The Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart 945 is
another one of these cameras that, if we can judge by the number
of e-mail requests we receive, has drawn the interest of quite
a few people. Based on the HP
850, the HP 945 carries on with a 8X optical zoom but with
a 5 megapixel resolution, and a re-styled body.
Many of the characteristics of the
HP 850 are continued with the HP 945. For example, the camera
continues to be labelled on the front as having a 56x zoom a
feat accomplished by adding the 8X optical zoom to the cropping
effect of the digital zoom.
However, there are some differences. For one, the HP945 offers a shooting Mode
Selector around the chromed shutter release, something that was available
with the HP 850 as a menu option:
Auto is a point and shoot mode which
lets the camera select aperture and shutter speed.
Shutter Priority lets the user select
the shutter speed between 1/2000 sec and 16 seconds.
Aperture Priority allows the user
to select the aperture between f2.8 and f11.3 in 9 steps
when the lens is set to wide angle; and between f3.1 and
f12.4, also in 9 steps, when the lens is at the maximum
telephoto.
Portrait selects a wide apertures
to shorten the depth of field and blur the background.
Landscape selects smaller apertures
and lower ISO speeds to maximize depth of field and prevent
noise.The ISO sensitivity is controlled automatically.
Sports maximized the shutter speed
to stop movement and selects a higher ISO sensitivity.
Here again the ISO sensitivity is controlled by the camera.
Video mode. The HP 945 can record
video clips with sound lasting up to (approx.) 1 minute.
The optical zoom remains useable during the recording but
the noise from its motor may be recorded. Video clips have
a frame size of 288 x 208 pixels and are captured at 15
frames per second.
Sounds captured with video clips
or annotations attached to images are played back through a small
speaker behind the Mode Selector and to the right of the pop-up
flash's release button.
The HP 945 is equipped with an
electronic viewfinder, but regrettably, this one is of quite
low resolution, making details difficult to see. Similarly, a
diopter correction is available by turning the rubber eyecup,
and it regularly gets out of adjustment simply by handling the
camera.
Two sensors, located below the EVF's exit pupil, serve to detect that the
user's eye is at the viewfinder and turn on the EVF. Alternatively, the
LCD monitor can be forced on.
The upper back has three buttons
above the 2 inch* LCD monitor. Starting on the left, the
buttons serve to:
Self-Timer which has
a 10 second delay; or Self-Timer—2 shot which
takes a second picture a few seconds after the first. Burst captures up to 6 photos in quick succession
until the buffer memory is filled. Images are then
saved to the memory card.
Macro Mode: provides
a focusing range of 10 to 80 cm (3.9 to 31.5 inches) and
limits the zoom to a maximum magnification of 3.5X. Infinity sets the lens to infinity focus. Manual Focus permits manual focusing of the
lens while a scale that has the infinity symbol
at one end and macro symbol at the other is
shown on the active display.
*
Although the manual, and
the specifications listed on HP's web site indicate the
LCD monitor to be 2 inch, the monitor is in fact smaller
than 2 inches (diagonally) and at 47mm (1.833 in.) is
closer to a 1.8 inch size. This difference is noticeable
when the HP 945's screen is seen next to a camera with
a 2 inch LCD monitor.
Besides the zoom control on the upper right of the back, the other controls
of the HP 945 are organized on the right side of the LCD screen. A large
4-direction control serves the standard function of menu navigation, and
in addition its left/right arrows serve to select apertures or shutter
speeds when the camera is set to either Av or Tv. The button
at the centre of the 4-direction control calls up the menu according to
the current mode, and with some functions, serves to confirm a selection.
Last, the buttons aligned to the right of the screen are for:
Called the Live View button, this
button turns on the LCD monitor.
Starts the Playback mode, but
only on the LCD monitor. If the EVF is in use and the button is pressed
it has no effect.
Print button serves
to select images for printing; and selected images are
printed automatically the next time the camera is connected
to a computer or a compatible printer.
Share button serves
to transfer images automatically to a computer so they
can be e-mailed or uploaded to an on-line service. To set
this function up, the camera must be connected to the computer
and the user must be willing to get an HP Passport account and
provide personal information.
While the ergonomic design of the
HP 945 is generally good when the in-hand feel and the position
of most of the controls are considered, it also has a few shortcomings.
For one, the EVF's image is quite coarse and the diopter far
too easily thrown out of focus. For another, its EVF or monitor's
image disappears too often while the camera is focusing, or occupied
with one task or another.
Similarly the HP 945 is, in comparison to the current crop of digital cameras,
quite slow, be it in operation, capture, or saving images.
Ergonomics
button
at the centre of the 4-direction control calls up the menu according to
the current mode, and with some functions, serves to confirm a selection.
