4-megapixel sensor captures 2,272 x 1,704 images for prints at sizes up to 11 x 14 inches
Autofocus lens with 8x optical plus 7x digital (56x total) zoom
Included 16 MB SD card stores 15 images at default settings
Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port; powered by 4 AA batteries (disposables included)
Movie mode records video and audio for up to 60 seconds
This review is from: HP PhotoSmart 850 4MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical Zoom1. Zoom:I don't understand why people buy 3x zoom cameras (digital zoom should be banned because it's absolutely useless -- if you want to crop, it's much better to take the bigger one and do it with software). I've used an Olympus 3x zoom film for years, hardly ever using the zoom. 3x is not powerful enough to be of value.Now 8x, we're talking.2. 4MP:Do I really need 4mp? Not really. How many times have you EVER enlarged a picture you took with film camera? Or enlarge to 11x17??? I didn't think so. I could be quite happy with 2mp. I wish they made it 2mp with a lower price but, hey, with this price I'm not complaining about 4mp, either.3. Size:If you want the tiniest, cutest thingy, don't get this. This is the size of an SLR (without lens attachments). But you never get 8x zoom out those cuties. I actually like its retro styling.4. Photo quality:Superb, even still objects in VERY low light. I did one with 2 sec shutter, holding it with my hands (which are not the steadiest I'm sure), and it came out OK. Macro is very nice, too. Yes, there's noticable delay between shots, the lower the lighting, the longer. Under sunlight, it feels quite "normal"; under dim indoor lighting, it can take 2-4 secs. But this is the thing about digitals -- the higher the mp, the slower it gets. As for complaints about shooting moving objects, 1st of all, don't do focus lock by pushing the button half way down. Push it all the way down. This way, the camera focuses and then takes the pic (after the necessary delay for focusing and exposure). For moving objects under bright light, choose "action" or "shutter priority" as the exposure mode. If you're talking about moving objects in low light, heck, no $... camera can do it, be it film, digital, or extraterristial. And, why do you need to shoot moving objects in dark?5. Features:Menu very easy. I took it out of box, put in the (included) batteries, and started shooting right away. Installed the software on CD, plugged in USB cable, and got them into my PC. It does NOT get any easier than this. Focus assist light -- VERY useful under dim light.Movie & sound -- cool, occasionally could be useful. TV out -- a must have for digitals, but this one doesn't include a CABLE! HP share -- it does NOT get any easier than this!6. Bad part?Battery -- this thing CHOMPS down batteries. The included Energizer Titanium e^2 (sounds impressive huh?) gave me ~15, only ~4 with flash (and mostly via LCD). Then I tried some el cheapo ones. They gave me ~10 without flash (and mostly via EVF). Yes, the zoom, the larger LCD screen...but still! I'm waiting for the charger now.---------------Update1. Got rechargeable batteries. Battery life is quite good now. Forget about disposables, no matter how sexy the name sounds.2. I tried to upgrade the firmware from hp website, and failed after several times. In the end, the camera is dead. But HP support has been GREAT through this. After advicing me to try a few things, they sent me a new one, with a return shipping sticker for me to return the old one. This kind of warranty replacement policy is something I haven't seen!So, be careful before you do the firmware upgrade (as always with any firmware upgrade). If you have to do it, then do it before the warranty expires. Kudos to HP for GREAT service!
This review is from: HP PhotoSmart 850 4MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical ZoomThe HP850 is a great digital camera. I decided to buy this camera because for its price of $[money], you get a 4 megapixel,8X optical zoom camera. I couldn't find anything else even close to this level of performance for price.You can also take short video clips with the camera, which is nice. The camera also lets you take pictures in rapid succession, even with the flash. I really like how quickly the flash can charge up and let you take the next shot.HP got it right with this camera design. It has a very nice look to it and feels well balanced in your hands.One thing you definitely need to do is get rechargable NiMH batteries for the camera though. It will quickly burn through normal Alkaline cells. It runs off of 4 AA cells (not 2), which is listed incorrectly on Amazon.com I found the battery life very long using 4AA NiMH batteries (1700 mAh capacity).Also, the camera can recharge NiMH AA cells in the camera (according to the manual) but I haven't tried it yet. So you just need to buy the HP AC adapter and you don't need a seperate battery charger. ( I wish I new this before buying a seperate battery charger :(My conclusion: The HP 850 is great!Thi...
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