HU: Polaroid x530 w/Foveon

[bmattock]

Three consumer-related cameras have ever been made with the Foveon sensor in them. Two are a bit too expensive for my blood at the moment, but I've been hoping to someday find a Polaroid x530 - cheap PnS digicam with a 4.5 mp (actually what, 1.3?) mp Foveon sensor in it.

Wish granted.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260231762699

I got one, there are two left. They typically sell for a bit more than this used - so I am guessing that unless the market is about to get flooded, I can sell mine for as much as I paid for it after I play with it some if I don't care for it.

I realize that this is not the camera for most folks. Probably only interesting to Foveon fans or people who like to experiment. This HU is for them.

http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=polaroid+x530&ss=2&ct=6


Here is a Flickr slideshow of some x530 photos. Love some of the bright colors, seems to have reasonable macro to.

 

[rich815]

Thanks Bill. I did not even think twice.

 

[rich815]

Looks like someone took the last one after me. Wonder if it's another RFF member?

 

[xayraa33]

Buy the lot of 5 new cameras and sell them to members here.

 

[xayraa33]

what year did the x530 come out?

 

[bmattock]

what year did the x530 come out?

2004, I believe.

 

[bmattock]

Same seller has five on offer again. This may be his unsold 'five for $299' that he previously had listed. I have received notification of shipping on mine, but do not yet have it. Just a HU, therefore.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Polaroid-x530-D...ryZ30018QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[rich815]

Mine arrived. Works fine. Will evaluate the images tonight when I can download and view them on my home computer....

 

[bmattock]

Mine arrived. Works fine. Will evaluate the images tonight when I can download and view them on my home computer....

Dang - still don't have mine...can't wait...sigh.

 

[rich815]

If I end up liking this camera I'm thinking to nail another one just to have in reserve and if nothing more to have two batteries. From what I've found out there the battery, if you want an extra, costs $20-30 USD itself!

 

[rich815]

Dang - still don't have mine...can't wait...sigh.

The seller and I are both in California thus mine came faster I guess (Bill, did you get my PM?).

So far viewing the images on the LCD it does have noise in the dark shadows when shot without flash indoors but as one article on this camera says, treat it like a camera with 100 speed film (and don't push the film "speed") and it will produce very nice, beautiful digital images that do not "look" digital. The outdoor shots look very impressive (again on the LCD---will download and run the raw files thru the software later). But it looks to have great colors, smoother, seemingly "longer" tones and the highlights do not seem to blow out, or have that appearance of such, in so many digicam P&S images.

 

[bmattock]

If I end up liking this camera I'm thinking to nail another one just to have in reserve and if nothing more to have two batteries. From what I've found out there the battery, if you want an extra, costs $20-30 USD itself!

Perhaps not necessary...

http://www.thomasdistributingshop.com/Merkury-MI-LI10B-37v-1200mAh-Battery_p_93-1214-reviews.html

However, not having my camera in-hand, I do not know...just what I'm reading online.

 

[xayraa33]

this seller does not ship to Canada.

 

[bmattock]

this seller does not ship to Canada.

Bummer. Where are you at in Canada? I'm right on the border with Windsor.

 

[xayraa33]

Bummer. Where are you at in Canada? I'm right on the border with Windsor.

I am just east of Toronto.
But just as well, I got to curb this spending on photo gear.. I been told by the lady that controls the household budget.

 

[bmattock]

I am just east of Toronto.
But just as well, I got to curb this spending on photo gear.. I been told by the lady that controls the household budget.

I'm hip, believe me. This came out of the allowance I give myself so that we get the bills paid and I don't resent not having any bloody money. I actually made myself wait a couple paychecks - I was kind of waiting until it built up enough for a SD14 (man are those things getting cheap now) but I saw this and could not wait. Back to zero. Sigh.

 

[xayraa33]

I'm hip, believe me. This came out of the allowance I give myself so that we get the bills paid and I don't resent not having any bloody money. I actually made myself wait a couple paychecks - I was kind of waiting until it built up enough for a SD14 (man are those things getting cheap now) but I saw this and could not wait. Back to zero. Sigh.

I just like to keep a harmonious family life.
And they are usually right about a lot of things.

 

[rich815]

Well, it does have it's short-comings but overall, especially for the price, I like it. It has the least digital look I've seen in digital images, particularly in control of highlights and seemingly smoother and longer tonal range. My digital shots from my Sony F717 and my wife's Panasonic LX1 are good but sometimes in high contrast situations the highlights get easily blown and the tonal range seems a bit compact. The weaknesses are very evident and are discussed all over the web for this camera (slow AF, slow write-speed, especially for RAW, cheap-feeling, plastic body, a bit bulky, etc.) but as I mentioned if treated as a camera with 100 speed film it can give some very nice results. Just does not have the muscle of the newer digital cameras that can shoot from 100-1000+ speeds and lightning fast AF. But then again for someone who over dislikes color digital for all but basic family snaps (and then mostly for film savings and convenience) the Foveon chip gives less of a clinical and plasticky look to the images and I like that. Limited uses but for that it can be nice. I would have been upset paying $300 for this camera but for $65 it's worth it just to play around with a Foveon chip.

A few quick samples attached here and in the next post.

 

[rich815]

A few more...

 

[rich815]

Wow, those look a lot better on my home desktop monitor than on my work laptop....and it seems some JPEG compression came into play on uploaded too. Oh well. The prints are quite nice, BTW, too.