Features

• Compact case with carrying strap
• 4 NiMH rechargeable batteries
• Battery charger
• AC adapter

Reviews (2)

Decent, but not great
As far as the bag goes. Well, it's kind of a generic fit. Apparently HP uses it for several cameras. I don't care for the bag, it is functional though. The problems with the bag:

For one thing, the 735 camera is not a good fit. It goes in behind a tight elastic strap. If you aren't paying attenion, you end up turning the camera on as you slide it in. Of course, the lens extends then, and if you've got the bag tightly packed with batteries, I'm afraid the lens motor would be damaged. This is easy enough to avoid, but that one time you aren't paying attention..... Secondly there is just no good way to store batteries. The main compartment is divided by an elastic strap. The strap doesn't go to the bottom of the bag. Therefore, batteries are always getting up under the camera, and just aren't where they are "Supposed" to be when you need them. Minor annoyances, yes, but it would have been SO EASY to make the silly bag without this nonsense!

Batteries and charger: I have NOT had problems with the batteries like some said. I did follow the directions and charge them up, then run them fully down several times. Since I did that, they hold up better than alkalines. Maybe the others had bad batteries, or maybe they hadn't exercised them enough.

Bottom line. For the price it's pretty good, since you get 4 batteries. If you're watching your money, get this kit and you'll be fine. If you want or can afford something better, I'd skip it and get a better bag from a camera store.

Doesn't hold a charge
Not worth the money spent on it. After reviewing info on my new digital camera I followed suggestions to get the rechargeable batteries kit to save money on AA batteries. I did not need the camera case that came with this kit, and it really had too many pockets for my liking. The batteries did not hold a charge. I only got a few pictures taken before they went dead. If the spare set sat in the camera for a few days they too were dead. At least I got a full set of pictures taken on the duracell ones. I would much rather buy batteries and have them on hand then always be running back to the charger after a few shots. I have had no experience with rechargables before so I do not know if this is common. But I returned this item as a defect because for this amount of money you should get more then six pictures per charge. ... Read more

Features

• Compatible with HP Photosmart 618/618xi and Photosmart 912/912xi digital cameras
• Input: 100-240 volts, 0.5 Amps, 50-60 Hz
• Output: 9 volts, 1.33 Amps

Reviews (3)

Caused the camera to short-circuit
Don't bother. After searching forever for an adapter for my PS618 camera I finally found one for sale here. During its first use the camera shut down and, after an hour on the phone with HP tech support, I discovered that it was this piece-of-garbage adapter. No wonder why very few retailers are offering this item.

This adapter is only for HP Photosmart models 618, 912
According the the back of the box, this adapter is only for HP Photosmart models 618, 912. Of course, I only found this out after buying it to use it with a Photosmart 315 model, which it doesn't fit!

Make sure you know the correct adapter for your camera
This adapter does not fit the HP Photosmart 715 camera. I just received it, and thought it would fit all HP digital cameras, as it isn't specified otherwise in the listing. I don't know which HP cameras it fits, but it's not the Photosmart 715. Some more information is needed under this product listing regarding which cameras this adapter is suitable for. Save yourself some return postage! ... Read more

Features

• 1-megapixel CCD sensor creates 1,152 x 872 images for prints up to 4 by 6 inches
• 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 8 MB CompactFlash memory card holds 17 images at default resolution
• Connects to PCs and Macs via serial port
• 4 AA batteries included; features slide-show mode and red-eye reduction

Reviews (2)

I love this camera!
I recieved this camera 2 years ago as a Christmas gift. Both the camera and the software are exceptionally easy to use. I've even used the software to edit scanned photos.

The quality of the pictures is "okay" on low-resolution but wonderful on highest resolution. I suggest buying a larger flash memory card so you can keep the setting on high resolution and still take loads of pictures.

After having this camera dropped causing a misalignment that rendered the download cable unusable, and finding that a repair would cost more than the camera (HP then tried to sell me their $200 photo printer as a "fix") I purchased a Sandisk Flash Memory Card Reader for $30 and I wouldn't live without one. Just wish I'd known sooner because the flash memory card reader has saved me a ton of money on batteries. I no longer have to keep the camera on to download the photos and it virtually eliminates downloading time. I will be buying flash memory card readers for several people on my christmas list!

Great Starter Camera
This is my first digital camera. I think it is easy to use, andHP packages it with useful software and cable connections. For (this price) you can't find to many cameras that come with 8MB of storage. Its' red eye reduction, auto focus, and zoom functions really help to create some terrific photos. Also HP has provided me with great customer support. They send emails with creative ideas, and have a website for support also. ... Read more

Features

• 1 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 4 x 6 prints
• 2x digital zoom with autofocus
• Included 8 MB SmartMedia card holds 24 images at default resolution
• Connects to PCs via serial port
• 4 AA batteries included

Reviews (68)

Great Value!
As an entry level digital camera, this is a great value. For $299 I wasn't expecting miracles, but I've been very impressed so far with this camera. Photo quality indoors, even at the lowest resolution, is amazingly good for Web work. Outdoors photos can sometimes get a little washed out, typically in very high contrast situations.

Other reviewers have mentioned their frustration with very short battery life. I too experienced this for the first few days. Expecting the 500 photos per set of 4 AA batteries the manual told of, I was very disappointed when I got maybe 30-35 shots before having to put in fresh batteries! I later learned that two things contributed to the short battery life. (1) Constant use of the flash. This situation can be fixed by turning off the auto flash when not needed, especially in most outdoor situations. (2) Constant use of the LCD screen. I thought it was cool at first, that you didn't even have to use the viewfinder--just frame your shots on the LCD! Come to find out, doing this sucks the life out of the batteries super fast. So use the traditional viewfinder to take pictures; if you're not sure how the picture came out and want to review it, use the LCD screen.

Lately, following the two rules above, I've been getting 200-300 pictures per set of batteries--including about 30-50 with the flash on. This is perfectly acceptable.

HP's $50 AC adapter should be priced at about $9.99. Instead, buy yourself a good quality set of rechargeable batteries and a charger (you can find them for about $30). This is a much more flexible solution that an AC adapter, especially if you get the 12 volt adapter for the charger so you can charge your batteries while on the road!

U get what U pay 4!
I dont get it....some people are praising this camera for its battery life, do you people ever turn on the LCD? I get about 20 pictures per set of fresh alkaline. I don't think the camera is defective simply because it has a 1.25 amp current rating. I wouldn't expect 4 AA batteries to maintain that output for very long. I turned to my RC-Car hobby for a solution, and constructed a 6 volt battery pack using 5, 1500mha sub-c ni-cad cells. Then went to radio shack and found the appropriate connector to plug into the ac-power jack. now I easily get 100 pictures while using the LCD, and best of all.. the sub-c ni-cads only take 10 minutes to charge.also.... the picture quality is severely lacking, and cant even compare to scanned 4x6 prints taken with my 35mm. The only thing I like about this camera is the price.

Photo imaging
I am very happy with my camera but I am having a problem with the computer reading the camera for photo imaging. I have the imaging software on my home and work computer but they both say that it cannnot read the camera. I have check everything but it still will not work. Can you help with my problem? Thank you.

What a "GREAT" Camera!
This is one of the BEST looking/feeling Camera I have ever had - it does "NOT" have that Cheap Look to it like so many do - it is easy to use & the pictures are 'Nice' looking! It is such a 'great' Camera that I bought my Dad one - he LOVES it! Since, there is Miles between me & my Parents we send photo's often to each other. So, if anyone is looking into buying one of these - DO IT - You won't be Sorry :-)

ok for the price, but trouble downloading photos
The serial port download is slow and unreliable - no longer works at all. Plan to purchase a separate USB Compact Flash reader. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The HP Photosmart 120 combines point-and-shoot simplicity with the versatility of digital technology. You can view your photographs and video clips instantly on the "transflective" LCD screen (reflective outside, backlight indoors). It also enables quick and easy download to your PC, and offers great software with a host of features for sharing your special moments and memories.

The PS120 features a 2x digital zoom fixed-focus lens. It's powered by four AA batteries, and you can use optional NiMH rechargeable batteries. Save images to the internal 4 MB flash memory. The PS120 also includes a built-in CompactFlash card slot for adding extra memory.

