HP R742

Reviewed November 2007

Introduction

The Photosmart R742 is a basic point-and-shoot, and makes no pretense to be anything else. Clearly designed to fit the need of the occasional user, or the user that wants a no-fuss camera, the HP R742 is simple to operate and very economically priced.

Externally, the controls of the HP R742 are simple as well. There are only two controls on the top right side of the camera: the Shutter Release — a 2-stage release that provides auto exposure and auto focus lock when pressed halfway and held — and the Power Switch, a small button mounted flush to the surface that is decorated by a turquoise blue LED when the camera is On.

A few more controls are arranged on the upper right side of the camera's back, starting with the Zoom Control which moves the 3X zoom lens to the wide angle end when pressed on the left, and to the telephoto side when pressed on the right.

Of course, when the camera is set to the Playback mode, the zoom control serves to review images as thumbnails in an index presentation that places 9 thumbnails per screen when pressed on the side, or to zoom into an image when pressed on the side.

On the upper left side, directly above the 2.5-inch LCD monitor composed of 153,600 pixels, the Mode Switch controls the basic modes of the HP R742:

	Picture Capture: allows capturing still images at a variety of sizes (see the Characteristics section of the review for more details on image size and quality). The shooting modes available with this switch position is selected in the menu. There are 9 shooting modes, but once the camera is powered off it automatically restarts in the Auto mode, the default. The available modes are: Auto Mode, the default setting, intended for standard picture taking. Close up Mode serves to capture photos of subjects that are between 5 and 80 cm (1.97 to 31.52 inches) from the front element of the lens. Steady Photo, increases the sensitivity as required, up to 800 ISO, to maximize shutter speed so as to freeze a poorly lit subject and avoid camera shake. Since the default setting for the HP R742 is for Auto Flash, the mode uses flash by default. It can, however, be turned off. Theatre Mode serves to capture photos without flash. Sensitivity can be increased automatically, depending on conditions, anywhere between 50 and 200 ISO. The flash, normally set to Auto by default, is forced off. Landscape Mode uses the hyperfocal of the lens to maximize the depth of field. The flash is forced off by default. Portrait Mode appears to give preference to a wide aperture to limit the depth of field and blur the background behind the subject. Action Mode also gives preference to a high shutter speed, increasing the sensitivity up to 200 ISO if the flash cannot be used. Night Portrait Mode uses flash with red eye reduction and a long exposure (1/2 second). If necessary, the camera will increase the sensitivity up to 200 ISO. Sunset Mode emphasizes red and orange tones. Sensitivity can increase up to 200 ISO, and the flash is forced off by default. The selection ends with a Help option that describes the use and applications of shooting modes.
	Video Clip: allows capturing video clips with sound at a frame size of 320 x 240 pixels and at 24 frames per second. Worth noting, the HP R742 has no built-in speaker. So, to hear the sounds recorded with a video clip, the clip has to be transferred to a computer. Video clips last as long as there is memory space. Focus and white balance are set at the first frame, exposure is adjusted as the recording progresses.
	Playback: serves to review still images and video clips.

Next are two elongated buttons that are aligned vertically near the top right side of the monitor:

4-direction control, with its arrow controls, serves to scroll through menus and review images. Unlike so many other cameras nowadays, it has no other role.

At its centre is the Menu/OK button. The button calls up the menu related to the current camera mode, as selected by the Mode Switch, and serves to confirm selections made in the menus.

Immediately below, the Back () button serves to back out of a menu or an option.

The Photosmart R742 epitomizes simplicity. This is a camera that can be used by absolutely anyone, including those deeply adverse to technology. The R742 is not only easy to use, it resets to its defaults every time it is turned off, rectifying any inappropriate action a user may have taken.