HP PhotoSmart 318xi 2.31MP Digital Camera with 2x Optical Zoom

by HP

Product Details

Product Manual [3.05mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00006BBEM
• Item model number: C8901A#ABA
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,901 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Cheap Piece Of Garbage--Not worth $1 never mind $100., May 4, 2006

By 

Danielle (Peabody MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: HP PhotoSmart 318xi 2.31MP Digital Camera with 2x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I HATE this camera with a passion. If you want to know what it was like to take a picture in 1906 instead of 2006, buy this camera.

What it does do:

1. It takes pictures (sometimes...when it feels like it.)
2. It turns on and off (again, sometimes...when it feels like it.)
3. You can look at the pictures after you take them (well, you get a rough idea what they look like, because the screen isn't very clear.)
4. Use up batteries like you wouldn't believe (the other reviewer was doing good with 24 pictures--I'm lucky I can take 5 pictures without it dying on me.
6. You can download them to a computer and look at them (this is the best functioning part of the camera.)

What it doesn't do:

1. Take pictures of anything in motion--and when I mean motion, I'm talking about the slightest of twinges. If your subject or the person taking the picture aren't perfectly still, the picture will turn out blurry. Whatever you do, don't drink anything containing caffeine for 24 hours before using this camera.

2. Your subject has to stay perfectly still for about 3 seconds because that's how long it takes for the stupid camera to take a picture. Now, you may be thinking...3 seconds, that's nothing. Well, if you have children, 3 seconds is an eternity. The last time I've used the camera was when I wanted to take a picture of my two little girls. Fifteen tries later (along with 2 battery changes) I finally got a half decent picture. So obviously, if you have children or pets, this camera is an exercise in futility & frustration.

3. It doesn't go off every time you press the button. You have to press the button extremely hard and then wonder for the requisite 3 seconds if it's going to work this time.

4. It doesn't turn on every time you flip the on/off switch. If you flip the switch a little too hard, the camera will shut itself off again. If the camera turns on after 3 tries, then it's doing good.

5. If your background doesn't have megawatts of light, or is lit from the wrong area, your picture will turn out dark. Look forward to several minutes of playing 'musical lights' before you can get your picture to be clear enough.

I know $100 is very inexpensive for a digital camera, but this thing is so bad that I can't imagine paying that much for it. (My camera was a gift from my in-laws. They got it free after buying their HP computer.) Let's just say I'm glad neither I or they paid for it and I feel sorry for anyone who did. If you're in the market for a cheap digital camera, avoid this one like it has the bird flu. You'll save yourself a ton of frustration.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars HP Kills Batteries, Dead., February 21, 2006

By 

M. Daneker (Spinnerstown, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HP PhotoSmart 318xi 2.31MP Digital Camera with 2x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Not only does this cammera suck a pair of AA's dead in 24 photos (or about 15 minutes of video screen) but the cheep plastic hinge breaks easy under the spring pressure. The photos are okay but not great. The flash is nearly useless unless in pitch dark and the zoom only works with the video screen wich eats battery power fast.

Stay away, I have a new cannon and it's great.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Battery Guzzler, May 19, 2006

By 

MaroonKitty1 (Lorain, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP PhotoSmart 318xi 2.31MP Digital Camera with 2x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This thing went after batteries with a vengence! I even went out and purchased those super-juiced 'digital' batteries and was able to take about 5 pictures before it finished off the brand-new batteries. It does take pictures (for the most part...sometimes for no reason at all, it doesn't take pictures) but they are not clear on the viewing screen and the zoom makes for grainy pictures. It was terrible taking outdoor pictures if the sun shined at all... It washed out every image. This camera caused me no end of misery and I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone.