hp photosmart 812 digital camera
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:19:13 -0400
HP PS812 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Description:
The four-megapixel, 21x total zoom, HP PhotoSmart 812 digital camera incorporates HP Instant Share feature, which allows users to snap a photo and then select on their camera where the photo will go, the next time the digital camera is connected to a PC, Mac or the optional HP PhotoSmart digital camera dock. Users can select from up to 14 different destinations including e-mail addresses, printers and more. With HP Instant Share, taking, sharing, printing and saving digital photos has never been easier. Users simply take a digital photo and select on the back of the camera that they want to share their photos with by simply pushing a button. When the digital camera is hooked-up to the computer, it remembers whom you’ve chosen to share your photos with and automatically e-mails and/or prints your photos.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #130580 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Hewlett-Packard
- Model: 812
- Dimensions: 1.60″ h x 3.70″ w x 2.70″ l, .44 pounds
- Memory: 16MB
- Display size: 1.5
Features
- 4-megapixel sensor captures 2,272 x 1,704 images for prints at sizes up to 11 x 14 inches
- Autofocus lens with 3x optical/7x digital (21x total) zoom
- Included 16 MB SD card stores 15 images at default settings
- Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
- Uses 2 AA batteries (disposable batteries included)
Customer Reviews:
Nice Camera
I looked at many brands including Sony and Canon. I liked the idea of having the docking station that I just plug the camera into and can view easily on my TV. It also uploads the pictures very easily and the software that comes with it works great. I can easily have it email the pictures automaticaly or have them displayed on a web page automaticaly. I can’t wait to get my new HP printer to print off some pics.
I had actually bought a Sony camera for the same price and returned it to buy this one. The Sony was only 3.1mp and had only 2x optical and 3 way digital zoom. This has 3X optical and 7X digital zoom. The other big advantage for the same money is that this one captures sound when I take a movie clip and the Sony did not. I also found the memory cheaper with more choices than the Sony.
Overall I am thrilled with my choice.
Enjoy!!…
Beware the cons of this camera
I decided to upgrade from my 1.3 MegaPix Olympus Brio D-150 digital camera. The Olympus was my first digicam and I realized I wanted a camera that took better quality photos. The photo quality of the Olympus left me with a lot to be desired as I compared its photos with other cameras.
After reading some reviews and considering the price, I decided the HP 812 would meet my needs for a near pocket-sized, point and shoot, zoom, 4.1 MegaPix digicam. Although I read both positive and negative reviews, I was comfortable with the possibility I may experience some of the minor cons.
The camera itself is the perfect size. The features are exactly what I want. The picture quality wasn’t exactly perfect, but much better than my Olympus. I also bought the accessory kit and the docking station.
The first issue I experienced is that, using ordinary alkaline batteries, I could only get about one dozen photos using flash when the batteries died. This camera is very demanding on batteries. Fortunately, HP includes one set of disposable lithium batteries that last longer than alkaline. With the accessory kit, I also received two pairs of rechargeable NiMh batteries and a recharger.
My greatest disappointment is that the second day I had this camera, after about twenty pictures taken over two days, the camera stopped working. I turned it on, heard a popping noise, then a grinding noise. The lens would not extract from the camera. Either the lens motor or gear stopped functioning. What a shame. I read some reviews which other people experienced similar problems. I understand that a bad unit can come out of a batch of good units, but with my unit being defective after having read such mixed reviews, I decided to return the camera, not for an exchange for a working unit, but for a refund.
I now realize I should simply stick with buying one of the better-reviewed Canon or Sony cameras. It may cost more or I may have to settle for lower MegaPix in order to stay within budget, but the reviews for the Canon and Sony cameras have me convinced they are better quality than this HP 812. I gave this camera the benefit of the doubt, thinking the cons I read in the reviews would not affect me. It takes good (not great) pictures, is small, has good features, and is easy to use. But it also drains batteries too fast and, in my experience, can be defective right out of the box. I do not recommend this camera. There is a reason this is one of the lowest price 4.1 MegPix cameras on the market, and that reason has to do with quality. I will be buying a Canon or Sony now, maybe even another Olympus or Nikon. But unfortunately, I will not buy another HP anytime soon. Thanks for trying HP. It was a fair effort.
Cool camera – MMC cards are not necessarily supported
This is a cool camera and it is small and light ehough to put in your pocket. I carry mine everywhere just in case I want to take a picture. The fact that it uses only two batteries is also an advantage – you effectively get twice the battery life of many other cmaeras. While the Viking MMC cards prompted by David Payne may work in the 812, in general MMC cards are not supported with this camera. According to the manual you should use SD cards for best results.
