Digital cameras have come a long way since the bulky, low-quality models of the past. Nowadays users can select from a plethora of high quality digital cameras to replace their 'old-media` cameras.
However, photograph hobbyists were constantly overlooked by digital camera companies and were seldom considered a potential market. Not anymore. The HP PhotoSmart 618 is specifically designed for the photo enthusiast, with higher quality pictures and increased storage capacity.
The easy-to-learn operating system works in four modes, namely capture, playback, review and PC Connect.
Everyone say 'Cheese!`
Given the nature of the product, the capture mode is the essence of the PhotoSmart 618. The camera allows users to take simple point-and-click pictures or, by making use of its advanced features, different types of pictures, like black-and-white, sepia tone and a series of time-lapse pictures.
The PhotoSmart 618 builds on familiar HP digital camera features with buttons for setting auto focus range, timer mode (giving three-second or ten-second timer options) and flash modes which include features like auto with red-eye reduction, permanent on and red-eye reduction for night photos. The ever-present HP zoom button also builds on the familiar feel of the digital camera.
Another useful feature is the focus lock, allowing the user to get the proper focus on an otherwise out-of-focus subject. The PhotoSmart 618 can also shoot continuous high-speed action shots and can be set up for a series of time-lapse pictures.
HP can claim to have produced a truly multimedia product as the user can record up to 45 seconds of audio with every picture. The microphone sits on the front of the PhotoSmart 618 and, while the microphone is quite sensitive, I would have preferred it at the back where the rest of the action takes place.
The user can select from three different quality settings for images and two different image types (full-quality, uncompressed TIFF and space-efficient JPEG). Don`t think that you can take a lot of pictures in TIFF format, as there is only space on the memory card for two images. However, depending on the quality setting, a user can fit anything from 15 to 56 ordinary JPEG images on the PhotoSmart 618.
Watching the slideshow
In playback mode, users can view photographs either by scrolling through them or by watching a slideshow. Users can also zoom in or out of any picture and can disable the overlay bars. Navigating through the pictures is easily done through a four-way controller.
However, it is when selecting the slideshow option that the functionality of the camera comes to the fore. Users are able to set the content and duration of the slideshow as well as whether the slideshow loops and whether any voice notes are played back with the pictures.
The content option allows the user to either view all the pictures on the camera or view the pictures according to the categories attributed to them in the review mode. The rate at which sequences of time-lapse and grouped pictures are played back can also be specified in the playback mode.
Categorising, grouping, marking
The review mode allows users to sort and edit captured images. The LCD of the PhotoSmart 618 displays all the images saved on the memory card in thumbnail format. Also, the currently selected thumbnail is displayed as a large thumbnail on the bottom left-hand side of the screen. As in the playback mode, navigation can easily be done through the four-way controller.
On the right-hand side of the large thumbnail, details such as when and at what time the picture was taken appears. If the picture is part of a group, the group icon of the picture is also visible and a sound icon is shown if the picture has a voice note attached to it.
A very useful feature in the review mode is the ability to mark and unmark any number of images. This allows users to select several images and delete them all at once.
When taking a series of time-lapse or continuous images, the PhotoSmart 618 automatically groups the pictures together. This allows the user to view the entire series as a slideshow or to edit the pictures as a group.
For those who are wary of accidentally deleting images, the product allows for the write-protection of images. Pictures can also be placed in nine different categories including scenery, pets, work and friends. However, there is an option to create a new category should the existing ones not suite the particular image.
The image mark feature is helpful here to select several pictures for placement in a specific category. The camera also features a search option that can search according to image date or according to category.
Linking up with devices
Users can also download images to a PC using the universal serial bus (USB) cable shipped with the camera. The PhotoSmart 618 also has a built-in infrared port for sending photographs directly to a printer that supports the HP JetSend infrared technology.
However, before one can download images to a PC, one must first install the HP software bundled with the camera. The software takes approximately four minutes to install, depending on which add-on programs are chosen, and install size ranges from 1.02MB to 11.72MB. It is recommended to install all the software to the PC to fully utilise the features of the PhotoSmart 618.
After installing the software, a user can link up the camera to the PC using the USB cable, select the PC Connect mode on the camera and wait for the PC to auto-run the HP Photo Imaging software. Unfortunately, you cannot mark images for download so you have to download all the images every time. Luckily, the USB cable allows for quicker downloading than would take place through a serial connection.
Other useful features are the ability to transfer images from camera to camera and the ability to view images on a television through the video/audio-out cable supplied with the camera.
Product snapshot
HP says the PhotoSmart 618 is targeted at the photo enthusiast who is looking for a digital camera with advanced image control in a point-and-shoot format. To this end, it passes with flying colours with more than enough image options to play with in order to take the perfect picture.
Unfortunately, the lack of a power adapter and rechargeable batteries with the PhotoSmart 618 means that, in addition to the initial R5 000 outlay on the camera, users must shop around for, and pay close to, R100 for something that should have been there in the first place.
Other than these gripes, enthusiasts should be satisfied with the performance and image quality of the product, with voice notes and continuous pictures adding to the list of useful features. The menu system is a pleasure to work with and even Luddites should be able to navigate and operate the camera without too many problems.
Related links:
HP PhotoSmart 618 product page
Share