HP (Hewlett-Packard) PhotoSmart 318 Digital Camera

- I twice submited requests to HP...

Strengths: Price against competitor's,supposedly simalar Camera's. Comparing quality HP 318 is no where near even cheap competitors.

Weakness: Zero Support 10 cents worth of software costs $17 dollars, HP lack lacks integrity to make software\drivers downloadable. Considering the HP "Hassle Program" try another brand

- I twice submited requests to HP support for this device and never got the courtesy of a reply
- As a former, very strong HP customer, last week I had to buy another brand laser printer. I am now looking for a new 5 MP Digital Camara and HP is not even considered
- My last HP Camara will at least make a good toy for my 8 year old.

By cybernaut - May 25, 2004

I would really be hesitant to...

Strengths: relatively small, relatively inexpensive

Weakness: many. For being a 2.3 mp, photo quality is marginal at best. Camera really struggles under low light and auto focus really has problems locking in. LCD display is horrible!!

I would really be hesitant to recommend an hp camera after this one! After about a year, it quit working completely. Wasn't satisfied with the quality anyway. Pictures were only marginal. Terrible in low light and numerous photos were blurry. lcd display was grainy and not visible in outdoor setting. Friends of mine have canon, nikon and kodak cameras of similar models. There is no comparison. Go...
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I would really be hesitant to recommend an hp camera after this one! After about a year, it quit working completely. Wasn't satisfied with the quality anyway. Pictures were only marginal. Terrible in low light and numerous photos were blurry. lcd display was grainy and not visible in outdoor setting. Friends of mine have canon, nikon and kodak cameras of similar models. There is no comparison. Go with a different manufacturer.

By cakinsey - Apr 6, 2003

This is a neat little camera....

Strengths: pixels for the $, excellent photo quality, easy to set up and use (software, batteries, smart card) upgradeable with zoom lens

Weakness: none noted

This is a neat little camera. Pixels for the $ (2.3 meg)is incomparable so far (and I've been checking). It is point and shoot and extremely easy to use. Software setup and USB connection is soooo simple. The product is also upgradable with zoom lens as well as other peripherals. Took a photo of my house w/i 5 mins of opening the box. Had a printout w/i 10 min (slow printer, old! ha). Also got a...
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This is a neat little camera. Pixels for the $ (2.3 meg)is incomparable so far (and I've been checking). It is point and shoot and extremely easy to use. Software setup and USB connection is soooo simple. The product is also upgradable with zoom lens as well as other peripherals. Took a photo of my house w/i 5 mins of opening the box. Had a printout w/i 10 min (slow printer, old! ha). Also got a deal on a 'free' 32 meg smart card w/ purchase from office depot (with no mail ins or any of that jazz!) The xtra card gave me 34 photos on the highest resolution!
For less than $200, this jewel cannot be beat!

By bama1k - Nov 19, 2001

Red Eye everywhere - using...

Strengths: Easy to use, good pictures outdoors, download as camera or disk,

Weakness: flash doesn't always work, takes about 3 secs between pictures, 10 secs to turn camera on to taking first picture, sunlight causes blue line accross photo, no optical zoom, eats batteries quickly

Red Eye everywhere - using anti-red eye Eats batteries quickly slow to start and between pictures From what I've read, it is still a good camera compared to others in it's category, but I often wonder if the extra $100 cdn would have been worth a similiar Cannon model, wtih more features, like manual overides, optical zoom, video out, etc. Pictures are good, once you know the limitations, and...
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Red Eye everywhere - using anti-red eye
Eats batteries quickly
slow to start and between pictures

From what I've read, it is still a good camera compared to others in it's category, but I often wonder if the extra $100 cdn would have been worth a similiar Cannon model, wtih more features, like manual overides, optical zoom, video out, etc.

Pictures are good, once you know the limitations, and digital vs. film is no contest-I have a drawer full of undeveloped film, but have digital pictures on hard drives, screen savers, cd copies for family members, car shopping comparisons, accident evidence photos, web pages, emails, etc,etc,etc.

If you don't have digital, then this is a good entry level. I was looking at a 1.x megapixel originally, and am glad I jumped to this second-from-bottom level. It is a respectable 35mm replacement.

However, 8 months later, I am starting to want the next level up (video out, optical zoom, manual override, more ISO > 100, 30 sec movies). But not more pixels, 2.3 is great for anything I've printed.

Batteries-All vendors need to do something here. The Energizer e2 or Duracell Ultra are completely useless..need photo lithium or VERY best rechareables $$

One last note, the USB cable is starting to give me intermittent problems. PC sees the USB cable, but can't see the camera. Playing with the cable seems to fix it.

Lastly-not regretting the purchase, just wanting more now that I have gotten used to the convenience of Digital.

By dborghese - Feb 15, 2003

when you press the button, so if...

Strengths: Inexpensive, durable, comes with nice software, takes decent pictures

Weakness: The USB adapter that you're supposed to plug in to get the pictures on the computer, didn't work on my computer, so I had to buy a usb compact flash card reader/writer. Also, there's a bit of a delay

when you press the button, so if you want to take in-the-moment pictures it's not for you. however, I've dropped it and it still works, and because it was so inexpensive (about 200 with a 32 MB card and the internal 8 megs) I'm not afraid to go places with it. Very simple, just point and shoot. The flash sometimes doesn't go off (pre-dropping it) and as I said, the pictures often come out too...
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when you press the button, so if you want to take in-the-moment pictures it's not for you. however, I've dropped it and it still works, and because it was so inexpensive (about 200 with a 32 MB card and the internal 8 megs) I'm not afraid to go places with it. Very simple, just point and shoot. The flash sometimes doesn't go off (pre-dropping it) and as I said, the pictures often come out too dark, and focus on the wrong thing.

By bobhatesyou - Sep 7, 2002