Polaroid i1035 Camera

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 I point this out to indicate that purchasing a slightly out-of-date technology can produce tremendous savings.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.

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.

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