Easy-to-use Digital Camera for the Inexperienced
Written: Jun 09 '05
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Pros: Large color LCD screen, great price, easy-to-use
Cons: Very small view finder
The Bottom Line: An easy-to-use camera for beginners with enough features to satisfy advanced photographers as well.
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| clpurser's Full Review: Hewlett Packard Photosmart M305v Digital Camera |
My husband surprised me with a gift - the HP Photosmart M305v Digital Camera. I was ecstatic. I've been wanting a digital camera for two years now, but never had the extra money to buy one. I was so excited that I bypassed the instruction booklet and just started playing with it. Most of the features are self-explanatory and the camera is simple to use, especially for someone like me who has zero experience.
SETUP
Setup was simple. Insert two AA lithium batteries, which are included with camera. Slip in memory card. Memory cards are purchased separately. My husband bought the 64MB for $11.44 at Wal-Mart. The camera also came with software, which I have not yet installed on my computer. You can use this to edit, organize, and print your photos.
PRICE
The HP Photosmart is a terrific value - $128.32 at Wal-Mart. That includes the camera, lithium batteries, USB cable for connecting camera to PC, USB cable for connecting camera to printer, user's manual, CD with HP Image Zone software for Microsoft Windows, and a wrist strap.
As I stated above, the memory cards are purchased separately as is the camera bag, which was $6.84. Other optional accessories are the photo dock, quick recharge kit, and AC adapter.
Features
This camera has 3.2 MP resolution, 3x optical zoom, 3x digital zoom, 16MB internal memory, 1.8-inch outdoor-viewable color LCD (this is much easier to read than standard LCD screens), USB connectivity, SD/MMC card slot, auto focus, auto exposure, auto flash, fast shot mode, manual controls, video capture with audio, docking capability with optional dock, in-camera battery charging with optional dock, and direct printing capability to HP Photosmart printers.
The most important features to me are the resolution, zoom, and LCD screen - all of which are excellent in this model. The viewfinder is small so I use the large LCD screen to take my pictures. My mom says this uses up more battery power, but I think the trade-off is worth it. I also like how compact this camera is. It would fit easily into a purse or a shirt pocket.
Uses
The uses for this camera are endless. You can shoot photos and send them to your printer or print them at stores like Wal-Mart or Walgreens. You can edit pictures with the included software: crop, remove red eye, enlarge, etc. You can take multiple pictures of the same thing and save or print the one that looks the best.
I plan to use mine mostly for emailing pictures to my sister who lives 500 miles away. Sometimes I want to send her funny pictures, but don't want to waste film. For instance, my daughter lost her first tooth last week. Now my sister and her family can share in this experience too.
I'm also a frequent lister on Ebay. Scanning pictures of items is tedious and I'm not able to scan large items or get multiple views. With a digital camera, I can take more shots from different angles and I can finally include pictures for larger items. Hopefully this will increase my sales as well.
What makes the HP Photosmart different?
The number one difference I've noticed is the large color LCD screen. My mother's camera has a small screen and is difficult to view outdoors. The Photosmart's LCD can be viewed from any angle without it glaring.
Unlike some of the older digitals, the Photosmart also has video capture with audio. Most older models don't have audio.
Conclusion
I'm very happy with the HP Photosmart and feel it's an easy-to-use camera at a great price. Picture quality is excellent and I really like the video capture.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 128.32
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Epinions.com ID:
clpurser
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Member: Crystal Purser
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
A room without books is like a body without a soul.
G.K.Chesterton(1874 - 1936)
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