Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Are HP digital cameras good?

Nov 23, 2004 11:37PM PST

I was looking at some HP digicam, and was wondering if the brand HP is any good with digital cameras. I do not have a preference yet as to which one I want, but I just want to know if any one thinks HP's digital cameras are good.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Are HP digital cameras good?
Nov 24, 2004 12:23AM PST
- Collapse -
bought my husband an HP camera....
Aug 23, 2005 8:45AM PDT

bought the camera sept. 10 2004 for his b-day. We took six pictures. Daughter gave him a memory stick took another dozen using the stick. Christmas tried to use the camera it would not recognize the stick. Daughter tried the stick in her camera worked fine, We tried her stick in ours would not recognize. Hp wanted 35.00 to look at the 150 dollar camera would not say if it could be fixed. We had the camera 75 days (60day garn. and took 18 pictures. that turned out to be $8.33 per picture. do I recommend HP no way.

- Collapse -
good. Not spectacular... Depends on model.
Nov 24, 2004 1:35AM PST

I have this HP 812 4MP and 3X optical zoom. It's a very nice camera and performs well for a pocket size model.

However the lenses are "pushing it" for the 4MP sensor as you can see the pictures are a little soft if you magnify the picture on the PC. But this does not mean that it's not a good camera.

In fact, I think many could use this one. The pair of AA batteries is a bonus and the size is nice.

You'll have to get more reviews of the models you are interested in.

-> A funny thing happened when the batteries were low. I got a DOS PROMPT on the display when it's little CPU crashed. Not a bad thing, just funny.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: good. Not spectacular... Depends on model.
Nov 24, 2004 2:30AM PST

Thank you all for your response. I think I am leaning towards the HP R707.

- Collapse -
The R707 is very similar to the 812.
Nov 24, 2004 2:36AM PST

I expect the same soft effect because the lens is adequate but not much more than that from the 812 to the R707. If you look, it's very similar.

My next camera up is a Kodak 6490 which is all of 4MP, but with a big lense and 10X zoom. It outperforms the 812 in many ways just due to the great lens.

Bob

- Collapse -
No. The latest surveys I've seen (PC Mag I think) put HP
Nov 24, 2004 10:55AM PST

at the bottom of the heap.

- Collapse -
OK then....
Nov 24, 2004 11:23AM PST

In my profile I can, if the R707 prospective buyer wants, send them two photos.

1. Show the softness issue I wrote about.
2. Show one image that shows that it's not trash.

Remember I paid about 200 for the HP 812, so for the dollar it makes a good deal.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: OK then....
Nov 26, 2004 7:56AM PST

TO: R Profitt: did you take the 812 pictures in "4 star" resolution?? I have blown up several 4 MP pictures and have seen no problems with loss of picture sharpness. You have to go into 'setup' and make sure it's in highest resolution mode.

- Collapse -
Yes. 4 star.
Nov 26, 2004 11:49PM PST

Again, I felt that for the price, the megapixels, the lens they choose the results are spot on. The printed results are great so I have no complaints.

Others may not be so kind.

In closing, I upgraded to a Kodak DX6490 and it has about the same MP, but a superb lens and you can see the issue vanish.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Are HP digital cameras good?
Nov 26, 2004 7:50AM PST

I have an HP Photosmart 812 4 megapixel. I got it on eBay from a seller named digitalcom. It's an excellent camera - takes astounding pictures - then, it automatically puts them into your 'my pictures' file. Being a 4 MP camera, the file size of each picture is about 2.5 megabytes in full resolution.But, you can scale them down to a smaller size so you can email them. I have a 128 MB memory card - you can take good 'long' videos and the card won't fill up. The only problem with the camera is the 'on' button is easy to accidentally push - the lens will pop out and if the camera is lying on its front, the gears will slip and the zoom will be screwed up. One nice feature - sound in the videos, and a speaker on the camera.

- Collapse -
Re: Are HP digital cameras good?
Nov 26, 2004 8:00AM PST

Like any camera, it depends on the user and the price. . If you read the manual first, and know how to operate it, you can take excellent pictures with just about any camera. But, if you want $800 pictures, you have to buy an $800 camera.

- Collapse -
Video is grainy
Dec 7, 2004 10:45PM PST

I know a camera is not optimized for video but the video from my HP R707 is grainy. I have a Cannon A70 and the video from it is very clear. Are there any admustments for the 707 to make video better?