Amazon.com Review
The HP PhotoSmart 812 is a well-specified 4-megapixel digital camera with a Pentax 3x optical zoom lens. It’s designed as a simple-to-use point-and-shoot replacement, and comes in a compact case with silver finish. While lacking any dramatic aesthetic impact, it does possess neat lines and has an overall feel of a well-constructed camera.
The controls on the HP 812 are straightforward. A power button is accompanied by a shutter button on the top of the camera, the latter surrounded by a mode-select wheel. This enables you to choose between video mode with audio, a time-lapse mode, or straight camera mode. On the back you find zoom controls, located where your right thumb naturally sits. The 3x optical zoom is complemented by a digital zoom to provide 21x total magnification. However, quality suffers when moving to the digital zoom, as with any digital camera.
The menus found via the LCD are straightforward to navigate. You can amend the quality of pictures taken, from one to four stars, with the latter providing 4-megapixel images suitable for print enlargements.
The image quality produced by the PhotoSmart 812 is impressive by typical digital camera standards. However, when stacked against competing 4-megapixel models it doesn’t compare favorably. The depth of field is quite shallow, with only small areas of the picture in focus. The autofocus also struggles in low light. This said, it is worth remembering that other 4-megapixel cameras are often considerably more expensive than the 812.
The HP 812 is designed purely for ease of use and you can configure your images while on the camera to print or e-mail, thanks to the Instant Share technology. This is best served when used in conjunction with the HP camera dock, which is not supplied. This separately available dock enables you to easily share pictures and charges your camera batteries at the same time.
The batteries supplied with the camera are nonrechargeable lithium-ion, which have a decent lifespan. The camera will also take standard AAs in an emergency, but you’ll only get limited life out of these–around five minutes before the LCD powers down. We recommend getting a set of rechargeables, like those supplied with the camera dock.
The HP 812 uses a Secure Digital (SD) card memory for image storage and is supplied with a 16 MB card. More memory will be needed, as the supplied card will only store five pictures at the highest quality. The camera will also take MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory, which is cheaper than SD.
The HP PhotoSmart 812 delivers what it promises, and provides an affordable compact point-and-shoot that anyone can use and take decent pictures with, which, thanks to the resolution, can be printed at large sizes. It will however, struggle to win over any photography enthusiasts with its dearth of manual controls. –Nick Baxter
Pros:
- Affordable point-and-shoot 4-megapixel camera
- Very easy to use and download to your computer
- Good choice for beginners who desire 11-by-14-inch photo prints
Cons:
- Dearth of manual controls
- HP camera dock not included, but recommended for easy photo transfer
HP PS812 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Description:
The four-megapixel, 21x total zoom, HP PhotoSmart 812 digital camera incorporates HP Instant Share feature, which allows users to snap a photo and then select on their camera where the photo will go, the next time the digital camera is connected to a PC, Mac or the optional HP PhotoSmart digital camera dock. Users can select from up to 14 different destinations including e-mail addresses, printers and more. With HP Instant Share, taking, sharing, printing and saving digital photos has never been easier. Users simply take a digital photo and select on the back of the camera that they want to share their photos with by simply pushing a button. When the digital camera is hooked-up to the computer, it remembers whom you’ve chosen to share your photos with and automatically e-mails and/or prints your photos.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #130580 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Hewlett-Packard
- Model: 812
- Dimensions: 1.60″ h x 3.70″ w x 2.70″ l, .44 pounds
- Memory: 16MB
- Display size: 1.5
Features
- 4-megapixel sensor captures 2,272 x 1,704 images for prints at sizes up to 11 x 14 inches
- Autofocus lens with 3x optical/7x digital (21x total) zoom
- Included 16 MB SD card stores 15 images at default settings
- Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
- Uses 2 AA batteries (disposable batteries included)
Customer Reviews:
Nice Camera
I looked at many brands including Sony and Canon. I liked the idea of having the docking station that I just plug the camera into and can view easily on my TV. It also uploads the pictures very easily and the software that comes with it works great. I can easily have it email the pictures automaticaly or have them displayed on a web page automaticaly. I can’t wait to get my new HP printer to print off some pics.
I had actually bought a Sony camera for the same price and returned it to buy this one. The Sony was only 3.1mp and had only 2x optical and 3 way digital zoom. This has 3X optical and 7X digital zoom. The other big advantage for the same money is that this one captures sound when I take a movie clip and the Sony did not. I also found the memory cheaper with more choices than the Sony.
Overall I am thrilled with my choice.
Enjoy!!…
Beware the cons of this camera
I decided to upgrade from my 1.3 MegaPix Olympus Brio D-150 digital camera. The Olympus was my first digicam and I realized I wanted a camera that took better quality photos. The photo quality of the Olympus left me with a lot to be desired as I compared its photos with other cameras.
After reading some reviews and considering the price, I decided the HP 812 would meet my needs for a near pocket-sized, point and shoot, zoom, 4.1 MegaPix digicam. Although I read both positive and negative reviews, I was comfortable with the possibility I may experience some of the minor cons.
