The Photosmart R967 from Hewlett-Packard is a point-and-shoot model with very few manual-control options, and it's aimed at beginning photographers. Some beginners might find the nearly $300 price tag on this model to be a bit high.

To justify the price tag on the Photosmart R967, HP has included 10.0 megapixels of resolution, which is enough for high-quality prints up to 13x19 inches, when shot in ideal lighting conditions. Unfortunately, the Photosmart R967 doesn't quite seem to live up to its resolution numbers. Image quality is below average with photos shot in outdoor light, and the image sharpness could be much better. The Photosmart R967's image quality seemed to be a bit better with photos shot indoors using the model's built-in flash. For a camera with 10.0 megapixels of resolution, we'd expect better image quality overall.

The unit's 3-inch LCD is impressive. It occupies the majority of the back panel and serves as the camera's only viewfinder. It's a sharp display unit, and it's easy to view most of the time, although you'll experience some glare problems in direct sunlight.

The Photosmart R967's 3X optical zoom lens is standard for digital cameras, but, in this price range, some models have larger zoom lenses.

Response times for this model are below average, representing a source of frustration. The slow response times will cost you some spontaneous photos. You cannot take your first photo until almost 4 seconds after pressing the power button, and shutter lag can be a problem.

The Photosmart R967's camera body just misses an ultra-compact designation at 1.01 inches in thickness. It still fits easily in a pocket, though. The Photosmart R967's body doesn't quite feel as sturdy as we'd expect for a model in this price range; for example, the battery compartment door closes awkwardly. However, it's a sharp-looking camera.

You may experience a few other drawbacks with this model. Although we appreciated the thin digital camera body, its ergonomics won't work well for everyone. It's easy to smudge the LCD or inadvertently press a button when holding the camera. You'll definitely want to test this model to make sure you can hold it comfortably before you buy it. The Photosmart R967's docking station doesn't hold the camera as tightly as it should, and it will be a bit of an annoyance to carry the docking station on trips. Fortunately, you can use the camera's built-in software to apply several special effects and to fix red eye or camera shake, meaning you won't need to use the dock to connect to a computer as often. Finally, the performance of the rechargeable battery included with this model is below average; you'll want to have a second battery available. The use of the large LCD as the only viewfinder quickly drains the battery.

The Photosmart R967 is extremely easy to use, which is a big plus. If this digital camera's starting price was around $250, rather than $300, it would be a good value. This model certainly has some nice features, but it needs to have a lower starting price.


Pros: Very easy to use, camera fits in a pocket, several built-in software features, high resolution, large and sharp LCD
Cons: Starting price could be lower, image quality could be better, response times are below average, battery performance is below average, no optical viewfinder

Warranty
1 year, limited