HP R742

Reviewed November 2007

Characteristics

The HP Photosmart R742 uses a 1/2.5 inch CCD with 7.38 million pixels, of which 7.2 million are effective when capturing the maximum image size of 3088 x 2320 pixels. The camera offers a choice of 4 image sizes and two compression levels at the highest resolution:

The sensitivity of the HP R742's CCD is under the control of the camera, and HP provides no information about its range — in fact HP provides very little information about the camera's specifications — however, in tests, the R742 appears to have a sensitivity range that starts at 50 ISO and extends to 800 ISO. There is no user control over the sensitivity range.

The HP R742 is equipped with a 3X optical zoom that has a focal range of 5.9 mm to 17.7 mm, the 35 mm equivalent of a 36 mm to 108 mm. Apertures start at f2.8 and go to f5.7 when the zoom is at the wide angle end, and f4.8 to f9.7 at the telephoto end.

This aperture range works in combination with a shutter speed range that covers from 1/2000 second to 2 seconds, depending on the mode in use. Both the aperture, and shutter speed of the R742 are under the control of the camera.

A cropping 7X digital zoom is added to the 3X optical zoom. The camera pauses when it reaches the end of the optical range requiring the user to press the zoom control again to enter the digital zoom range. The camera then indicates the transition to the digital zoom with a yellow frame, along with the the image size that the digital zoom will use. When the image size falls below 1 megapixel, the camera indicates that the printed image quality will deteriorate.

The few user controls available with the HP R742 are in the Picture Capture Menu. As long as one of the still image modes is used, the system shows all the capture mode options, but access to some of these may be prevented depending on the shooting mode in use:

• Shooting Modes: serves to select the shooting mode. Nine modes are available (see the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Self-Timer offers three options: Off, On and Help, which explains how to use the self-timer. The self-timer has a 10-second delay, and has to be re-selected for each successive shot that requires its use.

• Image Quality: serves to set the image size and quality (see above).
• Burst has three settings: Off, On, or Help. The Help provides an explanation of the Burst mode. Set to burst mode and the highest image quality, the R742 can capture 3 frames at 2 frames per second.
• Date and Time Imprint has four options: Off, Date Only, Date and Time, and Help. When set to Date or Date and Time the camera automatically stamps images, permanently, with the date or date and time. The help option provides an explanation of the function.

• Camera Setup: provides access to the short Setup menu of the R742. (See the Interface and Software section of the review.)
• Camera Help contains the equivalent of an instruction manual for the camera. The topics available are:
  • Top ten tips
  • Camera Accessories
  • Camera Buttons
  • Using Shooting Modes
  • Using Design Gallery
  • 'Using PhotoSmart Express
  • Printing images
  • Recording Video Clips
  • Reviewing Pictures and videos
  • Tagging Favorites
  • Deleting Images
  • Transferring Images
  • Managing Batteries
  • Getting Assistance
  • Tour Camera Features
  • Camera Shortcuts
  • About (lists the copyright, firmware version [v.1.14], bootloader version [v 1.27], and the camera's serial number)

Set to capture Video Clips, the R742 offers a three-option menu:

• Self-Timer offers three options: Off, On and Help, which explains how to use the self-timer. The self-timer has a 10-second delay, and has to be re-selected for each shot.
• Camera Setup: provides access to the short Setup menu of the R742. (See the Interface and Software section of the review.)
• Camera Help accesses the help options listed above.

When the R-742 is set to the Playback mode, the menu provides the following functions:

• Remove Red-Eye: this option is only accessible when the photo under review has been captured with flash. When selected, the camera analyses the image and corrects the red-eye effect if it detects it. If it does not, the camera indicates that"No red eyes were found in this image".
• Design Gallery offers a number of options, including one to undelete:
  • Modify Colours makes it possible to change the image colour to: Black and White, Sepia, or Black and White Tints, which applies colour tones to a black and white version of the image.
  • Add Border has three options: soft edge, which allows adding a soft edge oval border to an image; oval and rectangle. in all cases, the size of the border and its colour can be selected.
  • Rotate serves to rotate the image in 90° increments.
  • Crop allows cropping the image to Landscape (horizontal rectangle), or Portrait (vertical rectangle). In both cases, the zoom control can be used to crop a smaller or larger area, and the cropping frame can be moved to different position on the frame. A third option for this function offers Help on how to use the cropping function.

• Photosmart Express serves to print, share, or prepare images for online printing:
  • Print allows selecting the image currently under review, or all images.
  • Share: allows tagging images for e-mailing, and sharing. Using this function requires that appropriate destinations for the images be first installed on the camera while it is connected to a computer.
  • Buy Prints Online: serves to tag images for online printing.

• Favorites: allows tagging images as favorites so it can be selected quickly for printing or viewing as part of a slide show. Up to 200 images can be tagged as Favorites.
• View Slide show: presents captured images as a slide show, displaying all images or only those tagged as Favorites. The on-screen time of images can be selected (2, 5, 10, 15, 60 seconds), as well as whether or not the slide show loops 2 or 3 times or continuously, or simply plays through once.
• Move Images to Card: serves to move images from the internal memory to a memory card.
• Camera Setup: provides access to the short Setup menu of the R742. (See the Interface and Software section of the review.)
• Camera Help accesses the help options (see above).

The HP R742 has a 32 MB internal memory, but not all of it can be used to store images, making the acquisition of a memory card an absolute necessity. The R742 is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards. The card slot is located underneath the camera, next to the battery, and the card is released by pressing on its edge. A solid door covers both battery and memory card.

The chart below provides an idea of the number of images and the length of video that can be stored using the internal memory, or using an optional 1 GB SD card:

The HP R742 is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (LI40) which fits into a slot next to the memory card. Once in place, the battery is secured in its slot by a blue spring-loaded latch that prevents it from sliding out when the memory card is accessed. A battery charger is included with the camera (L508-80001), and it requires 1.5 hours to charge the battery.

The HP R742 has only one external connection, located on the top right side of the camera, and open at all times.

The connection is USB (Full Speed) only, and serves to connect the camera to a computer or to a PictBridge compliant printer.

The camera automatically detects whether it is connected to a computer or to a printer, and automatically selects the correct protocol.