The PS120 comes with a USB cable, user's guide, four AA batteries, HP photo-imaging software, and Hemera greeting-card software. ... Read more

Features

• 1.0-megapixel CCD creates prints up to 4 by 6 inches
• 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 4 MB CompactFlash memory card holds up to 36 images
• Connects to PCs via USB port
• Includes auto flash with red-eye reduction; 4 AA batteries included

Reviews (31)

Excellent Value for Money
This is my first digital camera and I'm very pleasantly surprised at the quality it delivers. At Amazon's price you can't get a deal on digital cameras that gives you better value for money. The pictures are big and clear...especially in sunlight...so if you're not a professional photographer...the quality is more than adequate. The bad bits: 2x digital zoom means you have to keep moving forward and backward to adjust your picture's composition. I'd have liked optical zoom...but what was I expecting buying a point and shoot camera at this price? I'm fine with the small LCD display. I care more about the pictures. You'll need to be savvy with the camera controls to get best results...but overall its a great deal. Way to go Amazon and HP!

Nice for the price
I own several cameras and had been casually looking at digital cameras for some time. My sense was that they are all much too expensive for their performance and that anything on the market today will be obsolete in a month. I picked up this camera as a close-out floor model for a very, very low price--- less than a quarter of list. I have found it to be a nice, convenient email photo camera with simple, easy-to-master controls. It's great for all those casual photos I don't want to spend a lot of effort or any money on. Limitations: slow action, LCD very hard to see in sunlight, and closeups are pretty much impossible, which was the biggest disappointment but not a huge surprise. I am very pleased with the camera at the price I paid, but I will stick with my Nikon SLR for quality shots. Judging from the reviews I have seen of even very high end digital cameras, the technology has quite a ways to go before I'm willing to invest much money in it.

HP PS120 1.0MP Digital Camera Review
Including a lens cap would have been useful. It is very easy to scratch the exposed lens surface. The LCD is weak but the camera makes decent pictures. I bought it for my son's second digital camera (he was six at the time) and he loves it. Now we need a CF card to hold more images between shooting and downloading.

This camera ..
Bought this camera in about 3 months ago for around $5o; I guess the pictures are okay especially when there's adequate lighting (such as outdoors). The flash totally washes the pictures out (wouldn't recommend using unless it was really dark). LCD screen is small but it works. Unfortunately the camera is already defective - it only turns on half the time even with new batteries, but what do you expect for $5o.

The best 1 MP camera on the Market!
This Camera is AWESOME for a begginer digital Photographer and for kids. It has a bright LCD screen, many wonderful features, and awesome picture quality. The ACDsee system works quite well and the HP share to Web software is Excellent. This Camera is good for indoor and outdoor use. Also comes with a video recording system that-on the internal Memory-you can take 30 second videos WITHOUT sound. There is an SD memory card slot and many more features. GREAT VALUE! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With a sleek exterior and intuitive easy-to-use features, the 3.2-megapixel HP Photosmart M307 digital camera is small and light enough to take with you anywhere. Packaged with HP's PhotoSmart 145 photo printer, you'll be able to create beautiful 11-by-17-inch enlargements without the use of a PC. The Photosmart M307 digital camera has an aluminum front and rubberized back. It features a 3x optical zoom, large 1.8-inch LCD, 16 MB of internal memory, and compatibility with Secure Digital memory cards.

PhotoSmart 145 Photo Printer
HP's compact and lightweight PhotoSmart 145 photo printer delivers high 4,800 dpi resolutions images, in crisp detail and vibrant color, right to the palm of your hand. Producing 4-by-6-inch borderless prints in approximately 90 seconds, the 2.9 pound PhotoSmart 145 is able to print directly from your digital camera's memory card, so you can literally print at any time, anywhere.

With four built-in memory card slots, you'll have no worries about compatibility either. The PhotoSmart 145 accepts CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card, and xD-Picture Card media, so it's compatible with virtually any digital camera. And, a built-in two-line LCD enhances navigation and easily guides you through each task. The HP PhotoSmart 145 offers USB connectivity for easy connection to your PC or Mac and comes with a complete bundle of photo and imaging software to let you edit images and even create custom photo slide shows, which can be saved to a CD.

Optics and Resolution
The Photosmart M307 has a 3.2-megapixel resolution for images up to 2048 x 1536 for print enlargements up to 11 by 17 inches. I also offers a 1280 x 960 (1MP) and 640 x 480 (VGA) pixel options. The autofocus 3x optical zoom lens (6-18mm; 40-111mm equivalent in 35mm photography) also offers a 5x digital zoom, for 15x total.

Movie and Audio Modes
In addition to capturing still images, the Photosmart M307 can also record video with sound that's limited only by the available memory (either internal or external memory card). Videos are captured at 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA) at 30 frames per second (fps). You can also make voice recordings of up to 60 seconds.

More Features
With a metallic finish, asymmetric body styling, signature curves and "wave-style" fingergrip, as well as clear and natural controls, this digital camera provides convenience and comfort. Its large 1.8-inch color LCD screen has a high 130-pixel resolution and can be easily viewed even in outdoor conditions. The fast-shot mode ensures that no photo opportunities go to waste, with a rapid shutter lag for capturing all the action.

Storage and Transfer
The internal 16 MB memory can store eight images at the Best 3-megapixel setting (with each image approximately 1.6 MB). The camera also has a memory card slot that accepts Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) cards.

HP Instant Share
HP Instant Share makes sharing, printing, and saving digital photos easy. With 34 programmable e-mail destinations, the user is able to share digital images with individuals or address lists straight from the camera. When the digital camera is later connected to a computer, either directly or via the optional camera dock, thumbnails of the selected photos are automatically sent to the pre-selected destination without burdening the recipient with large file attachments. E-mail recipients see thumbnails of the images in the body of the e-mail message, as well as a link to the web page where they can easily view, print, save, and upload the photos to online albums.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by two AA batteries; two photo lithium AA batteries are included, but NiMH rechargeable batteries are recommended for their longer life while shooting. The Photosmart M307 measures 1.4 x 4.3 x 2.1 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Photosmart M307 digital camera, PhotoSmart 145 photo printer, HP 57 tri-color cartridge, two AA photo lithium batteries, USB cables (for connecting to PC and to printer), wrist strap, CD-ROM with HP Image Zone software for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh and American Greetings Create & Print Greeting Cards software. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2-megapixel sensor creates 2,080 x 1,544-pixel images for photo-quality 8 x 10 enlargements
• 3x optical plus 5x digital zoom (for 15x total)
• 1.8-inch diagonal LCD; records MPEG-1, QVGA video; 7 shooting and 4 capture modes
• Compatible with Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card (SD/MMC); includes 16 MB internal memory
• Powered by 2 AA photo lithium batteries; connects to PCs and Macs via USB

Amazon.com Product Description

Here's the recipe for a terrific series of digital cameras: start with the electronic-imaging expertise of Hewlett-Packard (HP), whose printers and scanners are among the most popular in the world. For great optics, add five decades of camera-making experience from Pentax. The result? HP's new lineup, featuring the C912 and C912xi (identical except for the software that comes with them) as its twin flagship models. These two cameras offer an intriguing set of features not offered by any other manufacturer (except Pentax, which also sells this model as the EI2000).

Though virtually every other digital camera uses a rangefinder setup, the C912 is a true single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. Light entering the lens is split by a prism: most is sent to the camera's sensor, but some goes up to the viewfinder. When you look through the viewfinder, the image you see is coming through the lens, so you can see precisely what you'll capture. You can also preview and review your shots with the 2-inch color LCD on the back of the camera. As an added feature, the LCD has a 90-degree flip-up design, allowing you to see images even if the camera is held at waist level.

The all-new, 36-bit CCD sensor from Philips is another unusual touch. At two-thirds of an inch, it's still much smaller than a 35mm negative, but it's larger than the sensors in most other manufacturers' cameras. On paper at least, this should improve image capture. We were surprised to discover that the sensor's proportions are "squarer" than those on most digital cameras--most 2-megapixel models capture 1,600 x 1,200 pixels in their images (a 4:3 ratio), but the HP captures a 1,600 x 1280 image (a 5:4 ratio). The traditional 4:3 ratio evolved because it matches the proportions of a computer monitor--with this camera, images displayed on your screen will have bars down the left and right edges, or will need to be cropped at the top or bottom to fill the screen. If you like making prints, images will also need some serious cropping to fill a 4-by-6 or 5-by-7 inch sheet, but the proportions are perfect for an 8-by-10 inch print.

