HP Photosmart R717 6.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Other products by Hewlett-Packard

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 7.6 x 2.2 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007KTG1W
• Item model number: R717
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,825 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 2, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera has the ideal form for a digital camera: easy to grip, easy to operate with one hand, small enough to slip into a pocket or purse. But its external attributes are just the beginning. This camera's real beauty lies below the surface with advanced technologies that produce astounding images while making day-to-day digital photography easy.

The R717 combines 3x optical zoom and 6.2-megapixel resolution with a stainless steel face and a sleek, sculpted body. It features exclusive HP Real Life technologies, including HP adaptive lighting technology, HP in-camera red-eye removal, HP in-camera panorama preview, HP image advice, and more. Photographers in search of a camera that is technologically advanced, easy to use, small and affordable will find what they're looking for with the R717. It also supports a dock (sold separately) that charges the battery in the camera while charging a spare battery in the dock's extra battery bay and allows easy download and sharing of your images. You can also charge the battery in camera using the included HP 3.3V AC adapter.

HP Real Life Technologies
This suite includes HP adaptive lighting technology, HP in-camera red-eye removal, HP in-camera panorama preview, and more. Combined, these technologies define the special characteristics that set the R717 apart and allow those who use this camera to be more successful in their photography.

Adaptive Lighting Technology digitally corrects harsh contrasts, bringing faces out of shadow and bringing details out of dark backgrounds.

HP Adaptive Lighting Technology
This breakthrough technology, based on a model of the human vision system, allows a digital camera to produce photos that look more like what we see with our own eyes. The technology works by digitally correcting harsh contrasts, bringing faces out of shadow and bringing details out of dark backgrounds, so bright and dark areas in a photo are more balanced. By selectively adjusting light and dark areas, HP adaptive lighting technology produces images that are lifelike and realistic--closer to what we see when the photo is taken. Faces appear less shadowed, shooting into the sun is less risky, and more photo details are revealed. HP adaptive lighting technology allows HP cameras to produce better images because, unlike post-processing techniques, in-camera relighting techniques can apply all crucial lighting information to a photo--including not only the image information, but also information about how the camera is being operated, the environment the camera is in, and even the characteristics of that individual camera.

The R717's in-camera red-eye removal system uses up to 60 criteria to identify red eyes before previewing corrections on screen for approval.

HP In-Camera Red-Eye Removal
HP in-camera red-eye removal finds and corrects red-eye, the common result of flash photography when the strobe (flash) reflects off the retina of the human eye. HP was the first to correct red-eye while images are still in the camera. HP's patented algorithm works by first locating all the candidate red areas in the photograph. The algorithm then performs a series of tests using up to 60 different criteria to determine whether the red area is actually part of a human eye. These criteria are measured only until a conclusion is reached; not all tests are performed on each image, so the algorithm operates very quickly. A correction phase then darkens red areas to remove the color and return the eyes to a more natural color. The camera then displays a preview image on the LCD screen so photographers can see where corrections will take place. The preview image is provided before any changes are made to the original image, so the changes can be rejected if the algorithm failed to correctly identify red-eye (if a small red light is mistakenly identified as an eye, for example). HP in-camera red-eye removal should not be confused with other existing red-eye reduction techniques. HP cameras will continue to offer a red-eye reducing pre-flash as well as HP Image Zone software, which allows red-eye to be removed in post-processing after images are transferred to a PC.

Preview five-image panoramas in the camera to ensure you've gotten all the shots.

HP In-Camera Panorama Preview
This feature helps simplify the way a sequence of photos in a panorama can be aligned and previewed. The R717 includes image-based guidance algorithms that provide a visual overlay in the camera's LCD. While shooting a sequence of pictures, image detail from the previous photo is displayed on the camera's LCD, making it easy to line up photos from one to the next. Then the photos can be merged--while they're still in the camera--into a seamless preview shot that can be viewed on the camera's LCD. If there's a gap, or if a segment of the panorama is missing, the photographer will know it immediately and can reshoot. When the images are transferred to a PC, HP Image Zone and ArcSoft Panorama Maker software can automatically stitch the photos together to create the final panorama.

HP Adaptive Noise Filter
Image noise appears as an undesired bumpy or granular look in what should be a smooth area in the image, such as a clear blue sky or a smooth skin tone. The darker the image--such as an indoor picture taken under dim lighting--the more noise there will be. This noise is due to many sources including thermal noise, electrical noise, and the quantum nature of light. As a result, all digital cameras suffer from noise, but not all of them attempt to reduce it. The R717 addresses the problem by filtering image data prior to processing. The result is a clear, sharp, high-quality photo.

