HP PhotoSmart 320
Like the more expensive PhotoSmart 620, the PhotoSmart 320 has dropped in price since we first reviewed it, although it would have (just) made it into our sub-AU$500 category at its original price of AU$499. Like the PhotoSmart 620, it's a 2.1 Megapixel camera that runs off 4 AA batteries or via rechargeable batteries that come with the HP PhotoSmart Camera dock (AU$179), and it shares the same layout of buttons and slightly odd menu selection processes.
Like the PhotoSmart 620, the PhotoSmart 320 runs via HP's supplied Director application, which provides simple access to printing and previewing functions; again a more robust photo editing package would be needed for anything more complex. For what it's worth, the PhotoSmart 320 is a touch smaller than the bulky 620, making it a more attractive proposition if you need to quickly stow it for travelling purposes.
While it shares the same 2.1 megapixel resolution with its more expensive brethren, we found that shot quality on the PhotoSmart 320 was markedly worse, especially in lower quality modes where a lot of digital artefacts showed up. At higher quality settings this problem does lessen remarkably. In our tests, though, we had fewer flash problems with indoor shots than with the PhotoSmart 620.
The PhotoSmart 320 isn't a bad camera for the money; it's the second cheapest of our full size cameras, behind the Kodak CX4200 and the very small gadgety FujiFilm Slimshot. It is, however, beaten out by the cheaper Kodak, which has the same specifications and twice the memory on board.
HP PhotoSmart 320
Company: HP Australia
Price: AU$AU$329
Distributor: Selected Resellers
Phone: 13 23 47
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I have just seen an advertisement for the CX4230 in a pop up when I went to the Korean Herald newspaper at http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/index.asp . It was selling there for 185000 Won which equals AU$204, half what we would pay for it. I wonder why we can't get it at that price here?