HP PhotoSmart 612 > Reviews (6)

While this camera worked, I was really happy with it. It took good quality pictures, the focus was usually exactly right, and it did well in a variety of light levels. The optical zoom was exactly what I had been looking for, and it had enough memory so that it wasn't inconvenient to take on trips. It also had a good price for all of its features, that was the original reason I bought it. I really liked this camera, was very happy with it, and would have used it forever, except....

This camera's got what I would call serious durability problems, and you can see evidence of this problem if you check Ebay or any other place on the 'net where people who have had HP612's for a few years are active (The HP support forum at forums1.itrc.hp.com has a really long thread about this camera, with many disappointed owners). My first one simply died, wouldn't turn on or anything. HP replaced that one. The replacement camera had a weird problem where you had to work the zoom in order to get it to begin focusing, but I could use it so I didn't haggle. Then, the big problem came: three colorbars on the screen, and no more working camera. It appears to be a problem with either crashed software on the camera, or damaged firmware, we're not exactly sure yet. LOTS AND LOTS of these cameras are doing this, it usually happens after the warranty has expired, and in this event, HP does absolutely nothing for you except offer to sell you a refurb. Knowing what I know now, I would not have bought my HP612 because they come from the factory with this wide-impacting (although time delayed onset) problem. No one expects to buy a digital camera and have it die two years later, all of my friends who have (other) digital cameras are happily taking pictures. I wish HP would do more to help us.

Despite the fact that I really liked this camera while it worked, I have to rate this camera as "very poor" because this problem from the factory 100% disables the camera. This software or firmware problem is widespread and HP doesn't really help you with it once the camera happens to be out of warranty. I cannot recommend that anyone buy one with the expectation that it will last for what you would expect to be a normal digital camera lifetime.