The camera itself is the perfect size. The features are exactly what I want. The picture quality wasn’t exactly perfect, but much better than my Olympus. I also bought the accessory kit and the docking station.
The first issue I experienced is that, using ordinary alkaline batteries, I could only get about one dozen photos using flash when the batteries died. This camera is very demanding on batteries. Fortunately, HP includes one set of disposable lithium batteries that last longer than alkaline. With the accessory kit, I also received two pairs of rechargeable NiMh batteries and a recharger.
My greatest disappointment is that the second day I had this camera, after about twenty pictures taken over two days, the camera stopped working. I turned it on, heard a popping noise, then a grinding noise. The lens would not extract from the camera. Either the lens motor or gear stopped functioning. What a shame. I read some reviews which other people experienced similar problems. I understand that a bad unit can come out of a batch of good units, but with my unit being defective after having read such mixed reviews, I decided to return the camera, not for an exchange for a working unit, but for a refund.
I now realize I should simply stick with buying one of the better-reviewed Canon or Sony cameras. It may cost more or I may have to settle for lower MegaPix in order to stay within budget, but the reviews for the Canon and Sony cameras have me convinced they are better quality than this HP 812. I gave this camera the benefit of the doubt, thinking the cons I read in the reviews would not affect me. It takes good (not great) pictures, is small, has good features, and is easy to use. But it also drains batteries too fast and, in my experience, can be defective right out of the box. I do not recommend this camera. There is a reason this is one of the lowest price 4.1 MegPix cameras on the market, and that reason has to do with quality. I will be buying a Canon or Sony now, maybe even another Olympus or Nikon. But unfortunately, I will not buy another HP anytime soon. Thanks for trying HP. It was a fair effort.
Cool camera – MMC cards are not necessarily supported
This is a cool camera and it is small and light ehough to put in your pocket. I carry mine everywhere just in case I want to take a picture. The fact that it uses only two batteries is also an advantage – you effectively get twice the battery life of many other cmaeras. While the Viking MMC cards prompted by David Payne may work in the 812, in general MMC cards are not supported with this camera. According to the manual you should use SD cards for best results.
Amazon.com Review
The HP PhotoSmart 812 is a well-specified 4-megapixel digital camera with a Pentax 3x optical zoom lens. It’s designed as a simple-to-use point-and-shoot replacement, and comes in a compact case with silver finish. While lacking any dramatic aesthetic impact, it does possess neat lines and has an overall feel of a well-constructed camera.
The controls on the HP 812 are straightforward. A power button is accompanied by a shutter button on the top of the camera, the latter surrounded by a mode-select wheel. This enables you to choose between video mode with audio, a time-lapse mode, or straight camera mode. On the back you find zoom controls, located where your right thumb naturally sits. The 3x optical zoom is complemented by a digital zoom to provide 21x total magnification. However, quality suffers when moving to the digital zoom, as with any digital camera.
The menus found via the LCD are straightforward to navigate. You can amend the quality of pictures taken, from one to four stars, with the latter providing 4-megapixel images suitable for print enlargements.
The image quality produced by the PhotoSmart 812 is impressive by typical digital camera standards. However, when stacked against competing 4-megapixel models it doesn’t compare favorably. The depth of field is quite shallow, with only small areas of the picture in focus. The autofocus also struggles in low light. This said, it is worth remembering that other 4-megapixel cameras are often considerably more expensive than the 812.
The HP 812 is designed purely for ease of use and you can configure your images while on the camera to print or e-mail, thanks to the Instant Share technology. This is best served when used in conjunction with the HP camera dock, which is not supplied. This separately available dock enables you to easily share pictures and charges your camera batteries at the same time.
The batteries supplied with the camera are nonrechargeable lithium-ion, which have a decent lifespan. The camera will also take standard AAs in an emergency, but you’ll only get limited life out of these–around five minutes before the LCD powers down. We recommend getting a set of rechargeables, like those supplied with the camera dock.
The HP 812 uses a Secure Digital (SD) card memory for image storage and is supplied with a 16 MB card. More memory will be needed, as the supplied card will only store five pictures at the highest quality. The camera will also take MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory, which is cheaper than SD.
The HP PhotoSmart 812 delivers what it promises, and provides an affordable compact point-and-shoot that anyone can use and take decent pictures with, which, thanks to the resolution, can be printed at large sizes. It will however, struggle to win over any photography enthusiasts with its dearth of manual controls. –Nick Baxter
Pros:
- Affordable point-and-shoot 4-megapixel camera
- Very easy to use and download to your computer
- Good choice for beginners who desire 11-by-14-inch photo prints
Cons:
- Dearth of manual controls
- HP camera dock not included, but recommended for easy photo transfer
