Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C912 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

by HP

Product Details

Product Manual [17.02mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.1 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 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: B000051YGZ
• Batteries: 4 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,582 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Here's the recipe for a terrific series of digital cameras: start with the electronic-imaging expertise of Hewlett-Packard (HP), whose printers and scanners are among the most popular in the world. For great optics, add five decades of camera-making experience from Pentax. The result? HP's new lineup, featuring the C912 and C912xi (identical except for the software that comes with them) as its twin flagship models. These two cameras offer an intriguing set of features not offered by any other manufacturer (except Pentax, which also sells this model as the EI2000).

Though virtually every other digital camera uses a rangefinder setup, the C912 is a true single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. Light entering the lens is split by a prism: most is sent to the camera's sensor, but some goes up to the viewfinder. When you look through the viewfinder, the image you see is coming through the lens, so you can see precisely what you'll capture. You can also preview and review your shots with the 2-inch color LCD on the back of the camera. As an added feature, the LCD has a 90-degree flip-up design, allowing you to see images even if the camera is held at waist level.

The all-new, 36-bit CCD sensor from Philips is another unusual touch. At two-thirds of an inch, it's still much smaller than a 35mm negative, but it's larger than the sensors in most other manufacturers' cameras. On paper at least, this should improve image capture. We were surprised to discover that the sensor's proportions are "squarer" than those on most digital cameras--most 2-megapixel models capture 1,600 x 1,200 pixels in their images (a 4:3 ratio), but the HP captures a 1,600 x 1280 image (a 5:4 ratio). The traditional 4:3 ratio evolved because it matches the proportions of a computer monitor--with this camera, images displayed on your screen will have bars down the left and right edges, or will need to be cropped at the top or bottom to fill the screen. If you like making prints, images will also need some serious cropping to fill a 4-by-6 or 5-by-7 inch sheet, but the proportions are perfect for an 8-by-10 inch print.

While other companies are putting 3.3-megapixel sensors into their high-end models, HP has chosen to use a 2.2-megapixel CCD instead. Perhaps HP's engineers have reached the same conclusion we have--that for most users, 2 megapixels is the best balance between image quality and speed, price, and file size.

The Pentax lens zooms from 34 to 107 mm (35mm camera equivalent), and includes eight elements in seven groups, with one aspherical element. HP also adds a 2x digital zoom, which brings images closer at the expense of image quality. Instead of using a pair of buttons on the camera body, users adjust the zoom by twisting a ring on the lens--a traditional arrangement borrowed from film cameras. The lens also has an unusually powerful macro feature, focusing on items as close to the lens as 2 centimeters.

The camera looks well-made and fits nicely in your hands. The size, shape, and soft curves are all reminiscent of a classic SLR camera. A status LCD on the top panel lets you see vital camera settings, a very useful feature if you're not using the battery-draining color LCD display on the back of the camera. Images are stored on either Type I or the thicker Type II CompactFlash cards. Though it physically fits in the slot, IBM's Microdrive isn't compatible with the camera.

If you're a techno-tinkerer, you'll love the fact that the C912 uses Digita as its operating system (OS). When Digita was introduced several years ago, some predicted this OS would be adopted by virtually every digital camera manufacturer. In reality, Digita has proven to be just slightly more popular than Esperanto, finding its way into only a handful of cameras, mostly from Kodak and Minolta. Digita offers the potential to easily upgrade the camera's firmware, in addition to allowing advanced users to write software scripts to customize camera functions. As an example of the power and flexibility of the OS, one Digita-powered download available on the Internet lets you play emulated arcade video games on the camera's LCD display. For the average digital photographer, however, the biggest advantages to Digita are the colorful onscreen menus and the ease with which you'll be able to transfer revised firmware to your camera.

Virtually every camera feature can either be left on automatic operation or can be set for manual control. The ISO can be adjusted from 25 to 400, and the flash, shutter speed, aperture, and focus can also be controlled by hand. There's an integrated pop-up flash atop the camera, plus a hot-shoe mount for an external strobe unit.

HP has devised a flexible power system for this model. You can use four standard AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, but for the ultimate in battery life, you can get a proprietary Olympus lithium-ion power pack and charger. With a suggested retail price of $99.00, the charging kit costs more than twice as much as a set of rechargeable AA batteries with charger, but lasts about twice as long on a charge as a set of high-capacity AA rechargeables.

If you're looking for a camera with the ultimate in resolution or the smallest dimensions, look elsewhere. But if you want a camera that looks and feels nice and has a good combination of features, the C912 is worth considering, especially if you're a fan of Pentax film cameras, love SLRs, or need a great macro lens.

Pros:

• True single-lens reflex camera
• Digita operating system for flexible upgrades
• Great lens with terrific macro

Cons:

• Nearly square images
• Takes Type II CompactFlash cards, but is not Microdrive compatible

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stoked!, February 8, 2001

By 

Dave R. "colorado-gadget-moose" (Telluride, CO United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C912 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This is the third digital camera that I have purchased (I sent the other two back because they were both disappointments). I was jaded. I wanted many things on a digital camera that i never thought I'd find. I wanted easy features that i could control without having to go through a bunch of lame menus. I wanted a good zoom. I wanted at least 2 megapixels. I wanted to have good control of my picture taking, and to be able to see 'through the lens', like an SLR 35. I was sure it wouldn't happen...

