HP's Photosmart 720 digital camera offers high 3.3-megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom in a compact frame. It doesn't quite slip into a pocket, but as it weighs only a little over half a pound, it's easily portable.
A simple layout of well-labeled buttons makes the camera easy to operate for the beginning user. The 1.6-inch LCD can be quickly turned on and off, saving on battery life.
The HP 720 is powered by four AA batteries (included), but they will soon need to be replaced. Consider the optional HP dock (the 720 ships with an adapter for the dock), which includes four rechargeable batteries, and every time you dock the camera to transfer photos, the batteries recharge.
We were pleased with the 720's image quality--pictures appeared detailed and sharp. The camera can also capture 30-second video clips--complete with audio--at 20 frames per second and at 320 by 240 resolution. One minor annoyance: the lens was loud and slow as we zoomed in and out during shooting.
With 16 MB of internal memory, the 720 can house 17 high-quality shots. There's a Secure Digital memory slot for expanding the storage capability, always a useful upgrade.
The affordable HP Photosmart 720 makes a great camera for users wanting to break into the digital-image world, and features enough performance to make the trip worthwhile, yet without so many bells and whistles as to make digital photography frustrating. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Light and fairly compact
- High image quality
Cons:
- Noisy zoom lens
- Useful dock costs extra
Get extraordinary snapshots and enlargements up to 11 by 14 inches with the easy-to-use HP Photosmart 720 digital camera. It features 3.3-megapixel resolution, 12x total zoom, and a movie mode with audio. You can also add audio notation to every photo and video clip. And with the HP Instant Share feature, you can select up to 14 destinations to deliver your digital photos the next time you connect to your computer, including e-mail addresses, printers, and more.
Optics and Resolution
Featuring a CCD sensor with 3.3 million effective pixels, the Photosmart 720 creates images up to 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. It also features a 3x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom for a 12x total.
Storage and Transfer
Store photos using the 16 MB internal memory. The Photosmart 720 also features a Secure Digital slot for optional SD memory cards.
Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Photosmart 720 can also record movie clips of up to 60 seconds with audio at a frame rate of 20 fps. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.
More Features
With the optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock (which includes four rechargeable NiMH batteries), you can connect easily to your PC or TV, plus recharge your camera batteries.
Easily print photos directly from your camera to an optional HP Photosmart, HP PSC 950 all in one, or HP Deskjet (excludes 600 series) printer with USB connectivity--no PC required.
Other features include:
- Built-in flash with red-eye reduction.
- 1.6-inch backlit LCD display for preview and review of photos, battery levels, photo counter, and flash modes.
- Real-image 3x zoom viewfinder
- 10-second timer
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four standard AA batteries. We recommend a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries. It measures 4.7 by 2.9 by 2.1 inches and weighs 12 ounces. This package includes the Photosmart 720 digital camera, four AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, hand strap, and a CD-ROM with HP Photo & Imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
1 Good product
I bought this camera in May 2004 and it seemed an excellent deal at the time (250 dollars). It takes good photos and it's sturdy. I am now upgrading to one of those credit-card size cameras with 4 MP but my brother is buying the HP from me.
There are only a few cons:
-The size and weight. I want a camera that I can fit into my pockets or into the sort of tiny purse you take to parties/weddings, etc.
-Only 16 MB internal memory. I bought a Kingston SD 128 MB card (around 25 dollars) and that was enough for me.
-Pictures tend to come out blurred when using the focus, unless you place them on a solid surface, which is impossible to do most of the times.
-The flash was too strong... eyes wouldn't come out red, but closed!! Seriously, all of the people I took pictures of complained about the intensity of the flash.
The pros:
-Very good pictures.
-Easy to use buttons. I didn't have to read the instructions, the interface was very intuitive.
-Sturdy, butterfingers-proof.
-Good prize.
I have read other reviews where it is advised that you need the docking station... well if you have a computer with USB ports, you don't. It's as easy as plugging the camera to the computer and the files will start uploading inmediately (with the software provided in the CD). And about the battery life... it's funny, but it seemed to get better with time. The camera comes with rechargeable batteries, and I used both those and good alkaline AA batteries for backup. It carries 4 of them, but unless you record many videos, they'll last enough.
2 Unsatisfied
I was really unsatisfied with this camera- beware- if you buy this camera you will need to buy the docking station and a camera card- both of which DO NOT come with it. You will need these items to use this camera often. This camera is not the best of what is out there but it gets you by. Wish I waited to buy something else- most other digital cameras are smaller now, come with more and hold more pictures.
3 Disappointed with this model
I too picked this model on the positive reviews. I bought it in May of 2003 along with an HP photo printer. In August 2003, a few days before my vacation, it just stopped working. HP tech support was excellent got another right out to me. Now April 2004, it did it again. It worked one day, batteries went dead, I charged them and can't get it to turn on again. Tech support was great another one is coming. However, my 1 year warranty is up in May and I am on my 3rd camera! They will give me 90 days on the 3rd one and that is it. I am going to have to buy their extended warranty program through HP because I fear in 3-6 months, it won't work again. I expressed my concern and I wanted to upgrade to a newer model and pay the difference. They don't have anything to offer for this one. Something is wrong with this series. On the other hand, the printer has been great.
