Hp Photosmart 945 Digital Camera USB 5mp Review
Hp Photosmart 945 Digital Camera USB 5mp
5mp HP Digital Camera 8x Optical Zoom 7x Digital Zoom
The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera with HP Instant Share delivers sharp photos and big zoom with 5.3 MP total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x precision optical lens, 7x digital). Snap, select and share photos right from the back of your camera using HP Instant Share - the easy and fun way to share photos with family and friends. Instantly preview photos anywhere - even outdoors in bright sunlight - with the electronic viewfinder, and use the automatic or manual controls to get the results you want for more creative shots. And with the touch of a single button - easily and conveniently send photos and video to various locations using the optional HP Photosmart 8881 dock, all while recharging your camera batteries!The camera looks substantial but is very light and fits easily in the hand. All controls are in the right place and you soon find yourself locating them without looking. The main screen is better than I expected being large and bright with considerably better resolution than I have previously experienced. The electronic viewfinder was, however, a little disappointing. Resolution was low and the image looks washed out. A better viewfinder would be nice but I only use it to compose so resolution is not the main concern here. Anyway, it's better than an optical viewfinder anyday.
HP has made the menus quick and easy to access via the main screen and the viewfinder. Picture reviewing and digital zoom are equally easy and a welcome change after years of struggling with a Fuji MX1200.
Some of the features (B/W, sepia, adaptive lighting technology) will be of limited use to PC owners as they will want the greater control afforded by software after downloading. Ok, if you don't own a PC I can see these features will offer a limited degree of creative control. But then, I think this camera maybe overkill if you only use it on holiday or family gatherings. Definitely one for creative photographers.
Perhaps the best feature of the 945 is the lens. 37-300mm zoom on a digicam? Nothing else compares on price
alone. When you consider how well it performs, you have to ask how HP can offer such a high spec package for the money? The competition will have to work hard to catch up.
Summing up I give HP 5 stars. Great looks, handling, lens and picture quality. The 945 is not perfect but perfection bares the logo of Leica or Contax and a price tag that would be impractical for most keen amateurs.
If you are looking for a digital SLR with a decent zoom at or near the 945's price bracket there will be little to compare it with.