And then, I found the 912. What can I say? Well, in a nutshell: this baby ROCKS! Great pics with excellent clarity and color; great detail in shadows; manual control on about everything. Aperture, focus, shutter speed, it's all easily adjustable! What's that you say? You like to play with the variables, but don't want to spend all day 'tinkering'? No problem! You want macro? turn the dial to the flower, and you are good to go. You want landscape? turn the dial to the mountain. you want quick and easy night shots without dealing with all the aperture/shutter/exposure levels? turn the dial to night, and you're DONE! Action? NO PROBLEM! This camera has so many great features on the body of the camera that everything is just soooo easy to adjust and play with! the battery drain kinda honks, but i bought some rechargeables, and snapped like 100 pics, about half with the flash, before they ran out. the software is probably the best that I've seen come bundled (don't expect photoshop, but you will get good applications that grab your photos right off the camera and save them right to the hard drive folder of your choice, AND, the previewing is super easy!). also, the cam comes with straps, lens caps, and a little catalog of all the extras you can get for it from a third party dealer. This puppy has 47mm threads (i think they are 47 mm...?) and you can put tons of different filters, zoom lenses, etc. on this bad boy. This is the probably the best SLR-type digi cam for under $1000 on the market. if you want more megapixels, look elsewhere. but if you are a 35mm enthusiast that wants similar control, at a pretty decent price, on your digi, then look no further! Oh, by the way, this camera has a diopter on the eyepiece, that I still don't quite understand it's purpose... it allows you to focus on your subject, but has no effect on the actual image. Huh? Can someone help me out on that one... One thing: the price on this cam went up $100 between the day I purchased it, and the day I received it. I got the lower price, but what's with the sudden jump in price?...

This thing is a champ! Best Around! KUDOS! HP/Pentax have done their homework!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great camera but..., March 17, 2002

By 

Steven J. Vaccarello (West Palm Beach, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C912 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The C912 camera takes great pictures but does not perform well when you want to shoot with manual settings. This camera won't replace a 35MM SLR as I had hoped. Overall, I think I would have been better off buying a new 35MM SLR camera and a smaller digital camera like the Olympus C700. I sure miss my old Canon AE1!

Shortcomings:

1) Manual focus is a joke. You have to select between distance settings measured in "meters." I haven't found a way to change the readings to "feet." Adjustments to the manual focus are done at the back of the camera where your left thumb is. Neither the LCD display nor the viewfinder work very well for judging focus. I'd suggest that you set the camera for a small aperture so you'll get fairly well focused pics. Manual focus on the lens like a standare 35MM would be way way better.

2) The hot shoe only has one contact; you'll have to shoot with manual exposure settings when using an add-on flash unit.

3) Very low light pictures shot at long exposure come out with "noise" in the picture that looks like snowflakes.

4) When using the flash, aperture or shutter speed priority perform poorly. I would have expected the flash to compensate better for changes to aperture and shutter speed. I've taken some pic's that came out with poor exposure this way.

5) The camera is as large as a 35MM SLR, too big to put in your pocket. On the bright side, you don't have to worry about it falling out of your pocket...

6) Shooting in Automatic mode provides average focus so you get pictures that are often out of focus.

7) The autofocus has a half-second or so delay that you have to compensate for. I guess all auto focus cameras perform this way. You have to shoot in manual focus to get instant shutter response. I sure miss my old Canon AE1.

8) A 10x zoom lens like the Olympus C700 would be much better. A removable lens like standard a real 35MM SLR camera would make this camera the best thing since sliced bread! The 3x zoom is okay for general photography. I should have bought the C700!

9) Zoom is electric not mechanical. It's adjusted on the lens like a 35MM focus ring. It's a bit slow to respond. Mechanical would have been way better.

Advantages:

1) Shooting in "P" for program mode and set with center point focus produces excellent pictures just about all the time.

2) The flash is small but quite powerful.

3) The camera has an excellent look and feel.

4) Diopter allows you adjust the viewfinder to your eye so you can shoot without your glasses and see clearly.

5) The camera is built very well. This is one of the main reasons I bought it. I'm sure it can take quite a hit without breaking. You could probably use it to break open walnuts! The lens is enclosed so it doesn't extend in and out like smaller cameras. The lens is built to accept screw-on filters and telephoto and other lenses without Mickey Mouse adapters. Install a clear filter the day you get the camera to protect the lens from dirt and finger prints.

6) The camera uses a proprietary battery pack or standard AA batteries. Rechargeable 1700mAh AA NiMH Batteries and a Radio Shack one-hour charger perform well and cost half of what you'll pay for the HP battery and charger. I use the 6-volt AC power supply that came with my camcorder to power the camera without batteries and have had no problems.

7) The date displays on the image. A note and logo can also be displayed on the image.

8) Sound recording is a pretty cool feature. No video recording and glad.

9) A PCMCIA adapter for the compact flash can be bought for [price]. It's fantastic for vacation. I bring along my old laptop to download pictures every evening. 64MB holds 58 pic's at highest resolution.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "real" camera for people who enjoy photography, December 14, 2001

By 

Michael O'Farrell (Kingsgrove, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C912 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I spent some time looking around before buying. This camera gives me the level of control/options/manual override that I am used to in 35mm cameras. My 35mm camera is a Pentax, so the controls and functions are familiar. I also like the SLR operation and the size/weight/feel of the camera.

A couple of worthwhile plus points:

1. The battery is a rechargeable video camera battery and has very good life - you can take a couple of hundred pictures including a good number with flash without it needing to be recharged. Much better performance than my friends have been able to get from their cameras.

2. The direct, onboard, USB connenction makes downloading images to my PC very simple and quick. The CompactFlash card format is maturing - large capacity cards are readily available and not too expensive.

Just two small quibbles:

1. The camera has a hot-shoe flash attachment but only works in manual (not automatic TTL) mode. This means my Pentax flash unit fits but doesn't work in with the metering system.

2. The 'continuous' mode takes a picture every few seconds. You'd be hoping for perhaps 2 per second. This feature isn't actually useful at that speed.

Those two small things aside I've been very happy with the camera and the results I've been able to get with it.

Michael