 now...