Hewlett-Packard's
PhotoSmart C618 is a camera designed in association with Pentax.
In fact, both the HP C618 and Pentax EI200 are generally
identical, except for the manufacturer's name and the fact that HP
includes a remote control with the camera, instead of offering it
as an option the way Pentax does.
Because
both the Pentax EI200 and this, the HP C618, are by and large the same
camera, this review shares a number of elements with the review of the
Pentax EI-200 which was published in the September 2000 issue.
The Ergonomics and Characteristics sections, although depicting
each camera, are mostly common, but the Image Quality and Test
Photos sections are specific for each camera.
Attention has been given to details such as providing a diopter correction,
a comfortable and predictable in-hand feel, and an easy to use layout
of the controls.
The grip, while small,
is rubber-wrapped and topped by a 2-stage shutter release placed at
a 45º angle towards the front of the camera. Nearby sits the main
mode dial, offering 4 settings:
Record
Mode,
Playback
Mode,
Review
Mode,
Connection
Mode.
The HP PhotoSmart C618 uses the Digita operating system and all
menu options and selections are made with the help of the 4-direction
controller and 3 buttons below the screen, which get labelled by text
or icons appearing immediately above them, on the screen.
