Despite the fact that Hewlett-Packard has produced a number of successful digital cameras in the past and is one of the biggest manufacturers of photo-quality printers, the company's lack of experience in film cameras has made it difficult for the public to take them seriously in this field. To help change this perception, Hewlett-Packard has paired up with Pentax for its latest product, and each company has contributed its expertise. The result is a pair of identical cameras: the HP 618 and the Pentax EI 200. With the exception of labels, packaging, and included accessories, the two cameras are the same.
The camera's basic specifications are pretty standard: 2-megapixel CCD, 3x Pentax optical zoom, CompactFlash storage (Type I or II, but no Microdrive support), and a 2-inch display. For advanced users, there are aperture and shutter priority modes, adjustable white balance, exposure metering, and adjustable ISO (100 and 200).
If you like the look and feel of Pentax cameras, you'll appreciate the HP's styling. It's curvy, swoopy, classically designed, and feels very solid. Most people who saw the camera were impressed with its overall quality and were surprised to learn it was a digital.
One of the camera's most intriguing (and underdocumented) features is its use of Digita. Digita is an operating system created specifically for digital cameras, allowing software developers to modify and improve the camera's functions. Past Digita cameras have suffered from slow performance, but the 618 seems as quick as most other digital cameras on the market. HP's engineers did a great job of shipping the camera with a wide variety of menus and functions preinstalled, but Digita allows for even more flexibility. Potential applications of this technology range from task-specific features (time-lapse photography, preset exposure modes, and digital special effects, for example) as well as the ability to add new applications--there are even Digita video games available for download. Unfortunately, the manual includes no information about Digita, and we were unable to determine how to transfer Digita files to the camera. This is extremely powerful technology, but perhaps HP buried this ability because they felt that it was too complex for the average user.
The camera makes extensive use of Hewlett-Packard's infrared technology. A remote control is included (handy for self-portraits, keeping the camera steady in low-light shots, and to play back "slide shows" on your TV), and the camera can wirelessly transfer images to select HP printers.
If you're a fan of Pentax styling or own a Hewlett-Packard printer with infrared ability, this camera is a logical choice.
Pros:
- Clean, classic, reassuringly solid design
- Remote control included
- Pentax lens
- Infrared transfer to select HP printers
- Integrated lens cover
Cons:
- Digita abilities not documented
- CompactFlash slot supports Type I and Type II cards, but doesn't recognize Microdrive
- Larger and heavier than some point-and-shoot digital cameras
Product Description:
HP Photosmart 618 is a versatile point-and-shoot digital camera. This high performance camera gives consistently great pictures. HP imaging technology assures 2.11-megapixel resolution. The camera individually optimizes each picture for crisp, brilliant pictures. Get closer to your subject with Pentax 3x optical zoom lens and 2x digital zoom. Manual controls include aperture and shutter priority, picture and metering modes and ISO speed control giving you more creative control over picture taking.HP PhotoSmart 618 is ideal for experienced photographers and PC technologists, offering them automatic functionality, as well as manual control in a portable, point-and-shoot camera. Your camera comes equipped with four operating modes. To set the mode, turn the camera mode dial on top of the camera to the mode you want to use. PhotoSmart 618 features six exposure settings: auto, landscape program, portrait program, action program, aperture priority, and shutter priority. The built-in flash can operate in seven flash modes - auto, auto with red-eye reduction, forced on, forced on with red-eye reduction, forced off, night, and night with red-eye reduction. Three timer modes include off, 10-second timer, and 3-second remote.