4 Sturdy Performer
I bought this camera for a two-week hike in very remote country; the selling points for me were the relatively ruggedly designed exterior and the ability to turn off the LCD screen to save battery life. I would have liked the ability to turn the camera on without having the HP logo displayed on the LCD (and the little tone chiming). Especially at night in the woods, the LCD screen is bright enough to be distracting, and since I was aiming my shots through the viewfinder, I didn't need it activated. Even with that minor complaint, this camera gets five stars; it held up like a champ despite being rattled around for two weeks, took terrific pictures (a mini-tripod *really* helped), and it didn't eat too many batteries. Plus my PDA uses SD cards for storage, so I can swap among my devices as needed. I'd strongly recommend it.
5 Good for point and shoot usage
I purchased this camera ~10months ago, based upon reviews I had read. The concensus opinion is that this camera is a good balance between price and photo quality. Overall, I agree with this assessment. But hindsight being 20/20, I don't know if I would buy this camera again because of the lack of manual control or override for the exposure/whitebalance.
In use, it is a little bulky but easy to use with one hand. I find that the heft actually helps me keep the camera steady in use. Mixture of brushed aluminum and rubber for the case is aestheticlly pleasing and reassuring to the hand.
Autofocus is good and quick in normal to bright light, but slow and easily fooled in dim/low light conditions. The flash is not usefull beyond 15ft.
The automatic whitebalance and exposure settings are another matter. In situations where the light level of the centered subject is lower than the light level of the backround, the camera defaults to the backround. You can not totally override the automatic settings so you are left with an underexposed subject. The menu allows for only slight adjustment of the auto settings, but the adjustment range is not great enough. A good example of this problem would be an outdoor picture, where the subject is in the shade but the backround is not. The subject is underexposed, while the backround looks great and no amount of digital processing can reverse the result.
I have also used this camera to photograph items for Ebay auctions. For this purpose, the camera is perfect. With some attention paid to lighting, the photos are well exposed with excellent fine detail.
The included HP Photosmart software is basic, but usefull. Like the camera itself, there are not alot of custom editing options. The USB link from the camera to the software is quick and automatic. Data transfer of a full 64mb card takes ~3min. Slow to some, but OK by me.
The included 16mb of onboard memory holds ~11 full resolution pictures. I purchased a 64mb plug in card, which can hold ~52 full resolution shots. What is interesting is that the onboard memory and the plug in memory are segregated. You can fill up the onboard memory and then plug in the card and fill it up. Used this way, I can take a total of 63 high resolution photos.
Battery life is fine. I did invest in recharchable batteries and I get ~160-180 photos per charge. I would estimate that I use the LCD screen ~1/2 the time.
Like most camera LCD screens, it is usefull in all but daytime outdoor conditions.
For pictures from a distance of less than 15ft, there is a bit of parallax(sp) error between the viewfinder and what the camera records. But once you see the difference a few times, it is easy to compensate for by framing your subject to be just a bit offcenter in the viewfinder. This is not a problem to me, but may be to others.
In summary, this is a good point and shoot camera for most situations. Manual features are limited. Used withing it's limitations it is fine. If you need manual control over exposure/whitebalance, look elsewhere. If you want a simple, rugged camera for casual use, the 720 should be a candidate, expecially at current prices.
6 Very Pleased
I had originally bought a cheaper 1.2 MP camera to "just try out" digital photography. Once I decided that I liked it, I decided to upgrade to a camera with more zoom capability. We have 4 active kids and take a LOT of pictures. This particular camera had 3.3MP and a total of 12X zoom capabilities and was reasonably priced. I love this camera. It takes awesome pictures. The colors are vivid and works well even under low light conditions (like gymnasiums). Even the action shots come out crisp and clear and I couldn't be more pleased. If I ever decide to upgrade again, I would definitely purchase another HP product. They are competitively priced and the value is tremendous for your dollar.
7 An excellent design, and a shobby manufacturing
Purchased on March 30, 2003, after 61 frames the camara stopped working. When HP advised me that the battery compartment had to be open and closed again to turn the camera on, I knew that HP knows that there is a manufacturing defect but is not willing to do anything with the existing units. Buying this unit at any price is a gamble...
8 easy to use camera
I found that the camera was very easy to learn. The quality of the pics, movies, sound was very good. A couple of things that bring my rating down are:
1. Camera has no light, zoom features when taking movies
2. The access to the batteries is a little awkward(sp?) to figure out.
3. The access to the extended memory/usb/tv jack is a little flimsy leaving you with the worry that the cover will come off.