While other companies are putting 3.3-megapixel sensors into their high-end models, HP has chosen to use a 2.2-megapixel CCD instead. Perhaps HP's engineers have reached the same conclusion we have--that for most users, 2 megapixels is the best balance between image quality and speed, price, and file size.

The Pentax lens zooms from 34 to 107 mm (35mm camera equivalent), and includes eight elements in seven groups, with one aspherical element. HP also adds a 2x digital zoom, which brings images closer at the expense of image quality. Instead of using a pair of buttons on the camera body, users adjust the zoom by twisting a ring on the lens--a traditional arrangement borrowed from film cameras. The lens also has an unusually powerful macro feature, focusing on items as close to the lens as 2 centimeters.

The camera looks well-made and fits nicely in your hands. The size, shape, and soft curves are all reminiscent of a classic SLR camera. A status LCD on the top panel lets you see vital camera settings, a very useful feature if you're not using the battery-draining color LCD display on the back of the camera. Images are stored on either Type I or the thicker Type II CompactFlash cards. Though it physically fits in the slot, IBM's Microdrive isn't compatible with the camera.

If you're a techno-tinkerer, you'll love the fact that the C912 uses Digita as its operating system (OS). When Digita was introduced several years ago, some predicted this OS would be adopted by virtually every digital camera manufacturer. In reality, Digita has proven to be just slightly more popular than Esperanto, finding its way into only a handful of cameras, mostly from Kodak and Minolta. Digita offers the potential to easily upgrade the camera's firmware, in addition to allowing advanced users to write software scripts to customize camera functions. As an example of the power and flexibility of the OS, one Digita-powered download available on the Internet lets you play emulated arcade video games on the camera's LCD display. For the average digital photographer, however, the biggest advantages to Digita are the colorful onscreen menus and the ease with which you'll be able to transfer revised firmware to your camera.

Virtually every camera feature can either be left on automatic operation or can be set for manual control. The ISO can be adjusted from 25 to 400, and the flash, shutter speed, aperture, and focus can also be controlled by hand. There's an integrated pop-up flash atop the camera, plus a hot-shoe mount for an external strobe unit.

HP has devised a flexible power system for this model. You can use four standard AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, but for the ultimate in battery life, you can get a proprietary Olympus lithium-ion power pack and charger. With a suggested retail price of $99.00, the charging kit costs more than twice as much as a set of rechargeable AA batteries with charger, but lasts about twice as long on a charge as a set of high-capacity AA rechargeables.

If you're looking for a camera with the ultimate in resolution or the smallest dimensions, look elsewhere. But if you want a camera that looks and feels nice and has a good combination of features, the C912 is worth considering, especially if you're a fan of Pentax film cameras, love SLRs, or need a great macro lens.

Pros:

• True single-lens reflex camera
• Digita operating system for flexible upgrades
• Great lens with terrific macro

Cons:

• Nearly square images
• Takes Type II CompactFlash cards, but is not Microdrive compatible

Features

• 2.24 megapixel CCD creates 1600 x 1280 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 2x digital Pentax zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 28 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• 4 AA batteries included; special features include Jetsend infared printer connectivity, and sound capture with playback

Reviews (11)

Great camera but...
The C912 camera takes great pictures but does not perform well when you want to shoot with manual settings. This camera won't replace a 35MM SLR as I had hoped. Overall, I think I would have been better off buying a new 35MM SLR camera and a smaller digital camera like the Olympus C700. I sure miss my old Canon AE1!

Shortcomings:

1) Manual focus is a joke. You have to select between distance settings measured in "meters." I haven't found a way to change the readings to "feet." Adjustments to the manual focus are done at the back of the camera where your left thumb is. Neither the LCD display nor the viewfinder work very well for judging focus. I'd suggest that you set the camera for a small aperture so you'll get fairly well focused pics. Manual focus on the lens like a standare 35MM would be way way better.

2) The hot shoe only has one contact; you'll have to shoot with manual exposure settings when using an add-on flash unit.

3) Very low light pictures shot at long exposure come out with "noise" in the picture that looks like snowflakes.

4) When using the flash, aperture or shutter speed priority perform poorly. I would have expected the flash to compensate better for changes to aperture and shutter speed. I've taken some pic's that came out with poor exposure this way.

5) The camera is as large as a 35MM SLR, too big to put in your pocket. On the bright side, you don't have to worry about it falling out of your pocket...

6) Shooting in Automatic mode provides average focus so you get pictures that are often out of focus.

7) The autofocus has a half-second or so delay that you have to compensate for. I guess all auto focus cameras perform this way. You have to shoot in manual focus to get instant shutter response. I sure miss my old Canon AE1.

8) A 10x zoom lens like the Olympus C700 would be much better. A removable lens like standard a real 35MM SLR camera would make this camera the best thing since sliced bread! The 3x zoom is okay for general photography. I should have bought the C700!

9) Zoom is electric not mechanical. It's adjusted on the lens like a 35MM focus ring. It's a bit slow to respond. Mechanical would have been way better.

Advantages:

1) Shooting in "P" for program mode and set with center point focus produces excellent pictures just about all the time.

2) The flash is small but quite powerful.

3) The camera has an excellent look and feel.

4) Diopter allows you adjust the viewfinder to your eye so you can shoot without your glasses and see clearly.

5) The camera is built very well. This is one of the main reasons I bought it. I'm sure it can take quite a hit without breaking. You could probably use it to break open walnuts! The lens is enclosed so it doesn't extend in and out like smaller cameras. The lens is built to accept screw-on filters and telephoto and other lenses without Mickey Mouse adapters. Install a clear filter the day you get the camera to protect the lens from dirt and finger prints.

6) The camera uses a proprietary battery pack or standard AA batteries. Rechargeable 1700mAh AA NiMH Batteries and a Radio Shack one-hour charger perform well and cost half of what you'll pay for the HP battery and charger. I use the 6-volt AC power supply that came with my camcorder to power the camera without batteries and have had no problems.

7) The date displays on the image. A note and logo can also be displayed on the image.

8) Sound recording is a pretty cool feature. No video recording and glad.

9) A PCMCIA adapter for the compact flash can be bought for [price]. It's fantastic for vacation. I bring along my old laptop to download pictures every evening. 64MB holds 58 pic's at highest resolution.

Very Happy with the HP 912
I've been very happy with this purchase. The 2.5 Mega pixels are just fine for printing 5x7 prints, and 8x10's if you set the picture up well. The features of the camera are many, the automatic ones work great and there are overrides on almost all of the auto ones. I take up close "macro" pictures a lot and was thinking about getting a ring flash, but so far I've been pretty happy with the built in flash lighting up my subject... This feature and two others are why I would recommend this. You can set the ASA from 25 up to 400 (a lot of other cameras have one setting 100). The other feature is the compact flash memory, they work well and I feel they're very reliable.

Great Camera
I was not dissapointed by this camera. It works like a manual 35mm camera for focussing on the subject, has a great zoom, great optics, and all of those digital camera features we've come to expect. One absolutely key feature is the remote control which works like a wireless cable release, this is excellent for those long exposures where the camera needs to be motionless.
The only drawback is the one so many digital cameras have, power.
It eats batteries like salted peanuts. I regret not having ordered the AC adapter and rechargeable batteries from the start.

Little features make this a special camera
As with all the other reviewers, I really like this camera. The optical viewfinder is excellent, especially for macro shots. The latest feature I have discovered is the ability to send images from the camera to my laptop via infrared (Jetsend). I also like the high-end approach of not over-processing the images in the camera. It is easy to process sharpness and saturation to your liking using Photoshop. There is an added plus to the 1600 X 1280 resolution. It creates an exact 8 X 10 image. Given the smaller resolution of this camera, it is nice that 8 X 10's requires no cropping at all...so all the pixels you capture are printed. The macro is fantastic and the flash throttles back well to give excellent exposure on macro shots. I also like the fact the camera can do time-lapse with no additional gadgets required.

