HP Photosmart R927 Review

The HP Photosmart R927 is all about BIG fantastic features. This stainless steel compact digital camera sports a large 3-inch colored LCD screen with a 170° viewing angle and 8.2 megapixels of resolution. It is equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens with an aperture range of f2.8 - f7.8 in wide angle and f5.0 - f8.5 in telephoto. It also features an extending and retracting 8x digital zoom lens which is protected by a built-in lens cap.

The wide 3-inch LCD is located at the back of the R927 and takes up most of its 0.4 lbs. weight. Its 230,400 pixels make everything sharp and clear, even when viewed outdoors. Although it carries a large LCD, the R927 still fits comfortably in your hand. With its dimensions of 2.4 in x 3.8 in x 2.1 in, it is still slim enough to be slipped in your back pocket.

The R927 is simple enough to use. The Zoom control, the Movie mode shutter release, the Menu/OK button, and the 4-way selector that is used to navigate the menu and selecting photos for playback are all situated on the back panel of this digital camera. There are seven additional buttons on top of the camera. The Flash mode button changes the flash mode to auto, flash-on or flash-of. The Macro/MF (Flower/Manual Focus) button is used to change the focus setting. The Photosmart Express button is used for printing or sending images to an e-mail. The Record/Playback button allows you to change between these two modes. The Power button of course, switches the camera on and off. The Shutter Release button is used specifically for capturing still images. And the unique Movie Record button which allows you to record movies without having to go through menus to change the mode.

Located at the bottom of the camera is the memory card slot. The R927 uses the Secure Digital memory card and you can use this to support its 32 MB internal memory. The battery compartment, tripod mount, and the HP 6220 camera dock are also located at the bottom of the camera. The camera dock allows easier transfer, sharing, and e-mailing of saved images and video clips. The camera dock is also used for recharging the batteries.

The R927 bears HP Real Life technologies. One such feature is HP’s Adaptive Lighting Technology which automatically adjusts the contrast of an image. This technology eliminates dark, shadowy faces and subdues illuminated objects for a more natural capture of the image. The Red-Eye Removal system addresses the problem most digital camera users encounter. The system detects and automatically removes red-eye while still in the camera, saving you time in editing the photos and ensuring the best capture each time. And as if these automated technologies are not enough to guarantee the best possible shot, HP’s Image Advice will give you that added assurance. The Image Advice can tell you what went wrong in an image and give you tips on taking photos.

HP’s Photosmart Share makes sharing and printing photos easy with just one touch of a button. Simply select an image and select its destination by pressing the Photosmart Express button. Destinations include printers, e-mail, and on-line albums.

The R927 has various shooting modes to allow the best possible image in each photo. You can choose from Auto, Landscape, Portrait, Theatre, Panorama, Action, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Beach, Snow, Sunset, and Document modes. And once an image is captured, you can change it into black and white or sepia, apply artistic effects, add borders to it or stitch together up to five images into a single image. One of its exciting effects is the Slimming effect which lets your subject drop a few pounds if only just for that photograph.

Summary of HP Photosmart R927 features:

• HP's Adaptive lighting technology and In-camera Red-eye removal
• Megapixels: 8.2 Megapixels
• Optical Zoom: 3x
• Digital Zoom: 8x
• Image Sensor: CCD
• Aperture: f/2.8 max; f/3.5 min
• Focal Length: 22 mm (max(; 7.8 mm (min)
• Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec (max); 16 sec (min)
• Image Format: JPEG
ISO Equivalencies: 100, 400, 200, auto
• Number Of CCD Pixels:8.2 Million
• LCD Screen Size: 3 inches
Memory: 32 MB internal memory, Secure Digital (SD) Card
Connectors: 1 x USB, 1 x docking station, 1 x DC power input
• Included Cable Types: USB
• Weight: 0.4 lbs.
Dimension: 2.4 in x 3.8 in x 2.1 in (HxWxD)
• Movie Capture: MPEG-1 movies with audio at 640x480 (24fps)
• Flash: Built-in flash with modes for Auto, Off, Auto+Red-Eye, Forced On and Night
• Power Source: Li-ion rechargeable battery and docking cradle included

PROS: One of the R927’s best features is the processing options that allow you to edit an image without having to plug it to a computer. Its functions are simple and easy to understand. However, if you need extra help, the R927 has a full Help Menu that describes all its features and controls. It also offers options that professionals might look for.

CONS: The 32 MB internal memory might be insufficient to hold all your photos, especially if they are taken in high resolution. Getting a memory card seems a requirement for the added storage space. Also, the R927 is great for taking smaller prints but its quality declines when you print a larger image where the noise and purple fringing becomes pronounced.

Overall: The HP Photosmart R927 gives a good performance in most areas. It’s a durable, compact camera that sports a lot of features, both for the inexperienced photographer to the most experienced one.

Attached Images

HP_Photosmart_R927.jpg (23.6 KB, 0 views)