The HP Photosmart R717 review

The HP Photosmart R717 is the update to the well-liked R707 digital camera.

The R717 shares the same body as its predecessor but the LCD screen is slightly larger at 1.8in. Weight and dimensions are almost exactly identical, as is the 39-117mm zoom lens. The most significant change to the R717 is the increased megapixel count. The R717 has 6.2 million effective pixels, an improvement of 1.1 million.

Differences aside, the camera handles with the same easygoing attitude. The simple operation is complemented by help screens that give tips and advice to those users not to sure about their photography. In total there are 12 shooting modes that include creative options such as panorama and aperture priority. The R717 has a good range of metering modes with spot, centre weighted and evaluative available. ISO speeds are 50, 100, 200, 400 and automatic. Image sharpness, saturation and contrast can all be edited in-camera.

Our test shots showed good colour clarity and exposure management but noise was an issue in low-light situations. Skintones were accurate but could be cold and this was especially prevalent when the overly harsh built-in flash was used.

We did find shutter lag a problem as it takes a second or two to respond to a button press. This is fine in situations where your subject is still, but you're going to have to factor in extra shot time if your intended subject is moving. But even when everything in view is absolutely still, the fact that it takes such a long time to expose the CCD is annoying.

There's a good deal to like about the R717. Basically it's a slightly modified R707, which was already an impressive camera. The overall quality is good although some shots had more noise than we'd have liked. Colours are accurate and the panorama-stitching mode impressive. This is somewhat negated by the shutter lag that is just too long. Sports or action photography isn't this camera's strong point, so if you need a quick and responsive compact this probably isn't for you. On all other counts though, it's a good camera.