The remote control has either instant shot or 3 second delay. My Olympus has only a delayed remote so many times the shot is gone before the camera fires. My flash, an Olympus FL-40, works perfect in automatic mode with the HP. The camera must be set in manual mode but that is where you can really get creative. Thankfully, there is no silly movie capture feature. Did any of the reviewers mention that the LCD swings up so you can look down at the screen and compose the picture?

If HP/Pentax wanted to put in a 4 or 5 mp CCD and charge over $1000 for this camera, I would be first in line to buy it. Even at the 2mp size, it is excellent. Plus now it is selling at a bargain price. My other camera, an Olympus E-100RS has its own set of advantages and so these two cameras are a perfect complement to each other.

Completely satisfied!
I have always used a good 35mm SLR and owned a photolab for many years, so I know what I am talking about when I talk of quality photos.

Wanting to get into digital photography on a budget, I bought Mustek MD800 a couple of years ago and it was a disaster. Pics were dreadful and the color/exposure was almost toxic. Every now and then I would check and see if there was anything exciting and affordable on the web and that was when i found the HP 912. I took a long time to make up my mind and to actualy buy it due to residual fear from the last digital fiasco, but the leap of faith was worth it. I just could not believe the list of everything it can do, and that made me even more sceptical. After it arrived, I was taking pics within 5 minutes and was amazed at the quality. Since then, I have put it through it's paces and everything works just as they claimed. Even the built in flash is far more powerful than i thought possible. In flash shots I am so used to seeing the faces over exposed (all bleached out) and the background pitch black, but with this camera the results are quite startling. I took a whole bunch of pics on Christmas day in the sittingroom while the kids were opening their gifts and was surprised to see that things were clearly visible in the diningroom - over 20 feet away and the subjects in the foreground were perfectly exposed! And it is all so easy to do! The results are far more pleasing than my 35mm outfit which cost me well over two thousand dollars. Another thing I found interesting is that I got 154 shots out of the 4 AA batteries that came with the camera! Very economical! ... Read more

Features

• 2.31-megapixel, 1.75'' LCD
• 2x optical/2x digital zoom
• 8MB internal memory, CF slot

Reviews (1)

A nice little camera, Good for first time users...
Photography is a hobby of mine and my standard format for it is 35mm film. However, I have been wanting to try a digital camera for some time. Fortune smiled upon me last month, while at an awards dinner, I won this camera as a door prize.

On the way home, I was able to try out the camera. It was fairly easy to set up and put into use. The various shots I took came out fairly well and I expect to get better results as I get use to the it's capabilties. Unfortunately, the internal memory got used up pretty quickly. So if you intend to take alot of photos with it, be sure to bring at least one memory card with you. The camera comes with a USB cable and the software to download the photos into your computer.

I like this camera. It is definitely a good camera for someone wanting to try Digital Photography. It comes complete with everything you need to get started, USB cable, batteries and software. The instructions were easy to understand and follow. Just add a couple of memory cards and you're all set to take this baby on vacation. I know that is exactly what I'm going to do. Take this with me on my next vacation. ... Read more

Features

• 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 4 MB CompactFlash memory card holds up to 36 images
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• 1.3-megapixel CCD creates 1,280 x 960 images for prints up to 4 by 6 inches
• 4 AA batteries included; Includes auto flash with red-eye reduction; also includes Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition software

Reviews (17)

good value
well let me tell you if you are planing to buy a digital camera and you are a beginner, this is what you was looking for is easy to use it takes a great pictures,it has everyting you need to take a shot and also comes with 2 software programs that really gonna keep you busy for a while also has a menus in 5 diferents languages like spanish,italian of couse english so you do not have to worry about complications,

Great product
I bought this camera because of its price, the zoom feature and the HP name. I haven't been disappointed. The pictures I've taken have been crisp and clear with great color. The "shutter" (do you still call it that if it's a digital camera? hmmm) speed has not been noticeably slow, especially if you're on fresh batteries. It was so simple to set up with my computer -- I use Windows 2000 -- and I really like the photo editing software they sent with it. I also noticed that the batteries wore out VERY quickly, but this is a problem for ALL digital cameras. Do yourself a favor and buy rechargable batteries, and this will not be an issue.

HORRIBLE BATTERY USE
GOOD CAMERA TAKES PICS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER 1.3 BUT IT HAS ONE SHORTCOMMING... BATTERIES DO NOT LAST AT ALL. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT USE THE COLOR LCD DISPLAY. YOU HAVE TO BRING A BOX OF BATTERIES IF YOU INTEND TO SHOOT MANY PICS

okay camera, wastes batteries
i got this camera about a year ago and it has been ok. the batteries ran out consistently but besides that, it is great

HP 215 Photosmart
I just bought this camera 2 days ago. I gave it 4 initially, but It's worth a 5. I am not what anyone would call a "technical" person & I was a bit daunted by this at the time of purchase (can I return it if I can't make it work?). However it took me little time (the instruction book is easy to read) to get the basics so I could at least take a picture and upload it. The included software was a snap to install and even stored my prints in an accessible location. Just a little playing with the PhotoImpression program and I was soon editing and sending pictures e-mail. Playing with the menu & a quick referance to the instructions now and then, and I had it doing what I wanted.
For those who need something they can point and shoot, this is a good choice. ... Read more

Features

• 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical plus 4xdigital zoom lens (for 12x total) with autofocus
• 16 MB internal memory with Secure Digital card slot
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port; powered by 4 AA batteries.
• Includes HP Photosmart Digital Camera Dock, AC adapter

Features

• Value Pack includes camera kit plus AC adapter and soft case
• 2 megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints up to 8 x 10 inches
• Autofocus lens with 2x digital zoom
• 8 MB internal memory holds 20 pictures at default resolution; CompactFlash slot for additional storage
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port; uses 4 AA batteries (alkalines included; rechargeables recommended)

Reviews (13)

Easy To USe
I had ordered a Fuji(1.3) before this & was very discouraged.It was hard to understand and the quality of pictures I took weren't good at all.So I returned it,thinking maybe all lower priced Digital cameras were like that.But,then I saw the HP 318 with 2.3 megapixels,Decided to try it. I am glad I did.It is an easy Point&shoot camera.When I loaded them onto my computer,I could not believe the quality of the pictures.I highly recommend this camera,for its price,easiness to use and picture quality.

Simply Amazing!
This camera was a very pleasant surprise. My wife and I were digital skeptics until we saw the quality and ease of this unit. ONE PROBLEM, that all the cameras have is that they eat batteries for breakfast!
Some notes on the reviews I've seen:
1. I'm using it with Windows 98 SE and have had no problems whatsoever. Regular Windows 98 is almost as bad as Windows XP in its hostility to peripherals;
2. You really shouldn't use any digital camera in bright sun, for instance, at the beach. It's bad for the LCD screen, which you won't be able to see anyway, and;
3. The Red Eye Reduction feature works if you follow the instructions and some basic camera rules. Namely, DON'T have your subjects look directly into the camera.

GREAT CAMERA, BUT SOME ISSUES
This is the easiest camera to work with. It takes pretty great photos, and the software that comes with it walks you through the unloading of photos to your computer for e-mail, etc.
However, there are some problems:
1. Red eye reduction - Even though the camera has a "red-eye reduction function" red eye still prevails.
2. Not compatible with AOL 7.0 - When sending photos e-mail, I have to send them through my hotmail.com e-mail because the camera isn't compatible with AOL 7.0, a problem that was confirmed when I called HP.
3. Batteries - My batteries didn't last a day!! This camera DEVOURS batteries. I have the adapter, but can't use outside of the house!
4. Screen - Is hard to see in bright light, and sometimes, not so bright light.

Other than these issues, I really like this camera. It's my first digital. I will however, probably purchase a better one in the future.

