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Photograph: Rick Rizner
HP Photosmart R717
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 6.2 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 2864 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 2160 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 2000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 16 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 9 |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Point-and-Shoot Cameras »
Pros
In-camera image advice
Very sharp images
Cons
Battery life is about average
Bottom Line
This feature-rich model comes with in-camera image advice and red-eye reduction, with extensive help menus.
HP Photosmart R717
Photosmart R717 Review, by Laura Blackwell March 25, 2005
With its rubberized black body and brushed-metal face plate, the 6.2-megapixel HP Photosmart R717 bears a marked family resemblance to its 5.1-megapixel predecessor, the R707. However, it upgrades many of its older sibling's features.
Like the R707, the R717 lets photographers select from several different scene modes. The usual suspects--including portrait, action, and landscape, plus panorama and the user-configurable My Mode--remain. The R717 adds a Museum mode, which takes flashless photos and silences the usual camera sounds.
The long, banana-shaped zoom-control button resides on the back. Because it sits in a shallow indentation--a trough it shares with the direction and Menu/OK buttons--we found it a bit awkward to use. Our most successful technique was to run the side of a thumb along it, a motion better suited to a dial than to this smooth and strangely shaped button.
The R717's easily navigated menus borrow many useful features from the R707. For example, you can set HP's Adaptive Lighting function at high or regular levels to even out images with very light and very dark areas. We found it useful for capturing objects in a bright greenhouse window and for reducing flash glare on glassware photographed in a dark room. The HP Instant Share feature lets you set up profiles for printers and e-mail addresses; by tagging photos for these destinations while the shots are still in the camera, you can subsequently send the images out within minutes of sitting down at a PC. The in-camera red-eye reduction is simple and effective, as well.
From the R717's Playback menu, a user can request image advice on shots already taken. It displays text that explains which features and modes might be useful for improving focus, exposure, depth of field, and so on. The separate Help menu provides basic definitions and instructions, plus "Top Ten Tips" for the new owner who's itching to snap some shots. Although none of this replaces the manual, it's certainly helpful for getting up to speed.
The quality of the R717's photos impressed us, as it produced some of the sharpest images we've seen from a point-and-shoot. Colors looked attractive, though a bit more oversaturated than the actual hues. We also saw a little speckling--possibly the result of oversharpening--on our color-distortion tests. These were minor weaknesses, however, and we gave the R717 an overall image-quality rating of Very Good.
The Photosmart R717 runs on either a rechargeable lithium ion battery (included in the box) or a disposable Duracell CP1 battery--good to carry in your camera bag in case the rechargeable dies sooner than you expected. Tested with the rechargeable battery, the R717 lasted for 227 shots, or a period of just over 2 hours--about average for the point-and-shoots we've tested recently.
The R717 ships with no media for its SD Card slot, but the 32MB of internal memory suffices for taking a few high-res test shots on your way to the electronics store to buy media. A USB cable is included in the box for connection to a PC or to a PictBridge-compatible printer, or you can opt for HP's $80 Photosmart R-series cradle.
This product was not in stores at the time we tested it. HP assured us that we had a production model (we do not test beta products for our Top 100 charts), and that the R717 would be available for purchase April 4, 2005.
Upshot: Extensive in-camera coaching and some convenient extra features make the easy-to-use HP Photosmart R717 a great choice for an ambitious beginner.
Laura Blackwell
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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77
-
79
-
80
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Point-and-Shoot Cameras
77
64
See a full Comparison Chart of These Point-and-Shoot Cameras »
Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 124.25 |
| Battery Life Score | Fair |
| Image Quality Score | Very Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 61.5 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 49 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 59.5 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 63 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 58 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 63 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 49 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 227 |
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for HP Photosmart R717
3 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 3 reviews
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Reviewed by: mllewendy
Duration of ownership: 10 Months
Strengths: Great camera--very beginner user-friendly, great photos
Weaknesses: MAJOR negative--battery life is less than minimal, it's atrocious!!
Overall: The strengths of this camera are FAR overshadowed by it's only weakness: its battery life. You can buy one IF you can find it for about $10, but it, too, lasts for a period of little to nothing. A rechargeable battery comes with the camera but it takes several hours to return it to a full charge, so having a backup on vacation is not very possible since it needs to be recharged while IN the camera. I purchased this camera based on the rave reviews PC World gave it, but they were misleading when it came to the realities of its battery life. Unfortunately, I found this out after I was unable to return the camera. :-(
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Reviewed by: lantern
Duration of ownership: 7 Months
Strengths: Great picture quality, fast shutter speed, runs off SD cards which is a plus since they are so cheap, compact, useful helps and hints built into the camera, tons of presets for different environments (i.e. snow, beach, landscape, action, portrat)
Weaknesses: Not able to change start up default settings. The focus can be a little tricky. I would never recommend just pushing the capture button down. You have to push it down halfway to focus on the object you are capturing otherwise you might be focused on the background.
Overall: I love this camera. I picked it up for $200 at Christmas of 2005. Since then I have taken over 2,000 pictures with it. The resolution is phenomenal for the price range. I even used this camera to take me and my wife's engagement pictures. Since then it has gone to 7 states and 4 countries with me. I love it. For everyone who is a little nervous about going with HP for a camera don't be. I had my doubts too but this is a first rate camera and there is a reason it has been #1 on the top ten point and shoot camera list for over 7 months now.
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Reviewed by: tinytuba
Duration of ownership: 2 Years
Overall: asdkfjsl
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: jessenyap
Strengths: Compact DesignSD Card CompatibilityStainless Steel Face
Weaknesses: Video
Overall: This is an excellent camera for people who are looking for a no nonsense/no frills camera. The pictures are sharp and quite definitive. It has a capabilities such as red eye reduction which is ablsolutely excellent.As mentioned above, the video mode performance is weak, but this isn't a camcorder. :)HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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Reviewed by: dlc243
Strengths: view finder, size of camera, megapixels
Weaknesses: none
Overall: The Photosmart R717 Digital camera is a great product and I would recommend it to anyone. It takes great quality of pictures. It has great features and is the perfect size. I like that it has a view finder which a lot of digital cameras now days does not have.
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Reviewed by: zippykay
Strengths: Good photos,lots of features.
Weaknesses: An irritating 6 second or more pause between pictures while the flash re-charges.Slow in daylight tool.I can't take photos of action shots because of the slow response time.
Overall: After using it for a while I complained to HP who would only send a refurbished camera which is equally as slow as the original.Lots of features which are useless for anything but still life photos.
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Reviewed by: dealskid
Strengths: * easy to use * great quality pictures* lots of little extras* Compact, fits in pocket.
Weaknesses: * Too slow to take and process pictures
Overall: I am very happy with the camera, especially for the price I paid. I used it over the weekend on a small tour I went and photos are great. The pre-programmed modes did really help changing the settings pretty quickly.
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Reviewed by: Trekchick
Strengths: Compact size, LCD, Image Quality.
Weaknesses: Externally the camera is very plain.
Overall: This camera had alot of bang for its buck. The compact size is very convenient for travelling. I purchased this one for myself. (Husband has a Canon). So far it has been perfect for my needs. This is my second HP Digital Camera and both have been very easy to use and affordable for someone on a budget who requires a camera for family occasions and vacations.
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