HP recently introduced a 5.1-megapixel point-and-shoot camera that finally adds a level of chic to its Photosmart range. Read our Australian preview.
Looking at Photosmart cameras prior to the R707, you could be forgiven for thinking designers at HP were stuck in a time warp. Especially compared to some of the compact styles such Canon's IXUS 500, Sony's DSCV1 and Fujifilm's FinePix F700. However, the R707 is a stylish little camera which flaunts a brushed metal front and houses a range on features within, such as HP's Adaptive Lighting and Image Advice technologies.
Upside: While the metallic design might add a bit of weight to the camera (204 grams with batteries), it not only looks great good but we expect this camera to be sturdier than previous Photosmart cameras. A red-eye removal function is built-in to the R707 so you don't have to wait until you download your photos before finding and removing evil-looking pupils from shots. HP has also included their Adaptive Lighting technology that adjusts high contrast photos to correct badly lit subjects.
QVGA (320 x 240-pixel resolution) MPEG-1 video can be recorded at 30 frames per second. The maximum length of video clips is determined by available memory. In panoramic mode, you can line up multiple shots into one image on the R707's 1.5-inch LCD viewfinder, which outlines previous photos to assist in capturing a wide scene. HP includes their Image Zone software for Windows and Mac, and ArcSoft's Panorama Maker to stitch images together.
Finally, after taking a photo, the R707 can analyse the picture and provide feedback on how the shot can be improved.
Downside: HP supplies a 32MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card with the R707, so only about eleven photos can be taken at the best resolution before you'll need to download (or delete) the pictures.
Specifications on digital cameras that boast a "total" or "combined" zoom can be misleading for newcomers to digital imaging. HP state the total zoom of the R707 is 24x, which is actually the product of 3x optical and 8x digital zoom.
Outlook: Retailing at AU$699, the HP Photosmart R707 seems to be reasonably priced for a 5.1-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom. At first glance, the R707's brushed metal surface is reminiscent of Canon's IXUS line. If the R707 and HP's technologies -- such as Adaptive Lighting and In-Camera Red-Eye Removal -- perform well, HP could pinch some of the digital photography market share with this glamorous point-and-shoot model.
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