HP Photosmart M417 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Other products by Hewlett-Packard

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 3 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007KTG1M
• Item model number: M417
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,770 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 28, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Take exceptional photos that make beautiful 4 x 6-inch prints and enlargements up to poster-size. Get crisp detail at 5 megapixel resolution and 21x total zoom--HP Precision 3x optical lens, 7x digital. This easy-to-use camera features HP real life technologies to help you take better photos. Automatically bring out details normally lost in shadows using HP adaptive lighting and remove red-eye in-camera. Snap photos easily using an intuitive button layout. A unique, sculpted grip keeps the camera steady for one-handed shots. View shots on a bright, 1.8-inch image display. E-mail photos to friends without large attachments using HP instant share. Edit, share, and organize photos with included HP image zone software. Easily transfer and print photos, recharge in-camera batteries, and more using an optional dock. Store photos with 16 MB internal memory and an optional SD/MMC card. Shoot video clips or a series of photos in burst mode. Get the perfect shot at the exact moment in fast shot mode.

Take Exceptional Photos

• Snap exceptional photos at 5 megapixel resolution that make beautiful 4x6-inch prints and enlargements.
• Get crisp and clear distance shots with 21x total zoom--HP precision 3x optical lens, 7x digital.
• Remove red-eye on the spot--the camera identifies and eliminates red-eye without software touch-ups.
• Automatically bring out details normally lost in shadows with HP adaptive lighting technology.

Easy-to-use Design

• Easily frame and review photos, menus, and more on a bright, 1.8-inch image display.
• A stylish, easy-to-use design features a grip for one-handed shots and an intuitive button layout.
• Fast shot mode captures quick, fleeting shots with minimal shutter lag.

Share Your Photos Your Way

• Automatically e-mail photos to friends, without large attachments, and print.
• Select where to send photos as you take them, then e-mail without attachments using HP instant share.
• Edit, organize, print and share digital photos easily using included HP image zone software.
• Easily transfer, print, e-mail photos and more using an optional dock, recharge batteries too.
• Print PC-free using optional SD/MMC cards cards or to any compatible PictBridge printer.

More Options With Your Camera

• Store dozens of photos, shoot video clips, recharge quickly and more.
• Pick your power source--rechargeable NiMH batteries or disposable AA photo lithium batteries.
• Never miss a moment--shoot video clips with audio, or take a series of photos in rapid succession.
• With 16 MB internal memory and a slot for an optional SD/MMC card, easily store dozens of photos.
• Choose from a wide variety of optional accessories--dock, cases, quick recharge kits, and more.

Product Description

Take exceptional photos that make beautiful 4 x 6-inch prints and enlargements up to poster-size. Get crisp detail at 5 MP resolution and 21x total zoom-HP Precision 3x optical lens, 7x digital. This easy-to-use camera features HP Real Life technologies to help you take better photos. Snap photos easily using an intuitive button layout. A unique, sculpted grip keeps the camera steady for one-handed shots. View shots on a bright, 1.8-inch image display. Shoot video clips or a series of photos in Burst mode. HP Instant Share - allows you to send your photos by e.mail without attachments Edit, organize, print and share digital photos easily using included HP Image Zone software HP Adaptive Lighting automatically brings out details normally lost in shadows Identifies and removes red-eye without software touch-ups Shoot a video clip with audio or take a series of photos in rapid succession Shutter speed - 2 to 1/2000 sec Burst rate - 2 shots / second, 3 pictures maximum Shooting modes - Auto, Action, Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Fast Shot Easily transfer and print photos, recharge in-camera batteries, and more using an optional dock (not included). USB connectivity Uses rechargeable NiMH batteries or disposable AA photo lithium batteries Compatible with Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP; Mac OS X v 10.2 or later System requirements - USB-compatible Macintosh with Mac OS X 10.1.5, 10.2.x or later, 10.3.x; 500 MHz PowerPC processor; QuickTime Version 5.0.1 or later; 128 MB RAM; 240 MB disk space; SVGA monitor (800 x 600, 16-bit color); CD-ROM drive; open USB port Size - 4.1 x 1.3 x 2 Weight - 6.2 oz (with batteries) 1-year limited warranty and support

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good personal-use camera, December 12, 2005

By	B. Nagel - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The M417 is a good digital camera for typical personal use. The onboard memory won't hold very many pictures taken at 5mp, but with the price of SD cards constantly falling, it is not too difficult to expand the storage. Another user wrote a review claiming that this model uses up batteries at a fast rate (after 20-25 pictures or so). I put in 2 Energizer AA batteries and have gotten well over 100 pictures and the batteries are still going strong. Maybe it's just a fluke, but it is worth noting. Yet another reviewer claimed to have trouble using the LCD screen to take pictures and suggested using the viewfinder instead. On my model I've found that lining objects up in the viewfinder creates an off-center picture that's shifted to the right. If I use the LCD, the pictures line up fine.

