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Photograph: Rick Rizner
HP Photosmart 945 Digital Camera (5.08MP, 2608 x1952, 8x Opt, 32 MB SD) (HP (Hewlett-Packard)-Q2200A)
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$139.00 From 1 Vendor Get Best Prices »
| Overall rating | 76 |
| Image quality: To gauge picture quality, we take a series of shots, with and without flash, at 640 by 480 resolution and at the camera's highest resolution. We photograph a complex still life and a mannequin to see how well each camera captures details and subtle colorings such as skin tones. A panel of judges reviews the on-screen and printed photos and assigns image-quality scores; we then average those scores. | Good |
| Ease of use | Good |
| Features | Very good |
| Maximum effective pixels, resolution | 5.1 megapixels, 2608 by 1952 resolution |
| Bundled media | 32MB SD card |
| Focal range (35mm equivalent) | 37mm to 300mm |
| Aperture range (wide, telephoto) | f2.8 to f11.3, f3.1 to f12.4 |
| Shutter speed range (seconds) | 16 seconds to 1/2000 second |
| Viewfinders | Electronic viewfinder, 2-inch LCD |
| Video and audio recording | 288 by 208 video (with audio), up to 60 seconds per clip |
| Semiautomatic and manual modes | Three scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority modes; manual focus |
| Optional lenses | None |
| Software | HP Photo and Imaging Software, ArcSoft Funhouse |
| Other features | Audio notes, diopter dial, optional camera dock, zoom during video recording |
| Battery score | Outstanding |
| Battery life | 500 shots, 182 minutes |
| Battery type | Four AA |
| Dimensions and weight | 4.5 by 3.3 by 3.3 inches; 16.5 ounces |
| Support policy score | Very good |
| Support policies | One-year parts and labor warranty, 24-hour daily toll-free support |
HP Photosmart 945
Photosmart 945 Digital Camera (5.08MP, 2608 x1952, 8x Opt, 32 MB SD) (HP (Hewlett-Packard)-Q2200A) Review, by Tracey Capen March 26, 2004
HP's Photosmart 945 is a camera that's difficult to pigeonhole. Its large black body, 5.1-megapixel imaging, and 8X optical zoom lens might put it in the class of such advanced cameras as the Minolta DiMage A1 or the Fujifilm FinePix S7000, which cost several hundred dollars more. But the overall design of the Photosmart 945 seems intended for someone primarily interested in point-and-shoot ease.
For one thing, this camera has few of the high-end creative controls found in more-expensive models, and those it does contain are not especially sophisticated. Its manual focus, for example, lacks the magnified view that helps with accurate focus--especially with macro shots. Also, HP added aperture- and shutter-priority modes (the former can be found in many point-and-shoot models), but no full-manual exposure mode. Using the priority modes is relatively slow: For instance, selecting an aperture value requires you to repeatedly press one of the camera's four-way navigation buttons. Better cameras often have a dial that lets you pick your aperture quickly.
Photographers looking for simplicity in their camera should like the Photosmart 945. Like most well-designed point-and-shoots, it has dedicated buttons for flash, self-timer, and macro focus settings. A dial surrounding the shutter button lets you quickly select full-automatic, each priority mode, movie mode, or one of the three (a relatively small number by today's standards) special scene options. The camera's viewfinder sensor works well: Put your eye up to the electronic eye-level viewfinder, and it's automatically switched on; move away, and the LCD lights up.
Using the electronic viewfinder, however, is disappointing: It's relatively small, dark, and grainy when compared with those of other cameras we've reviewed. It also tends to smear the image if you pan quickly. The optical zoom is a bit jumpy as you change focal length, and the camera has an annoying habit of popping the image slightly when you let off the zoom button.
You manage the remainder of the camera's settings through easy-to-read menus, many of which have built-in, text-based help screens. You can set menu options quickly by pressing the right or left navigation buttons, or by pressing the OK button and selecting from a deeper level of options (better for novices, thanks to on-screen text prompts). Our one complaint is that a user must go into the menus to change the exposure value setting.
Our image-quality scores for the 945 were at the lower end of the scale for cameras with resolutions of 5 or more megapixels. Overall exposure and color accuracy were fairly good, but colors seemed somewhat muted. An outdoor shot produced a nice contrast range, with no loss of details in the shadows. But none of the images were as sharp as what we've seen from many competing 5-megapixel cameras. Bottom line: The 945 is fine for snapshots, but disappointing if you consider fine image quality a high priority.
The camera is marginally acceptable for sports or action shooting. We noticed significant shutter delay whenever the shutter button was fully pressed in one stroke. However, if you lock the exposure and focus by pushing the shutter button halfway down, the camera fires quickly when you then fully depress the button.
Upshot: The Photosmart 945 is an attractive camera for casual photographers seeking a long optical zoom. Advanced photographers will want to look elsewhere.
Tracey Capen
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: wmdhafidz
Strengths: great pic quality, 8x zoom, dslr trainer!!
Weaknesses: power consuming, lag between photos, slow manual lense focus, no external flash
Overall: if you are a begginer and wanted to jump into buying DSLR.. u might have problems with all the settings.. the good thing about this camera which i refer as a DSLR Trainer is, it has almost more than half of a common DSLR camera features. its definitely better than the compact camera but not as good as a DSLR. so if u r an ambitous beginner photographer, get this one, once u master it, then u have a very good basic to start using a real DSLR.
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Reviewed by: chowminglee
Strengths: Very intuitive setup and using the camera is a snap. It is also powerful with many customizeable functions
Weaknesses: The lens is confused and slow sometimes. Make sure you have fresh NiMH batteries rather than one that's been used for sometime.
Overall: When I first started using this camera, it wouldn't power up properly because I was using a fully charged NiMH battery that's been sitting there for a while. It might have lost enough of the charge that it is insufficient to power up the camera. Buy a good warranty (extended) if possible.
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Reviewed by: ewanko
Strengths: High Zoom (8x Optical, 7x Digital), Adaptive Lighting Technology, Value
Weaknesses: Long shutter delay; Large, bulky body style; Low battery life
Overall: Overall, a good value for the price. The high optical zooms lets me take pictures at various distances. The electronic viewfinder is pretty useful in prolonging battery life. Once it detects your eye on the viewfinder, the LCD cuts out. Menus aren't quite as intuitive but the manual explains most of the functions. For me, the biggest issue is the long camera shutter delay and writing to the memory card, which makes this camera not very useful for taking action shots. By the time it's ready to take the next picture, your subject would have moved out of focus. Still, a nice camera for the price.
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Reviewed by: eoneko
Strengths: 8x optical zoom, electronic viewfinder, value for price
Weaknesses: Long camera shutter delay, low battery life, relatively large body
Overall: I bought this camera on clearance for around $85, which is a great price for a 8x optical, 7x digital zoom, 5 MP digital camera. I use it alternately with a 6 MP camera which does not have as great an optical zoom. I like the high-zoom lens that lets me take pictures from a variety of distances. However, main drawback is the long shutter delay and slow writing to the memory card. Using this camera for sports or action shots will be a challenge.
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Reviewed by: pqbu2u
Strengths: great images; easy to use; nice feel; focus assist light is nice
Weaknesses: slow shutter lag; slow between shots; high repair costs; very low battery life
Overall: Unless you can buy this camera used "in good condition" for a very low price ($150-175), buy another camera. Another company that's been making cameras a long time. Bumping the lens only slightly can lead to repairs costing as much as the entire camera.
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