1st time digital camera owner
very simple camera to use that gives a good quality photo

entire operation is intuitive
small and light enough to carry fulltime
quick easy transfer of images to your computer.
good battery life

biggest drawback is the on-camera image review; grainy image that is totally unuseable in bright light

Big mistake
I found out the hard way that this camera is not always compatable with Windows 98. The "unload" feature did not work well and when it finally started to perform the "automatic unload" to the computer, my system was blown. The system was totally crashed and had to be sent off for repair...hopefully they can repair it. During my website search at HP, I found that sometimes this camera has problems with Windows 98...so BEWARE!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Printer

Ideal for personal use or for a home business, the HP 825C combines a variety of features with an economical price. Average print speeds are 6.5 pages per minute (ppm) for black text, and 4.5 ppm when using colored inks. With either format, your documents receive crisp definition through the 600 x 300 dpi resolution and thermal ink-jet print method. It's ready for letter-, legal-, and executive-size paper, as well as transparencies, envelopes, greeting cards, photo paper, and labels. The paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets of standard paper or 30 envelopes at a time. Weighing in at just 12 pounds, the printer is sized to be especially convenient where space is at a premium. It connects to your system via a USB port and is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, and Me. Hewlett Packard offers a 90-day warranty on parts and service.

Camera

This traditional point-and-shoot-style digital camera incorporates a 2.1-megapixel sensor that captures enough detail for crisp prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches. Designed for simple operation, the camera features automatic focus, exposure, and flash--just push the button, and the camera does the rest. A 1.8-inch color LCD display on the back of the Photosmart 315 lets you preview and review each photo you take. Additional features include red-eye reduction and fill flash, 2.5x digital zoom, and a self-timer. Images are recorded on reusable CompactFlash cards; an 8 MB card is included. Four AA batteries provide power. HP includes a set of alkalines, but all digital cameras are battery hogs, and we strongly recommend purchasing a set of rechargeable batteries. ... Read more

Features

• Bundle combines PhotoSmart 315 digital camera with DeskJet 825 CVR printer
• Printer: 600 x 600 b/w printing, 600 x 1200 dpi color on premium paper
• Printer: Up to 3.5 ppm black printing, 3.5 ppm color
• Camera: 2.1 megapixel, 2.5x digital zoom, autofocus lens
• Both products connect to Macs and PCs via USB port

Reviews (3)

VERY UPSET WITH HP
I was first time buyer of this package deal, camera and printer. Was so happy when i got it home till i went to hook it up and OMG THE SERVICE I received from HP was so bad I will never purchase another product from them. IT JUST WAS NOT WORTH THE HASSEL THEY GAVE ME. AND THE RUDENESS TO A CUSTOMER.AND THEN LIE TO BOOT. OMG

Great combo package!
I bought this package about 2 weeks ago and have been very glad that I did. I was looking for my first digital camera but did not want a 1.3 megapixel camera to start with. The image quality is quite good with great color and sharpness. I'd have spent double of what I did buying the printer and camera separately. It is a really sweet deal considering that I was only after the camera. What's more is that both are fully compatible with Mac OS X and iPhoto. I highly recommend this package looking for an entry level digicam and a good quality printer!

great package for the money
Just bought this package and have been extremely surprised. I had been looking at digital cameras and just recently my printer went south. If you buy the camera alone it is 7/8's the total package price.Printer set up well and seems easy to use. No problems but don't really expect photo quality. Camera is great too for my purposes. Software quite simple. I recomend you also get the optional black printing cartridge and definately ugrade to a larger flash card like a 32 or 64mb. All in all I was not expecting a ... top notch printer [and camera] so I am very pleased. A real value. Only thing I don't like is HP sells the A/C adapter for [aditional money]. This is really necessary if uploading alot. And don't expect the batteries to last as long as the one in the TV remote. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

HP 715 IS A SUPER CAMERA
I bought my HP 715 about two years ago and I have never been sorry.Although it has been discontinued at this writing it is still available on line and elsewhere. It is by far the greatest camera I have ever owned. You don't need a degree to operate it and it always comes thru. It has a big camera feel and I love that. Whatever the occasion I feel at home using this camera on landscapes and portraits. I use a 256 MB Compact flash card so I can shoot all pix on the fine setting. But the default setting is equally as good. The program that goes into the computor is by far the best money can buy. The pix are downloaded and organized into a real neat format and easy to retrieve for email or print. Today you are fortunate since you an purchae it much cheaper than I did at Staples. ... I am still in awe of it. The controls are on top and rapid changes can be made without guessing. If you are new or pro to digital cameras, get this one and don't worry about it being discontined.It is still the state of the art. It also defies the adage about digitals eating up batteries. It's power consumption is very frugal. Try it and you will love it. Thanks HP.

great camera
I bought this camera the night before a trip to Disneyworld, I had not intended on spending the 499 for a camera. However, it was one of the few cameras that Sears actually had in stock. The camera proved its worth almost immediately, I took almost 200 pictures at the 1 and 2 star resolution features. This was my first real digital camera (I had another as a freebie from an ISP). I am thoroughly impressed with the ease of use as well as the ability to use it like a normal camera (ie using the view finder to take pics withought the LCD screen on). The only fault I found was when booting the camera with the lens cap on required a reboot after removing the lens cap before taking pictures. The battery life lasted longer than I expected. I took over 150 pictures before replacing the batteries that came with it. Although not what I wanted to buy, I would reccomend this camera to anybody wanting a simple to use -out of the box- camera that takes great shots and doesn't require reading the owners manual to use.

EXCELLENT CAMERA FOR PEOPLE NEW TO DIGITAL CAMERAS
GREAT CAMERA. SIMPLE TO USE AND VERSATLE. USED IT ON A YACHT CLUB CRUISE TOOK OVER 100 PICTURES AND MADE A GREAT SLIDE SHOW! ALSO TOOK OVER 100 PICTURES ON A TRIP TO NOVA SCOTIA. YOU DOO NEED TO UPGRADE THE MEMORY TO 128. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NEW MODEL IS AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $ 30.00 MORE THAN I PAID FOR THIS!!
DAN SHINKWIN

second one we bought
We already own a C618 (earlier model of this camera) and are buying this as a grad present.

BATTERIES: The way to go with batts is the Panasonic package of charger and batteries, plus an extra package of batts, get it at BJ's. DO NOT USE BATTS WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER'S CHARGERS! We suffered faults with Kodak batts and charger, and the Rayovac batts and charger caught fire on our wall plug.

FLASH CARDS: GO with humongous sized memory, you won't be fumbling during that perfect oppportunity. Getting reasonably priced flash cards is best done online, it's easy, AND you don't need an entire flash receptical if you own a laptop, the card holder slides right into the modem slots, easy for travel downloading. We use the laptop, load pics to zips and hard drive (safety) then burn a master CD-R of everything to free up zip space.

FAULTS: The damn on/off button you better watch, putting it into a tight camera case can activtate the on feature, out slides the lens, binding against the case, and scary ratchetting noises ensue. No damage from that yet, but watch it! Darkness is this camera's worst enemy, I haven't got that figured out well enough yet, and the shakes ruin anything with a time exposure. AND THIS BABY TAKES FORRRRRRRRRREVER TO CYCLE SO YOU CAN SHOOT AGAIN, so bring the old motor driven 35MM for those rapid fire pic needs.

We bought two, and that says it all. Plus, nothing like commanility in components.

Excellent Camera
You absolutely can not go wrong with this camera. If you're looking for a pure point and click camera, this is the one for you. Set-up is extremely easy and the user manual is very well written. Also, the included software is very easy to use. The one recommendation I would make would be for you to decline the free 32mb Compact Flash Card and opt for the credit towards a higher capacity one (if offered). At the highest resolution setting, a 40mb card will yield 25 pictures. The highest setting on a 128mb card gives you 81. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Here's the recipe for a terrific series of digital cameras: start with the electronic-imaging expertise of Hewlett-Packard (HP), whose printers and scanners are among the most popular in the world. For great optics, add five decades of camera-making experience from Pentax. The result? HP's new lineup, featuring the C912 and C912xi (identical except for the software that comes with them) as its twin flagship models. These two cameras offer an intriguing set of features not offered by any other manufacturer (except for Pentax, who also sells this model as the EI2000).

Though virtually every other digital camera uses a rangefinder setup, the C912xi is a true single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. Light entering the lens is split by a prism: most is sent to the camera's sensor, but some goes up to the viewfinder. When looking through the viewfinder, the image you see is coming through the lens, so you can see precisely what you'll capture. You can also preview and review your shots with the 2-inch color LCD on the back of the camera. As an added feature, the LCD has a 90-degree flip-up design, allowing you to see images even if the camera is held at waist level.

