My mother purchased this Polaroid PhotoMAX Fun! Flash 640 camera for me for Christmas. I had checked out several different types of digital cameras, but had decided, that for me, a less expensive one was the way to go. Polaroid has been around for years and years, so I wasn’t worried about the quality of their products or services.
Big mistake on my part.
Let me start off by saying that on paper or on screen, it looks wonderful! This little camera boasts of:
Features
• Self-timer
• Tripod mount
• LCD viewfinder and display
• Sleep mode
• Two resolution settings
• Flash modes: off, auto and force
Specifications
• Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 mode
• No. of pictures: 15 at 640 x 480, 50 at 320 x 240
• Internal memory: 2MB
In reality, this camera is a sham.
The first night I got my camera, I accidentally forgot to turn it off. The automatic shut-off feature (sleep) did not work, so the next morning my batteries were ran down, even though I am using Duracell Ultra batteries. I purchased new batteries, took about 12 photos, and those batteries ran down as well. Meanwhile, the quality of the photos I had taken were very poor. When viewing your image through the LCD screen, it appears very dark, and the photos download dark as well, even when they have been taken in bright sunlight.
I purchased my third set of batteries for the camera, took another 10-15 photos. Guess what? You guessed it, the batteries ran down again.
I did purchase a fourth set of batteries, but I shouldn’t have wasted my money. The camera will not operate at all now, the LCD screen remains black.
I could not return the camera to the place it was purchased because even though I had the receipt, I did not have the box the camera came in. After many struggles with Polaroid (’’Let me talk to your supervisor’’), I finally was able to get some satisfaction. Although initially they would only repair the camera if I paid for it, they finally agreed to repair it free of charge. Although I numerously requested a new, replacement camera, I learned it is against the policy of Polaroid to replace their faulty equipment, although apparently it is their policy to sell faulty equipment.
I do not recommend this camera to anyone. It is worth a few more bucks to purchase a more reliable one.