HP PhotoSmart 320

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The HP Photosmart 320 offers:

2.1 mega pixels - I was told this wasn't enough for a clear picture of the quality that I needed to display on my website. I photograph soaps and they need to be really detailed. This amount of MP's has been adequate regardless of what the salesman said...

4x digital zoom - thankfully this is automatic as I have no idea what i'd do if I had to operate it myself!

...things and there is an HP range of papers to accompany the program. Also there is a free option to upload to the web - I created an online gallery for family and friends.


The camera does not come with a carry case so I had to buy one so as not to damage the lense as there is no shutter but for the price, I am not surprised.

I would buy this camera again purely for ease of use BUT would not recommend it for anyone ... more

I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the internet world just over a year ago when I started building my website.

My criteria for buying a camera were as follows:

Must be easy to use
Have no unnecessary, confusing features
Be simple to upload to the computer
Have a video screen viewfinder
Take clear pictures

The HP Photosmart 320 offers:

2.1 mega pixels - I was told this wasn't enough for a clear picture of the quality that I needed to display on my website. I photograph soaps and they need to be really detailed. This amount of MP's has been adequate regardless of what the salesman said...

4x digital zoom - thankfully this is automatic as I have no idea what i'd do if I had to operate it myself!

adjustable or auto flash - useful, it also has red-eye reduction feature which has been great! At last no evil red-eyed monsters!

optional picture quality - this is really useful. You can choose from good, better or best options. Each option uses different amounts of memory space. I often use good for basic photographs of scenery etc. and best for really close up and detailed things. You can switch between modes for each picture and it even tells you how much memory space you have left each time.

self timer of 1 minute - I use this when taking silly photos of me and my son - see my photo on file when it shows up! This was taken on the basic 'good' setting and with the self timer whilst my husband held the camera to see if it would work!

30 second video - I had no idea it took video clips! It's great, I have memories of all sorts of things nicely stored away. The quality is basic 'home video' style and not for the perfectionist and it has no sound. A wonderful add-on for the money though and superb for people like me who are not into the whole photography thing but love family memories! This feature is easy to use by touching one button for on and again for off.

see-as-you photograph viewfinder - where would I be without this... the camera shows you on a mini screen exactly what the picture will be. I would not take a photograph without it as the plain viewfinder that you look through, doesn't correspond with the final picture - it veres to the left a bit. This isn't just me as everyone who has used it has said the same.

self management - you can view, rotate, delete, magnify and view as thumbnails all images on the card. It also allows you to store one photo to be displayed whenever the camera is turned on.

Update screen - at the bottom of the screen it always tells you how many photo's you can take before the memory if full. This varies when you change the quality settings

Upload cable - standard cable and included disc needed. Was simple to add and is recognised by the photo software I already had.

Their software is also included and is easy to use - you can create all sorts of things but one unusual one was to choose your photos and choose a page template and it creates albums for you and adjusts the sizes accordingly. You can do all sorts of creative things and there is an HP range of papers to accompany the program. Also there is a free option to upload to the web - I created an online gallery for family and friends.

The camera does not come with a carry case so I had to buy one so as not to damage the lense as there is no shutter but for the price, I am not surprised.

I would buy this camera again purely for ease of use BUT would not recommend it for anyone wanting to use it as a normal view by eye camera - without using the video display, the picture doesn't come out as you view it - it veres to the left. I don't know if this is true of all of them!

Picture quality is far better than expected and it really is simple to use.

HP photosmart 320, 2.1mp, 4x digital zoom.
Internal memory of 8mb but I added a 64mb card for £19.99 from Jempsons which is also where I purchased the camera for £99.99.

It holds approx:(using the card)
68 photos at best quality
121 at better quality
696 (yes 696) at good quality

Instruction mannual is very well written and details everything that could possibly go wrong also! Helpline available but i've not needed to call them.

Overall pro's
price
good quality photos
ease of use
fun creative software & web ideas
video

overall cons
need to use the screen viewfinder not the manual one
no case
no lense cover or shutter to protect
no professional photographer came free....
 

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