The all-new 36-bit CCD sensor from Philips is another unusual touch. At two-thirds of an inch, it's still much smaller than a 35mm negative, but it is larger than the sensors in most other manufacturers' cameras. On paper at least, this should improve image capture. We were surprised to discover that the sensor's proportions are "squarer" than those on most digital cameras--most 2-megapixel models capture 1,600 x 1,200 pixels in their images (a 4:3 ratio), but the HP captures a 1,600 x 1280 image (a 5:4 ratio). The traditional 4:3 ratio evolved because it matches the proportions of a computer monitor--with this camera, images displayed on your screen will have bars down the left and right edges, or will need to be cropped at the top or bottom to fill the screen. If you like making prints, images will also need some serious cropping to fill a 4-by-6 or 5-by-7 inch sheet, but the proportions are perfect for an 8-by-10 inch print.

While other companies are putting 3.3-megapixel sensors into their high-end models, HP has chosen to use a 2.2-megapixel CCD instead. Perhaps HP's engineers have reached the same conclusion we have--that for most users, 2 megapixels is the best balance between image quality and speed, price, and file size.

The Pentax lens zooms from 34 to 107 mm (35mm camera equivalent), and includes eight elements in seven groups, with one aspherical element. HP also adds a 2x digital zoom, which brings images closer at the expense of image quality. Instead of using a pair of buttons on the camera body, users adjust the zoom by twisting a ring on the lens--a traditional arrangement borrowed from film cameras. The lens also has an unusually powerful macro feature, focusing on items as close to the lens as two centimeters.

The camera looks well-made and fits nicely in your hands. The size, shape, and soft curves are all reminiscent of a classic SLR camera. A status LCD on the top panel lets you see vital camera settings, a very useful feature if you're not using the battery-draining color LCD display on the back of the camera. Images are stored on either Type I or the thicker Type II CompactFlash cards. Though it physically fits in the slot, IBM's Microdrive is not compatible with the camera.

If you're a techno-tinkerer, you'll love the fact that the C912xi uses Digita as its operating system (OS). When Digita was introduced several years ago, some predicted that this OS would be adopted by virtually every digital camera manufacturer. In reality, Digita has proven to be just slightly more popular than Esperanto, finding its way into only a handful of cameras, mostly from Kodak and Minolta. Digita offers the potential to easily upgrade the camera's firmware, plus lets advanced users write software scripts to customize camera functions. As an example of the power and flexibility of the OS, one Digita-powered download available on the Internet lets you play emulated arcade video games on the camera's LCD display. For the average digital photographer, however, the biggest advantages to Digita are the colorful on-screen menus and the ease with which you'll be able to transfer revised firmware to your camera.

Virtually every camera feature can either be left on automatic operation or can be set for manual control. The ISO can be adjusted from 25 to 400, and the flash, shutter speed, aperture, and focus can also be controlled by hand. There's an integrated pop-up flash atop the camera, plus a hot-shoe mount for an external strobe unit.

HP has devised a flexible power system for this model. You can use four standard AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, but for the ultimate in battery life, you can get a proprietary Olympus lithium-ion power pack and charger. With a suggested retail price of $99.00, the charging kit costs more than twice as much as a set of rechargeable AA batteries with charger, but lasts about twice as long on a charge as a set of high-capacity AA rechargeables.

If you're looking for a camera with the ultimate in resolution or the smallest dimensions, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a camera that looks and feels nice and has a good combination of features, the C912xi is worth considering, especially if you're a fan of Pentax film cameras, love SLRs, or need a great macro lens. -- Walt Opie

Pros:

• True single-lens reflex camera
• Digita operating system for flexible upgrades
• Great lens with terrific macro

Cons:

• Nearly-square images
• Takes Type II CompactFlash cards, but is not Microdrive compatible

Features

• 2.24 megapixel CCD creates 1600 x 1280 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 2x digital Pentax zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 28 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• 4 AA batteries included; special features include Jetsend infared printer connectivity, sound capture with playback, and Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition software

Reviews (9)

Excellent buy in a digital camera
Someone wrote that the HP C912 was the "Best kept secret in digital cameras." I agree, now that the price has dropped from [$$$] to about [$$$] (... price new). I really like the 6 automatic and 4 manual modes of operation, the hot flash and the remote control features. The camera has been easy to learn and to experiment with ... I have used a point and shoot digital camera for years. The 912 in one of its auto modes functions as a point and shoot, with the advantage of the TTL viewfinder. Traditional P&S cameras do not come close to this feature. If I don't like the settings (visible in the viewfinder) it is not difficult to change to manual mode and adjust a setting or two. The external selectors make this very simple for most features. With a SunPak 610 flash I can shoot good pics out to 50 feet with good resolution. This is tough for most other digitals. At the price this camera has dropped to, it is truly a bargin for anyone who likes the SLR type cameras married to the new technology of the digital revolution.

Best one out there!
For this price this camera is unbeatable. I have used a lot of digital cameras and this one takes the best, most accurate pictures. Plus there are options all over the place.

Don't mean to be a killjoy technophile teenager, but...
I've used this camera on many occasions for projects at school. True it is good for taking quick snaps, but otherwise, it's horrid.
Let's go for some examples:

1.Unless the two 912s we have are horribly malformed, the "zoom lens" must be an afterthought, cause it barely works.

2.The SLR-like design is good, and I'm quite partial to the old school camera design. However many of the controls are seemingly pointless.

3.Many of the useful features are buried within a cutsey (so typical of HP) menu.

4.It's downright spendy

5.Finally this thing eats batteries like being an absurdly power hungry device is going out of style.

There are plenty of better >2 mpx cameras that aren't as monetarily exorbitant.

All I'm saying is: consider your options before you get this one. If you're just happy with taking the same old pictures over and over again, go for it. But if you want something with more professional controls, look somewhere else

A great camera.
If you have been bitten by the digital camera bug, then you will love this camera. I got this camera this summer, and bought the accessory kit which comes with a recharging kit and battery. I love how it has a real camera feel. You may think that you need a camera that takes clearer pictures, but I have been real impressed with the sharpness of these pictures. The red eye feature works great, and downloading is a snap. This camera is on the expensive side, but if you want to take great digital pictures, this is a good choice.

By the way, this camera works great with the HP Photosmart printers. You can beam pics to the print with the IR port, or simply take the compact flash card out of the camera and put it into the drive in the printer.

great camera
This is a great camera for the beginner and the professional alike. It is very easy to use and has all the bells and whistles. It probably has more features than the average person would use but they are there for the asking. It has a great LCD screen, very clean on the images and great for shots in low light. I can not say enough good things about this camera. The only thing is that you definetly want to get a good zoom lens. The one that comes with the camera is more than ample for shots that are with in about 100 ft., after that you will want a better zoom. I bought this camera and 2 days later I took the camera on vacation and glad to say that I never missed a shot. The things that I noticed reading all the reviews on alot of cameras were lag time between shots and battery draw. As for the lag time it is not really noticable but you had better invest in a set or two of rechargable batteries. Overall it is a little pricey as far as digital cameras go but it is worth every penny. You will not go wrong with this camera. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical and 5x digital (15x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• HP's Instant Share features lets you designate image destination (e-mail or printer)
• 16 MB internal memory; compatible with Secure Digital memory cards (this bundle includes a 32 MB memory card)
• Powered by 2 AA batteries; the bundle includes PhotoSmart 8886 docking station with rechargeable batteries

Reviews (30)

A decent camera for the price
I recentley purchased this camera from target. I now wish I had purchased it from target.com, due to the $ 50 mail-in rebate. But, anyways the camera is a solid performer, I purchased it for taking basic everyday pictures. The 3.2 megapixels are more than enough for my photos. The zoom is the reason I bought it (15 x total zoom). I am happy with it overall. The uploading process is fairly easy too. If you plan on purchasing this camera, be sure to buy good batteries (NiMh) and a charger. You will be set to take pictures for a long time. The battery cover is very flimsy so be careful there, so you may want to buy a camera case. The internal memory is allright, but dont rely on it to store all your pictures. I also purchased the 64mb memory card and at the lowest quality you can take over 400 pictures with the card. The video mode is suprisingly decent, but don't expect to shoot whole concerts. Overall, for the price its a decent camera.

