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Don Wilhelm 27-May-2006 06:37
Hi again Sandy,

Thanks for your May 12th reply. About a week ago, Fry's put the x530 on sale again for $130. The low price still tempts me, but I'll wait to see if Polaroid manages to come out with an improved version or some kind of "fixes" for the assorted problems reported in the x530 forums. Meanwhile, I hope that your "new" x530 stays alive and performs better than your first one.

Best regards,
Don Wilhelm
Menlo Park, CA
Sandy Fleischmann12-May-2006 14:09
Yesterday I ordered a second battery ($40) for my forthcoming x530, so $130 is indeed a good price. All things considered, I'm glad to use the x530, I'll continue to do so. It's not my primary camera, but I appreciate the RAW capability plus Polaroid PhotoPro software which interface with my Sigma SD10 Digital SLR -- so much larger, heavier, bulkier -- the x530 is a take-everywhere camera. Watch the Sigma forum andhttp://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9 galleries for news and new photos.
Don Wilhelm 12-May-2006 06:50
Hi Sandy,

After my last two emails to you, I discovered the x530 and Foveon-related forums at DPReview.com and read the comments there carefully. The problems reported there with the x530 by several people (including you most recently) were enough to scare me away from keeping the x530 that I'd bought several days earlier. Fry's Electronics (a West Coast chain of electronics and home appliance supermarkets) is selling the x530 for $200 (regular price). But, about two weeks ago, they had it on sale for $150 for a couple of days -- and then a few days later -- for just $130 for just one day. I could not resist the $130 price. But then I kept the camera package at home unopened, while I searched for more reviews and forums. After studying and reflecting on them, I returned the camera to Fry's. $130 is not much at all for a Foveon camera, but I decided that I do not want to risk undertaking a big R&D project wrestling with the problematic x530 -- or the troubles of returning the camera to Polaroid for warranty service or replacement.

So, I'll buy a different camera -- but will try to follow Foveon's progress in the hope that an improved x530 will be manufactured -- or that a dependable manufacturer will make a Foveon sensor-based camera that fulfills the promise of the Foveon technology in a point and shoot camera. If I win the Lotto, then maybe I'll buy a Sigma SD10, although I hardly need that much camera.

My thanks to you and all your fellow x530 pioneers who have taken the time to share your experiences with and insights into the camera.

Best regards
Don Wilhelm
Menlo Park, CA
Don Wilhelm 30-Apr-2006 04:48
Hi Sandy,

I appreciate your comments on the Polaroid x530 and the x530 photos you posted. Very nice photos. Is there a chance that you might be writing a review soon based on your experience with the x530?

I haven't owned a camera in more than 30 years and now I'm considering buying a digital camera -- specifically an x530, because I'm intrigued by the Foveon technology -- and so have been searching for guidance via reviews.

I found an April 2005 review from the UK --http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/compentry -- and a very brief (but favorable) one at the amazon.com website.

The UK review (of one of the early models) said that the pre-recall model reviewed is/was very slow in lots of ways and that the LCD image quality was not particularly good.

I found another review last week (but didn't print it out, and now I can't relocate it), which said that there are the usual problems with artifacts -- if shooting in other than the ISO 100 mode. It also recommended always shooting in the raw mode.

If I can't find any good reviews of the revised x530 before I'm ready to buy (in 3-5 weeks), I'll probably opt for one of the 6MP Canon models, since the Canon digital cameras seem to almost always get generally very favorable overall reviews and ratings.

Any comments you might care to offer (or post on your website) will be much appreciated. I assume that you receive lots and lots of questions and requests for comments, so I'll understand if you are not able to respond.

Many thanks and best regards,
Don Wilhelm
Menlo Park, CA
Bonnie Masters 18-Dec-2004 17:44
Hi Sandy,

I've just been enjoying some of your photos, from the link you provided in your e-mail. Yes, I'll bet you would enjoy a photo hunt in the mountains of Colorado.

Happy shooting, Bonnie
Jeff Cochran16-Mar-2004 02:58
Hello, I enjoyed your photos.Thx for sharing. :)
Jeff
http://www.pbase.com/savannahga