9 Great camera! Great value for your $$
So far, I have no complaints! It is a very good camera. Great for someone who is not too terribly interested in a huge load of bells & whistles. This camera is basic ... does what 99% of most cameras do, and takes great photos. It is very easy to use. I would recommend it to anyone in need of a decent camera under 300 dollars. It takes movies with sound. The only thing I heard about it that was considered negative was the weight of the camera. I really do not see how that was a factor at all. It feels like a camera SHOULD feel like. It is not as heavy as a brick, and it looks as if it is made very well. Not like some toy, like some digital cameras look and feel.
10 Extremely disappointing....
I was extremely disappointed in this camera! It drains batteries like you wouldn't believe. I went through 3 sets of batteries in the first month I had this camera (that includes one set of those expensive lithium batteries that are supposed to last longer!). Plus, it doesn't even give you any warning when the battery is getting low. It is supposed to have an indicator but it doesn't tell you until it's too late. The other problem I kept having was that the camera would lock up and I couldn't shut the camera off. I had to take out the batteries to get it to do anything. Maybe I got a bad camera and this was a fluke?
On a **positive** note - the camera takes great pictures and has some great little features.
I am upgrading from a very basic Canon 1.3 mp so I have something to compare this to. Based on my experience I would definitely not recommend this camera to anyone. That is until HP corrects some of these design flaws.
I returned mine and am back on the market reading reviews and really doing my homework this time!
11 No 1024 x 768 resolution
Nice product by HP but just a couple of things:
1- It does NOT have the 1024 x 768 resolution.
2- Memory door is very loose.
3- Battery door is very very tight.
I know I am goning to break them sooner or later.
12 perfect for beginners
Being completely new to digital photography, this is a great buy for beginners. The buttons and menus are easy to understand and 16MB is plenty of room for pictures. Even when taking lowest-quality pictures, they still look great. The user manual is quite simple and foolproof, HP software and the USB cable are working perfectly with my W98SE.
Video capturing worked just fine except the sound was a bit too quiet. Guess it's mostly meant for commenting on what you are currently recording.
For future customers: if you just got the camera and it won't start with regular alkaline batteries, just try the rechargeables. It will work fine after that with batteries as well, but looks like it needs rechargeables on the very first try.
13 Great features, low cost
Flexible in use. Competes with higher priced cameras in its overall features. Integrates well with PCs and Macs. HP offers high quality and utility at a price you can afford. Storage and resolution great for the price range.
14 Idiot-proof camera...finally!
I've had this camera for a little over a month now, and I love it more and more every day. It is, by far, the easiest digital camera to use that I've ever encountered. Really. You choose your resolution and flash settings by simply pressing large, clearly marked buttons...no fiddling with strage dials and deciphering cryptic symbols. The resolution is incredible. Even on its lowest setting, the pics are still far better than the 2.5MP camera I've been using of late. And at its highest setting, you can count the whiskers on your cat, the leaves on your tree, whatever you fancy, with crystal clarity. The internal memory is sufficient, but is also easily (and fairly cheaply) upgraded. The camera drains standard alkaline batteries a bit quickly, and the battery slot is initailly puzzling, but don't let this stop you. I've seen a large range of digital cameras, and this is the first one I'd actually recommend, especially to those just starting out with digitals. This really is as idiot-proof as they get.
15 Very Smart Buy
This is my first digital camera and so far I am very pleased. I have taken a few pictures of my kids in front of our christmas tree. The picture quality is so excellent that you can see the ornaments down to their smallest details. I've only viewed the pictures on my computer so far and if they are just as nice printed on the right paper you can't go wrong with this camera. You get alot of camera for a great price! My sister in-law was so impressed with the pictures I sent her email that she bought one for her daughter.
16 Can't go wrong with HP 720
This is simply the easiest digital camera to use. The results are fantastic! With 3.3 megapixels this camera produces some amazing images. The software is easy to load and images transmit instantly to your PC via the USB cable provided. I highly recommend this great product!
17 First Digital Camera and I Like It.
The Hp Photosmart 720 is my first digital camera. I've only been playing with it for a few days but so far I'm pleased. My first impression of the camera when I saw what it looked like were negative. I thought that it looked chunky and heavy for a digital camera. Especially when you look at it next to it's brother the 812. But at my price range this camera seemed the best value. And now that I have it in my hands, I've found that the design has grown on me. The chunkiness along with the rubberized hull make it grippy and comfortable to hold. The weight makes it feel substantial like there is some quality built into it. The buttons are nicely layed out and the features are good for a simpler family clicker like me.
Speaking of buttons there are a few unexpected annoyances but from what I've seen and read, I believe these to be just the nature of digital cameras in general. First of all, the on/off button doesn't respond right away. At first I thought it might have defective, but then I realized you just have to press it and then wait about 10 seconds for the camera to turn on and be ready. Also the camera does snap imidiately after you press the button. It has to focus first. But it does it pretty quickly and if you press the button half way first and let it get that part out of the way, it snaps right away after you press the button fully.
The picture quality looks okay, especially when liking it good and you are printing on good quality paper.
That's all I have time to say for now.