1800 photos in 3 months
I am an art student and I need quick shots for reference, inspiration, actual graphic work, and documentation of my other work. I have had this camera 3 months and have taken over 1800 pictures and video and I've been very pleased with it. I take it everywhere with me. It's proved itself durable.

If you invest in this camera buy rechargable batteries and extra memory. Plan on this with ANY digital or you will be unhappy with the result. I have used three other digital cameras of different MB capabilities and by different makers...the same is true with them.

This camera has a top display that is not on any other camera in this price range. Very easy to change flash/mode/quality settings without turning on back screen. A definate plus. Saves battery and time.

This camera is a little slow but it is not anything a little patience can not handle. It just takes a little getting used to. There is a setting to take several pictures quickly. I have not had the need to use this feature, but, it may help with those hard to catch quick moments if the need arrises.

The camera is also quicker if the flash is not on. Pictures do turn out better without flash and when not applicable I advise turning it off.

The colors on this camera are GORGEOUS. They are very vibrant and bright. I advise having a photoediting program however with any digital for even BETTER pictures. A small adjustment may be all the difference you need to make a picture that's too dark and useless to the best picture you took all day. Get the best out of your digital!

There are better cameras, but be prepared to pay. This is a great camera for what it is and for the money. Take it from someone whose in the visual field. Some reviewers seem very biased about this camera. Again be prepared to buy rechargable batteries and additional memory with ANY digital camera.

Good job, HP!
I bought this camera from Target. It is a great camera. My only peeve is that the battery door is weak, and it broke while inserting batteries. I called HP and they promptly replaced the camera. I got my replacement in less than 2 days!! As far as power consumption goes, I don't use the LCD display at all. I also use NiMH rechargables, and I get about 65 pictures each charge. I use the optical zoom sparingly and transfer pictures to my computer about 3 times. I best feature about this camera is that it has a little display on the top, where you can adjust picture quality, mode and flash options. That, I guess saves a lot of battery power. All in all, a great product and I am really happy with it.

Great pictures fast
For those of you having problems with the batteries... We finally bought more expensive, non rechargeable batteries. Otherwise you could only take about 5 pictures, and it took FOREVER to save them. Try Energizer Litium. They worked great right up until the time someone stole it!

don't get it!!!!
Don't waste the money on this camera. Pictures are great but the baterrie life is terrible...At first I didn't mind replacing the batteries because I got the rechargeable pack but things haven't changed!!! I called HP on this problem the gentalman on the phone didn't understand the problem, he told me to use photo lithium batteries I bought a pair hoping this would cure the problem but nope same old batterie sucker!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

HP's Photosmart 720 digital camera offers high 3.3-megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom in a compact frame. It doesn't quite slip into a pocket, but as it weighs only a little over half a pound, it's easily portable.

A simple layout of well-labeled buttons makes the camera easy to operate for the beginning user. The 1.6-inch LCD can be quickly turned on and off, saving on battery life.

The HP 720 is powered by four AA batteries (included), but they will soon need to be replaced. Consider the optional HP dock (the 720 ships with an adapter for the dock), which includes four rechargeable batteries, and every time you dock the camera to transfer photos, the batteries recharge.

We were pleased with the 720's image quality--pictures appeared detailed and sharp. The camera can also capture 30-second video clips--complete with audio--at 20 frames per second and at 320 by 240 resolution. One minor annoyance: the lens was loud and slow as we zoomed in and out during shooting.

With 16 MB of internal memory, the 720 can house 17 high-quality shots. There's a Secure Digital memory slot for expanding the storage capability, always a useful upgrade.

The affordable HP Photosmart 720 makes a great camera for users wanting to break into the digital-image world, and features enough performance to make the trip worthwhile, yet without so many bells and whistles as to make digital photography frustrating. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Light and fairly compact
• High image quality

Cons:

• Noisy zoom lens
• Useful dock costs extra

Features

• 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical plus 4xdigital zoom lens (for 12x total) with autofocus
• 16 MB internal memory with Secure Digital card slot
• Connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Powered by 4 AA batteries; NiHM rechargeables recommended

Reviews (15)

perfect for beginners
Being completely new to digital photography, this is a great buy for beginners. The buttons and menus are easy to understand and 16MB is plenty of room for pictures. Even when taking lowest-quality pictures, they still look great. The user manual is quite simple and foolproof, HP software and the USB cable are working perfectly with my W98SE.
Video capturing worked just fine except the sound was a bit too quiet. Guess it's mostly meant for commenting on what you are currently recording.
For future customers: if you just got the camera and it won't start with regular alkaline batteries, just try the rechargeables. It will work fine after that with batteries as well, but looks like it needs rechargeables on the very first try.

First Digital Camera and I Like It.
The Hp Photosmart 720 is my first digital camera. I've only been playing with it for a few days but so far I'm pleased. My first impression of the camera when I saw what it looked like were negative. I thought that it looked chunky and heavy for a digital camera. Especially when you look at it next to it's brother the 812. But at my price range this camera seemed the best value. And now that I have it in my hands, I've found that the design has grown on me. The chunkiness along with the rubberized hull make it grippy and comfortable to hold. The weight makes it feel substantial like there is some quality built into it. The buttons are nicely layed out and the features are good for a simpler family clicker like me.

Speaking of buttons there are a few unexpected annoyances but from what I've seen and read, I believe these to be just the nature of digital cameras in general. First of all, the on/off button doesn't respond right away. At first I thought it might have defective, but then I realized you just have to press it and then wait about 10 seconds for the camera to turn on and be ready. Also the camera does snap imidiately after you press the button. It has to focus first. But it does it pretty quickly and if you press the button half way first and let it get that part out of the way, it snaps right away after you press the button fully.

The picture quality looks okay, especially when liking it good and you are printing on good quality paper.

That's all I have time to say for now.

Disappointed with this model
I too picked this model on the positive reviews. I bought it in May of 2003 along with an HP photo printer. In August 2003, a few days before my vacation, it just stopped working. HP tech support was excellent got another right out to me. Now April 2004, it did it again. It worked one day, batteries went dead, I charged them and can't get it to turn on again. Tech support was great another one is coming. However, my 1 year warranty is up in May and I am on my 3rd camera! They will give me 90 days on the 3rd one and that is it. I am going to have to buy their extended warranty program through HP because I fear in 3-6 months, it won't work again. I expressed my concern and I wanted to upgrade to a newer model and pay the difference. They don't have anything to offer for this one. Something is wrong with this series. On the other hand, the printer has been great.

Sturdy Performer
I bought this camera for a two-week hike in very remote country; the selling points for me were the relatively ruggedly designed exterior and the ability to turn off the LCD screen to save battery life. I would have liked the ability to turn the camera on without having the HP logo displayed on the LCD (and the little tone chiming). Especially at night in the woods, the LCD screen is bright enough to be distracting, and since I was aiming my shots through the viewfinder, I didn't need it activated. Even with that minor complaint, this camera gets five stars; it held up like a champ despite being rattled around for two weeks, took terrific pictures (a mini-tripod *really* helped), and it didn't eat too many batteries. Plus my PDA uses SD cards for storage, so I can swap among my devices as needed. I'd strongly recommend it.

Good for point and shoot usage
I purchased this camera ~10months ago, based upon reviews I had read. The concensus opinion is that this camera is a good balance between price and photo quality. Overall, I agree with this assessment. But hindsight being 20/20, I don't know if I would buy this camera again because of the lack of manual control or override for the exposure/whitebalance.

In use, it is a little bulky but easy to use with one hand. I find that the heft actually helps me keep the camera steady in use. Mixture of brushed aluminum and rubber for the case is aestheticlly pleasing and reassuring to the hand.

Autofocus is good and quick in normal to bright light, but slow and easily fooled in dim/low light conditions. The flash is not usefull beyond 15ft.

The automatic whitebalance and exposure settings are another matter. In situations where the light level of the centered subject is lower than the light level of the backround, the camera defaults to the backround. You can not totally override the automatic settings so you are left with an underexposed subject. The menu allows for only slight adjustment of the auto settings, but the adjustment range is not great enough. A good example of this problem would be an outdoor picture, where the subject is in the shade but the backround is not. The subject is underexposed, while the backround looks great and no amount of digital processing can reverse the result.

