Feature-Filled, Excellent Price & Value

I was a skeptic when HP came out with their line of cameras, but since I work in electronic retail I got a chance to play with it (and all other cameras) before choosing to buy it. Here's my list of reasons why I purchased it over other cameras:

- 5.3 megapixel
- 21x total zoom
- Automatic controls
- Video recording up to 120 seconds
- Consecutive shooting
- Pentax Lens
- Price was lower compared to most other 5.0 megapixel cameras


The Good
To me, these were a lot of features for the price. Better zoom than most, if I need to get in close on a subject. The optical zoom is par for most digital cameras, but the 7x digital zoom is twice than what you'll find from anything comparable. The digital zoom is weak when compared to the optical (which is the power of the lens itself, like a set of glasses) and can be simulated with an image editing program by enlarging a certain section of a picture. Not everybody has image-editing programs nor likes to use them either, but the HP 935 gives users the option of getting a close shot with only the camera. Just keep in mind that any digital zooming (or picture enlarging) effectively reduces the image quality and requires a bit more dexterity to keep the camera still while shooting. That's the cost of convenience. The 935 takes 5 megapixel pictures, which make spectacular 4x6 prints and handles image enlargements splendidly. A 3 megapixel digital camera will create 4x6 sized images that are comparable to normal film cameras. Having the two additional megapixels with the 935 gives pictures additional sharpness of the main focus and also of subjects in the background. The cost of this camera isn't too much more than 3-megapixel digital cameras of other manufacturers, and is significantly less than current 5-megapixel digital cameras.

One other major reason I chose the HP 935 was for the ability to take video for longer bursts compared to most cameras. While most other cameras are limited to 15 to 30 seconds of video recording (some of them without sound too), the 935 can take continuous video with sound up to two minutes. Though it's nowhere near the quality of a great camcorder, it's definitely comparable to many older camcorders that are still used. The video is MPEG1 format, 288x208 resolution, at 15 frames per second. Many people (like me) desire the ability to record substantial video, but don't have the money to put out for a brand new camcorder. A lot of things can happen in a 2-minute timespan and sometimes a few pictures just aren't enough. I would rather have some video than no video at all when there is a memory that you must have in motion. What good would 30 seconds be, if you had a different camera? Not only does this camera record video, but it can also record sound clips to go with pictures (like a voice note or annotation) and records up to a minute. This is handy when you want to be sure you remember a location or a bit of information that would go with your picture, especially if you're on vacation and won't be home to transfer and organize your pictures for awhile. The 935 gives a pretty good bang for the buck as a digital camera, camcorder, and voice recorder.

This camera is easy to use. One can leave the camera fully-automatic for their point and shoot needs, but they can also choose to play around with some of the manual controls for greater image adjustments. Users have the option of changing the ISO speeds (100, 200, 400), white balance (sun, shade, tungsten, flourescant, manual), sharpness, contrast, saturation, image control (color, black & white, sepia), resolution, and compression. The manual controls are a goodly, but they allow the user to grow into the digital camera more and explore how different camera settings will affect the pictures that they take. The menu navigation is simple, yet effective, so no one will feel like they're lost trying to figure out how to change or modify the settings. The HP 935 does come with the familiar features of self-timer shots, flash options, and focusing options.

The camera has a nice, substantial feel. It's the size that feels good in the hands, though seems just a tad too large when you start trying to fit it in pockets. Just a tad. The camera is a simple grey with darker-grey highlights and it couples utility with style pretty well. The HP 935 comes with everything one will need to use the camera, though rechargeable batteries and a larger memory card are definitely encouraged (unless you like few pictures and replacing batteries every 40-70 minutes). You'll get about 8 or so high-quality pictures from the 32MB SD card that comes with the camera. The SD card format it takes is widely-used and also quite cost-effective, so a larger upgrade won't cost too much out of pocket. The 935 comes with USB cables and can be plugged into a computer to transfer/print pictures, or directly into compatible HP printers to print without a computer at all. Most HP printers have memory card slots, so users might be more likely to insert the memory card and print since not everyone carries all their cables with them when they take their camera out for pictures. The 935 comes with a plastic insert that is used with the HP 8886 Camera Dock. The camera dock is USB enabled, and is meant to be plugged directly into your computer so you have a place to set your camera down to transfer pictures and recharge batteries (at the same time!).


The Not So Good
Of course there are always cons, but only a few consistent ones. It does have a shutter delay, but all cameras do (prime the focus to get around it. Works with all cameras). It's a little slow to save pictures, but if you press the shutter within 1 sec of the last picture, you'll take another (the consecutive shooting feature). Keep in mind that this is a 5mp camera so larger files will take a little more time to save. It has only a few auto-modes, the macro shooting doesn't work well, the flash is excellent up to about 10ft only, and your choice of file size is either 5 or 1 megapixel (but the 1 megapixel pictures are quite good too). It's true that this camera loves batteries, but I can fill up 128mb card with 5mp pictures and video on one pair of rechargeable (anything else will get drained very fast) AA and still have some juice left. People who use the LCD screen like a crutch will have less battery power. LCD screens in general don't show well when used outdoors. I don't understand people who try to use it when it won't work well at all, or who even complain about it (and not just on cameras). Slow startup time? I'm not picky about the difference between 2 and 5 seconds. Bad video? Remember that it's a camera, not a camcorder.

Reviews that complain about the printing, connectivity, card-errors, software, etc. either got a lemon, didn't do something, have pc issues (I have lots of customers with pc issues on a weekly basis) which can interfere, or had expectations past what the camera can do. Otherwise HP's software for their products is the best for ease of use and compatibility. If you're looking for a "professional" camera, this may not be it and you might want to spend a little more in a different brand. But for most people who aren't "professional" photographers, then this is a spectacular buy. If I had to choose a different camera instead of this HP, it would probably be either a Canon or a Sony, since they have some great cameras. Probably a Canon though, since I like the manual controls and since I don't prefer the shape of most Sony DSCP cameras.


Summary
For the price and the features, there was no other digital camera that could have suited me any better. It gives you high-quality pictures, manual and automatic controls, and even video recording as well. The 935 is on it's way out, but HP is starting to bring out a new selection of digital cameras, starting with their Photosmart R707. For not that much more in cost, most will enjoy the new features and sleek style the R707 has to offer! Check out my review on the R707.