On the outside, the Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart R727 doesn't seem much different than any other beginner-level digital camera; it has a standard small camera body, a standard 3X optical zoom lens, and a standard set of automatic features. Where the PhotoSmart R727 gives itself a boost away from the rest of the beginner digital camera market is on the inside, starting with its 6.2 megapixels of resolution. Few other sub-$300, beginner-level digital cameras can match the PhotoSmart R727's resolution (which takes high-quality prints up to 11x14 inches).

The PhotoSmart R727 also offers 32MB of internal memory, which is a handy amount of built-in memory. More than likely, you will still need to purchase a memory card eventually, but this digital camera's internal memory is a good starting point.

The 3X optical zoom provides good quality photos. Thanks to a powerful built-in flash, this model does an especially good job in low-light conditions, which isn't always the case with beginner-level cameras that have almost no significant manual-setting features.

Response times are good for the PhotoSmart R727. You can shoot your first photo in about 3 seconds. Shutter lag is less than 1 second when using auto-focus, and it shouldn't be a problem most of the time. Tests showed that shot-to-shot delays were pretty good at 2-3 seconds, even when using the flash.

To make using the PhotoSmart R727 easy, HP offers a docking station. Unfortunately, the docking station requires an additional cost of about $80. The docking station does include a second proprietary battery for the PhotoSmart R727, which is handy, and a wireless remote, which allows for easy display of the digital camera's photos on a TV. Although the docking station involves a significant add-on cost, we recommend purchasing it with this camera.

We did find one feature to be annoying: The optical viewfinder doesn't reveal the full exposure. You'll always end up with more information in your photo than what the viewfinder shows. Although you can fix this later with cropping, it would be better if the viewfinder matched the final photo much more closely. The 2.5-inch LCD, however, does a much better job of making a close match to the photo framed and shot.

Finally, the PhotoSmart R727 has a small camera body, which will appeal to many beginners. It doesn't quite make the ultra-thin category at 0.93 inches in thickness, but it should fit in your pocket comfortably.


Pros: Response times are good, wireless remote for TV viewing is a cool feature, camera performs surprisingly well in low light
Cons: Viewfinder doesn't match photo results well enough, camera could use more unique and high-end features, docking station requires add-on costs

Warranty
1 year