In
either of its capture modes — still image or movie — the HP
850 provides the same menu. However, in the movie mode, most options are
greyed-out, leaving only 2 possible options: White Balance and Setup.
The options offered by the Recording menu are few, and for the most part
automatically reset to the factory defaults when the camera is turned
off, unless the OK button is held in when turning on the camera.
The Setup menu, accessed as the last option in both the Recording and
Playback menus, is different.
Once set, options contained in the Setup menu remain, even after the
camera is turned off.
Audio
Record: enables the sound bite recording function. When On, sound
is recorded with each image, as soon as the shutter release is pressed.
Instant
Review: shows a just captured image either in the viewfinder,
or on the LCD screen. Settings provide for Off, 2, 4, or 6 seconds.
Pressing the shutter release lightly cancels the display and returns
the camera to shooting mode.
Sounds:
controls the camera beeps, Low, High, or Off.
Eye
Start: On or Off. Controls the instant-on feature of the EVF.
Date
and Time: sets the time and date on the HP 850.
USB
Configuration: Digital Camera (PTP) or Disk Drive (MSDC). The
Digital Camera option (default) is for use with a Windows computer
that has the HP Photo and Imaging software installed on it, or a Macintosh
machine without the HP software. The Disk Drive option is used for
a Windows or Macintosh computer that does not have the HP Photo and
Imaging software installed.
TV
Configuration: provides the setup for the A/V output to a television,
either NTSC or PAL.
Language:
allows selecting the language of the interface, English, German, Spanish,
French, or Italian.
A printed user
manual is included with the HP 850. Regrettably, the User's Manual is
long on information about the correct procedure to attach the tether
of the lens cap, but overlooks important information such as the 35mm
equivalent of the zoom, or many details relating to the camera's specifications.
Software
Hewlett-Packard
includes a single CD with the HP 850. The disc contains HP's Photo
and Imaging Software for both Windows and Macintosh machines.
HP Photo Imaging Software is a multi-level program that provides for organizing
and printing photos, including the creation of CD-R albums.
Photos are presented as thumbnails, and can be selected for printing,
e-mailing, sharing on the Web, or editing. The program is mostly automated
and requires very little user-input. Nor does it require a lot of experience
with imaging software.
Photos
can be edited in a variety of ways, but changes are applied globally to
the image, and not selectively to specific parts. Images can be edited
for colour and saturation, brightness, sharpness, and Red-eye. In addition,
the images can be rotated, or resized, and text can be added to them.
Instant
Share, one of the features of the HP 850, allows the user to select
images for printing or e-mailing directly on the camera.
When
connected, the software automatically starts and handles the tasks set
on the camera without any user intervention. The process is further simplified
when the HP Camera Dock — an option — is used in conjunction
with the HP 850.
The Camera Dock can be left permanently attached to a computer and will
automatically start when the HP 850 is placed in it.