The picture quality at 5mp is very crisp and clear, even when printed onto 8x10 photo paper. I cannot give an opinion on the included software, as I have an SD card reader and use that to transfer pictures. The camera is lightweight, easy to hold, and the LCD is large enough and bright enough to clearly browse through pictures. The built-in red eye correction is OK, but you're better off using 3rd-party software to make this correction on a PC.

Though I've pointed out a few shortcomings, the M417 is a very nice 5mp camera whose few faults are easily dealt with and not insurmountable. For the price, it is one of the better 5mp buys currently on the market.

NOTE: If you choose to buy this camera bundled with the M-series camera dock, know that the rechargable batteries included with the dock drain very quickly and take a dispreportionally long amount of time to recharge.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good Camera, good for normal photos, June 14, 2005

By	Roy Burstiner "evan23" (CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I got this expecting a really great camera but I think it's okay for a simple point & shoot camera. It does take some fairly good 4 x 6 photos, but the detail is still not as sharp as a good 35mm camera (my Minolta 400 Maxxum SLR still takes sharper pictures especially with far away distance detail). This camera is best for normal photos (people shots about 4 to 20 feet away it's very good) However there are some good things & bad things about this camera.

Pros: Great selection of modes, settings, exposure settings, different lighting situations etc. The software that comes with the camera is excellent & it's very is to download the photos from the camera to your computer. The manual is excellent also.

Modes: Closeup, Fast Shot, Action, Landscape, Portrait & Auto. It's easy to juggle thru these settings via a button on the camera as well as thru the menu system. Nice feature of being able to turn on the camera to the last setting mode is convenient.

3x optical zoom, also digital zoom. As with any digital camera you should use just the optical zoom, digital zoom always reduces the resolution & you will never get any good photos from it. Optical zoom is okay but also with any digital camera, when you use the zoom your hands better be very steady or use a tripod otherwise you will get blurry shots.

Has a self timer which takes 1 or 2 shots automacially. Also has a Burst shot mode which takes 4 pictures in a row as long as you hold down the shutter.

Can take photos in 5 different resolution setttings 1-5 megapixals but I always tell everyone to always shoot in the highest resolution to get the sharpest photos (I run a photo lab & have seen a lot of pixelated photos because people shoot in low resolution to get more photos on their memory cards)
I have a 128 mb SD card in my camera & get 49 photos at a time at the highest setting.

Cons: Alot of times I get slightly blurry shots if I use the LCD screen to take my photos. The camera is so small that like other digital cameras it's hard to hold the camera stedy while pressing the shutter. Your best bet is to use the viewfinder & hold the camera close to you to brace it for the best results. But I also use the burst shot mode to take a lot of my photos (when you do that your chances are that 1 out of the 4 shots will come out really good)

LCD screen is very hard to see in bright daylight (but I have yet to see a digital camera that you could see well outdoors well)

In low light situations if you don't use the flash I'ts very hard to get a really good sharp photo. The camera is so small that it's alway hard not to avoid camera shake when depressing the shutter. indoor shots come out okay, outdoor day shots are always much sharper & clearer.

I wont go into the video mode or the audio recording option on the camera, basically most still digital cameras do this but they are not that great. You buying these cameras to take still pictures anyway.

summery: It's an okay camera for taking normal good photos, compact enough to put in your pocket, but not better than a good 35 mm camera. It's a good carrying around camera, that's better than a disposable & good for most situations.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good camera takes nice pictures, very easy to use!, July 14, 2006

By	Cora Morgan "coraspartan" (Roseville, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We received this camera as a gift. At first I was a little nervous about whether the quality of the camera would be inferior (I have an HP printer that I have had problems with). However, after using it, I can say that I am very happy with it. Other reviewers are right--if you use regular AA batteries, they are drained after taking only about 20 photos. Invest in rechargeable batteries, they will save you a ton of money! The software that came with this camera is great! It is super easy to use; I didn't even have to consult the owner's manual once to try to figure out how to save, print, name, or maneuver my pictures. This is my first digital camera, so I think that tells you how user-friendly this software is.
Sometimes this camera takes slightly blurry pictures, but I think that's more user error (me moving slightly) than the camera's fault. I have taken some amazing photos of my flowers that turned out fantastic! All in all, this is a good camera that I would recommend, especially for a first time digital camera user.