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HP goes for budget
By Robert Dubbin (February 18, 2005)
HP introduces new snapshot models at three popular consumer price
points. The silver Photosmart M22, along with its bronze but otherwise
identical twin, the Photosmart M23, features a 4-megapixel sensor but
settles for a small 1.5-inch LCD screen and sacrifices optical zoom in
favor of a fixed-focus lens. The M417 offers a modest resolution bump
to the 5-megapixel level, as well as a 3x optical zoom lens and a
larger 1.8-inch LCD screen. At the top of the heap, the Photosmart R717
becomes HP's flagship consumer camera, boasting a 6-megapixel CCD, 12
shooting modes, and 32MB of internal memory (double the 16MB found on
the M22, the M23, and the M417). All four cameras use HP's Instant
Share technology, which allows you to select a destination for your
photo--be it an online photo album, a photo printer, or an
e-mail--directly from the camera's menu after you've taken the shot.
| Model |
Price & availability |
Specifications |
Special features |
HP Photosmart M22 |
US$150 (S$249)
Spring 2005 |
4-megapixel (effective) CCD; F2.8, 36.7mm (35mm-camera equivalent) fixed-focal-length lens; SD media |
Aside
from HP's Instant Share options, the M22 doesn't have much in the way
of special features. For a camera with no optical zoom, it's also a bit
pricey. |
HP Photosmart M23 |
US$160 (S$299)
Spring 2005 |
4-megapixel (effective) CCD; F2.8, 36.7mm (35mm-camera equivalent) fixed-focal-length lens; SD media |
A bronze version of the M22 that ships with rechargeable batteries, it has the same drawbacks. |
HP Photosmart M417 |
US$200 (S$399)
Spring 2005 |
5.2-megapixel (effective) CCD; F2.8-to-F4.9, 36mm-to-108mm (35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; SD media |
With
the Photosmart M417, US$50 buys you the optical zoom and larger screen
missing from the M22. The features are right for the price, however. |
HP Photosmart R717 |
US$300 (S$499)
Spring 2005
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6.2-megapixel (effective) CCD; F2.8-to-F4.8, 39mm-to-117mm (35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; SD media |
Affordable
for a 6-megapixel camera, the Photosmart R717 nevertheless lacks manual
shooting modes found on similarly priced 4- and 5-megapixel
competitors--your choice. |
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