Key Features of the R717
Advanced image processing and controls:

• HP Real Life technologies, a suite of in-camera technologies that are unique to HP cameras, provide superior image capture and photo quality.
• HP adaptive lighting technology /r auto-adjusts high-contrast photos, so faces are brought out of shadows and details are brought out of backgrounds.
• HP in-camera red-eye removal eliminates red-eye while images are in the camera; no software touch-ups required.
• HP in-camera panorama preview provides guidance routines that make it easy to precisely align a sequence of up to five photos in a panorama and lets you preview the stitched image on the camera.
• HP image advice analyzes photos and provides suggestions right on the camera's LCD for improving photo quality.
• HP adaptive demosaic automatically calculates more accurate colors and renders crisp, sharp edges by eliminating color fringing.
• HP adaptive tone map is like having a professional darkroom in your camera. Each picture is custom "developed" in the camera for truly stunning results as the camera individually optimizes each image for contrast and brightness. This results in photos with rich highlights and shadow detail.
• HP adaptive white balance uses sophisticated HP Labs developed routines to better identify the type of light illuminating your scene--giving you a photo that is correctly color balanced.
• AE bracketing captures an image at three different exposure settings with one click--pick the shot you like best and discard the others.

Camera features and highlights:

• High-pixel, ultrabright 1.8-inch LCD for easy viewing, even outdoors
• Focus Assist for reliable focusing in low-light conditions
• Built-in orientation sensor determines when the camera is being held vertically, and automatically rotates the photo to its proper orientation
• Five flash modes
• Audio and video recording with separate video record button
• 12 shooting modes
• Four focus modes
• Four resolution and four compression settings
• Multi-zone auto focus
• Brushed stainless steel face with sculpted grip--great for one-handed shooting
• Zoom button also controls LCD zoom during image playback
• In-camera battery charging (via included AC adapter or optional dock)
• Optional dock with extra battery recharge bay
• Optional rapid battery charger for lithium ion battery
• USB interface to Windows or Macintosh systems
• 32 MB internal memory included, plus SD/MMC card slot
• Streaming video with audio at 30 frames per second (fps) to memory limit
• Burst mode, up to three shots at 3 fps

Product Description
Take superior photos at 6.2 MP and 24x total zoom - HP Precision 3x optical lens, 8x digital. Automatically bring out details normally lost in shadows using HP Adaptive Lighting. Remove red-eye, preview panorama shots, shots, and get photo-taking tips - all in-camera.Small enough to fit in your pocket, this stylish camera features a durable, stainless steel front. View photos and menus on a 1.8-inch LCD. A unique grip keeps the camera steady for quick, one-handed shots. Add creative touches with manual controls. Get optimized photos using 12 shooting modes, including Action, Sunset, and more. Shoot video clips with sound, and take a series of photos in rapid succession using Burst mode. Get crisp, clear photos automatically with multi-zone focus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great camera but has issues, July 11, 2005

By	felix_s (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

PROS:
* easy to use (I mean so simple your grandma could do it)
* great quality photos
* pre-programmed modes allow for quick set up

CONS:
* slow from start to when you can take first photo
* slow to charge flash between pictures

More on the pros:
(Easy to use) When I was shopping around for cameras I was basically walking around the store playing with each camera to and see how many controls I could figure out how to use without reading the manual. With this camera I was up and running in 5 seconds.

(great quality photos) At 6.3 megapixel you get photos of amazing quality with extreme detail (sometimes too extreme; skin imperfections are not great at up close)

(pre-programmed modes) Basically the pre-programmed mode allows you to set basic camera features (such as shutter speed and flash) all at once with a click of a button. You also get 1 mode to program yourself. This allows you to go from a portrait mode to action mode in a second rather than having to play around with all of the settings 1x1.

More on the cons:

(slow at the start) From "Off" mode to picture mode takes longer then you would expect (especially if you have to use flash). So if you want to take a picture of something quickly, you maybe very disappointed. For me this is not such a huge problem since I pretty much take portrait or landscape photos.

(slow to charge flash) I think this is a much bigger problem for this camera than the previous one I mentioned. It takes a while (think like 10 secs or so) between each flash shot. Personally I think this is the biggest flaw that this camera has. This is most annoying when you are taking pictures in a dark environment and the first one you took is not so great so you want to take another quicky, well you're going to have to wait.

Overall:

I am extremely happy with this camera. For the $ you are paying for it, you are getting a great little camera. And yes it is actually smaller than my last camera (Cannon Elph 2.3 megapixel).

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great camera, minor flaws, December 20, 2005

By	N. Manchanda "average joe" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This camera has been awesome, and provides all the benefits that the literature boasts. The things I don't like:

1. Boot up time
2. Time between shots (with flash, or if you use the burst mode). There have been times when I've had to wait 30-40 seconds, to take my second shot of 3 bursts.
3. Autofocus. If you really want a quick shot, and point and shoot it, even though the subject is right in front of your camera it is too quick to take the snap and your subject could be out of focus.

The last one is a killer for me, and I'm surprised others haven't mentioned this.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great family camera, July 19, 2005

By	Steven K. CFP (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While film (with a Zeiss lense!) is still my preferred format, this is a great little family camera. My wife and daughters love it. Sometimes I am surprised at the quality of the pictures I can print out with very little Photo Shop fiddling -- especially outdoor shots. For indoor, which usually means flash, there are adjustment capabilities that make it possible to get very good "snapshot" pictures. I'm particular, though, most would be happy with the full auto mode. Very handy is the separate button for video clips. This is our second one, as the first was damaged, and it's an excellent value.