I have also used this camera to photograph items for Ebay auctions. For this purpose, the camera is perfect. With some attention paid to lighting, the photos are well exposed with excellent fine detail.

The included HP Photosmart software is basic, but usefull. Like the camera itself, there are not alot of custom editing options. The USB link from the camera to the software is quick and automatic. Data transfer of a full 64mb card takes ~3min. Slow to some, but OK by me.

The included 16mb of onboard memory holds ~11 full resolution pictures. I purchased a 64mb plug in card, which can hold ~52 full resolution shots. What is interesting is that the onboard memory and the plug in memory are segregated. You can fill up the onboard memory and then plug in the card and fill it up. Used this way, I can take a total of 63 high resolution photos.

Battery life is fine. I did invest in recharchable batteries and I get ~160-180 photos per charge. I would estimate that I use the LCD screen ~1/2 the time.

Like most camera LCD screens, it is usefull in all but daytime outdoor conditions.

For pictures from a distance of less than 15ft, there is a bit of parallax(sp) error between the viewfinder and what the camera records. But once you see the difference a few times, it is easy to compensate for by framing your subject to be just a bit offcenter in the viewfinder. This is not a problem to me, but may be to others.

In summary, this is a good point and shoot camera for most situations. Manual features are limited. Used withing it's limitations it is fine. If you need manual control over exposure/whitebalance, look elsewhere. If you want a simple, rugged camera for casual use, the 720 should be a candidate, expecially at current prices. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This traditional point-and-shoot-style digital camera features a high 2.1-megapixel resolution that captures vivid images at up to 1,600 x 1,200 resolution. The tripod mount, as well as features such as flash fill and red-eye reduction, helps produce precision photographs.HP's JetSend technology gives the option of wireless printing in conjunction with compatible HP printers. The adjustable 2.5x digital zoom lens combined with a fully automatic focus and exposure system captures photos effortlessly in all conditions.You can store your photos on the included 8 MB CompactFlash card and share them over the Web or in print. In addition, the C315xi includes Adobe's PhotoDeluxe Business Edition. ... Read more

Features

• 2.1-megapixel CCD creates prints up to 8 x 10 inches
• 2.5x digital zoom with autofocus
• Included 8 MB CommpactFlash memory card holds 17 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• 4 AA batteries included; features include JetSend for direct printer connectivity and flash with red-eye reduction

Reviews (10)

Nice camera - choose (or not) based on your usage habits
I bought this camera several months ago based on online reviews and recommendations and based in no small part on the fact that this was one of only a handful that had published support for Windows 2000.

The camera is easy to use both when shooting pictures and when uploading those pictures to your computer via its USB interface.

The camera has three basic settings for picture quality (size). Like all digital cameras, it uses a lossy compression to save stored photos and the smallest ones cannot be blown up without significant pixelation. The medium sized ones are better for snapshots or web-ready pics and the large ones are quite large and would need to be edited or scaled before viewing over a slow connection. Larger pictures require more storage so the larger your chosen size the lower your capacity. At the camera's highest quality (largest size) setting this camera will store 8 photos. The camera uses standard memory sticks so this may not be an issue for you if you have more than one memory stick.

In my experience toting the camera around to take snapshots it has two significant drawbacks.

1. It is a battery hog - forcing you to take your picture and then turn the camera off quickly (close the lens cover). It will automatically turn off after a period of inactivity but not before significantly draining the battery. Turning off the LCD display vastly improves performance but of course instant results is one of the great things about having a digital camera in the first place.

2. Don't expect to be able to take very quick snapshots. I took this camera on a tour bus once and tried to take a couple of shots but to take a picture you must first aim, frame, depress the shutter button halfway, (to get a focus lock), and then depress the shutter button the entire way to save the picture. Even with practice it's very hard to get off a quick shot especially if you're moving. Many of my attempts resulted in no picture at all. I might have preferred an off-center photo but that's not an option.

If your photography consists of taking pictures of still subjects or does not require you to aim and shoot quickly this may be a good camera for you at a reasonable price.

HP 315 Digital Camera
We purchased this camera because of the price, and expected MUCH less than what we received... The camera has the ability to take 3 different resolutions of pictures. The least resolution is fine for web pictures, the medium resolution is great for pictures to be printed, and the highest resolution Gives Magnificent Pictures (but uses alot of memory) THe camera comes with an 8 MB disk, however, you will need to upgrade (or get a second card) if you plan to take alot of pictures before uploading to your computer... We got a 48mb Lexmar disk and have MORE than enough space to take lots of medium resolution pictures... We print our pictures using a midgrade ink-jet printer and they turn out GREAT! The drawbacks are that it is not very easy to use the zoom mode, especially if you are in a hurry to snap a pic! For the money, it appears the HP 315 is the BEST deal out there!

WOW!!!!
I found the camera I was looking for at a great price and according to the Amazon comments, it could reach me in 14 days which fit my vacation schedule - close, but a fit. When I got Amazon's confirming e-mail the 14 days had turned into 21 days.
This leaves me on Waikiki with no camera. I contacted ahauction about upgrading the shipment to some faster method. At no additional charge, the camera arrived (PA to CA) before the e-mail with the tracking number got to me. That is CUSTOMER SERVICE

I would never hesitate to purchase from ahauction. P.S. I knew what I was getting in the camera. Everything was there, in a HP factory box and it works just as it is supposed to.

Simple to use, great quality
I have owned this camera for over a year. The quality of the images is great. I bought it as a gift for my wife and needed it to be easy to operate. This camera is basically point and shoot!
The menu is easy to operate and the included software is user friendly. A great deal for the price I paid. I especially like the fact that it uses "AA" batteries. We do a lot of international travel and being able to replace the batteries with ordinary "AA" batteries is a definate plus in remote areas.
The flash illuminates well, even at distance.

Great Value
This is my second digital camera. My first was the Kodak 3200 which was great to start with. I wanted to get something with a little better resolution and for the price this camera is a steal. Other cameras with the same resolution are more to dramatically more in price. The pictures are excellent. I can't see any downside to this camera. If you want more features or better resolution then you'll have to pay up for them. This is an excellent mid-range camera at an entry-range price. ... Read more

Features

• For use with the HP PhotoSmart 215, 315, or 618 digital cameras
• Increase your camera's storage capability with 16 MB CompactFlash card
• 8 AA Energizer lithium batteries keep you shooting
• HP software and photo paper provide a starting point for your projects
• Includes informational booklet from IDG Books on digital imaging

Reviews (2)

Complete kit!
Well... I read other's reviews and believe me I do not shoot pictures from dawn to sunset and defenitely do not use my camera for video clips... Thye have something call a Camcorder you can use for that. My HP camera is uses always and the pictures are the reason I bought it. High quality not grain filled like other brands. The pack actually has save me money! Th case is very light and it does protect very well unlike a bulky aftermarket case that feels you are carrying a backpack; the memory never gest filled up I use regular resolution not the lowest not the highest and I get plenty of high Q pictures.

I knew the cloth will come on handy when I had already scratched the lens while cleanning my older Kodak camera with a regular cloth. The lens is worth getting plus the software received more than pays for the whole kit.

If you are a professional or just taking video with your digital camera (not too bright) then look elsewhere, if you want to protect and make the most out of your 215 315 or 318 HP then I recommend this kit to you. My grain of advise :)

HP Digital Camera Accessory Kit
Not good value for the price. The padded hp camera case is very light duty. The 16MB CompactFlash memory card is truly too small to be of real value. You will find very quickly that 128MB or 256MB is the working size for memory, especially if you take 30 second video bites. The lens cleaning tissues are of minor use, and the 8 lithium batteries will be a distant memory shortly after youstart using the camera and find out how swiftly it eats battery power. The imaging tips booklet is pretty well redundant to anyone who already has imaging software for his camera. The tips are basic info found in any software help file. Similarly, the idea book with project ideas can be found easily on most mfg's websites. Finally, the hp premium plus glossy 4x6in photo paper was a small pack of 20 sheets, and specially developed for hp printers. It doesn't work so well if you have another type of printer such as an Epson. The "Accessory Kit" comes in a package labeled "hp digital camera accessory pack". All in all, this is not worth the price. ... Read more