5 comments about Olympus Stylus 850SW 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Blue).

1. My wonderful father sent me this camera as a complete surprise and I couldn't be happier with it! It's lightweight, easy to use, and so far I've had no problems with droppage (as in I've dropped it and it's remained in perfect working condition!) as well as it takes great underwater pictures. I would recommend this camera to anyone who enjoys taking pictures.



2. I received this camera a couple of days before leaving for a month long vaction in Spain. 2 days after arriving in Spain I went online to update the firmware of the camera so that I could take longer videos. Within a minute of completing the update and making sure that the extended video function worked, the camera shut off. Thought the battery ran down so I recharged it and the camera simply will not start now. Called Olympus long distance from Barcelona and they said I had to send it in for repair. Told them I needed another camera stat and they basically said tough luck. Told them that I would need to leave a negative review on Amazon and they couldn't care less. So, if you're looking for a dependable camera, look somewhere else.



3. We actually purchased this camera for our teen daughter, but have ended up using it as much as she does. She loves the underwater capability and has used it often to take pictures in the pool and at the lake. I love all of the available options and great picture quality. We recently purchased another camera, but chose to take this one on vacation. If there is one downside to the camera, it is that you must have the Olympus software program installed on your computer (comes with camera) to upload pictures. As far as the weird sized memory card that comes with the Olympus goes, we just use the micoSD (which is also used in cell phones) card instead. If you are looking for a fun camera that takes good pics, especially if you want the underwater capability, I think you will enjoy this one.



4. I bought this camera after our Sony was stolen in South Padre and I couldn't be happier. Yeah I was sad that we lost all our pictures from a week long vacation but it is almost worth it. Along with the camera I have purchased two extra batteries (you will need them) and 2GB xd card and a 4GB micro sd card. On normal mode the xd card holds about 1000 pics. We have updated the software and the videos are amazing. The picture quality is great, at first I didn't like the night pics but once I put it on the correct setting the pictures were wonderful. With my old Sony I never used the scene settings bc I never noticed a difference, with this camera the settings make a huge difference. The panorama was easy to use (but only in P mode)I was one that would never read the instruction manual but with this camera it helped so much.
   Also the floating strap is a must, it will sink!! We have put it in water several times with no problems, I check the battery and usb doors every time to make sure there isn't anything in there. We haven't had ideal underwater opportunities just yet, but when we used it we had a blast with it.
   I love this camera and have turned many people on to it! And if you are looking for an orange one Best Buy had it.



5. Just got this camera after doing lots of researching of underwater cameras. This camera is awesome for the price! Love that it has a rechargeable battery and so many different shooting modes! It's really easy to set up and get started...even my kids love using it! Purchased a bigger memory card right away and am getting a silicone skin as well. I've been recommending this camera to everyone!

5 comments about Kodak EasyShare Z1012 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. fOR THE PRICE I THINK THIS CAMERA IS SUPERB. IT HAS 10MP AND 12 OP.ZOOM ! AND IT IS EASY TO USE.



2. I've had alot of fun with this camera so far taking pictures of everything from the kids to the lake. It has so many features to try out and the zoom is great! I shopped for a long time before purchasing so that I could find a camera that I would not grow out of. This is a great purchase for amature photographers like myself.



3. I bought this camera shortly after receiving panasonic 10MP lumix w 12x zoom. I found out the lumix was as big as my sony digital slr, so I didnt see the point in bringing this on vacation with me. I am not totally unbiased, as I had owned 3 other kodak easyshares prior to this, and was happy with their quality, so I bought this kodak the day before traveling to yosemite, napa and san francisco. I wanted a smaller point and shoot with high zoom for this trip. I do also own the lumix 10MP and a sony alpha 700 digital slr, but, again they are bulky for traveling, especially with camcorder in the carryon. The kodak took very good quality pictures and the panoramic function worked very well. It does step the image quality down slightly to use panoramic function, but I was able to stitch my own panoramic using home software with full quality images. I will be posting some of these images from yosemite and san francisco once I reduce the image sizes. My primary complaint was the lens cap kept falling off and I did end up losing it in san francisco. I am hoping to get this replaced n/c by kodak.



4. So far this camera is great! It is taking awesome pictures. My favorite thing is the shutter speed. You can actually get the action while it is happening, instead of right after. As long as it lasts it will be a great buy!



5. I bought this camera for better photo quality since I do a lot of close up and macro shots. I am only just getting into the features of this camera but at a recent family event the wide angle and the panoramic shots were really handy. The panoramic shots are amazing the way the camera stitches the separate shots together. I really like the camera.

5 comments about Canon PowerShot SX100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver).

1. This camera was recommended by a friend also looking for a point & shoot digital camera with a good zoom. I have been very pleased with the pictures taken so far. Camera is easy to use & I have been able to get great action pics of my kids. Zoom has also been great to capture kids in sports, etc. Even took pics in a low light setting with great results. Highly recommended for people who don't want to mess with lots of settings.



2. Love my new Cannon Camera. Loads of features I've still got so much to learn about using it.



3. Bad points:
   The function button on the back is right where I rest my thumb and have accidentally changed settings. One needs to manually raise the flash which is a little cumbersome. Camera (in silver) is very slippery - easily dropped. Time for saving photos is long - many missed shots.
   All in all a good value.



4. I presently own a Cannon PowerSot A540 that I use at my Home Inspection Business taking about 50 to 70 Different types of pictures everyday and this Camera has been Beyond Great. The New SX100IS that I Purchased is Truley a step up from the A540 ,it is extremely easy to use , I can Zoom in like I was using high powered Binioculars and then just tap on the "snap-botton' and it auto-focuses , the screen view is crystal clear and I am SUPER Pleased !!! If you forget to pop-up the flash it simply displays that at the top of the screen so you can choose........It is Light ,Comfortable ,and has the same Quality Construction of my A540 which has fallen off a roof several times and just keeps working everyday......I just needed more Zoom than 4X and this 10X is like a Telescope ,Man-o-Man !!!!!!!



5. Though I'd otherwise rave about this wonderful camera, I'm on my third version in about 4 years and am sick of replacing it. Each time, after about 4 GB of photo-taking (cumulative total -- many downloads in between), the camera tells me to "Replace the Batteries." I replace them and it will take one or two more photos before it tells me to again replace the batteries. There seems to be some sort of mechanical "wearing out" that occurs. I use the camera for vacations, school events, etc. I am not a professional photographer. So I don't think I use it excessively. Obviously I love it (and am used to the controls), or I'd not have purchased two more after my first one went bad (in exactly the same way). But this latest camera lasted me less than 6 months, so I'm finished with Canon.

5 comments about Sony Cybershot DSCW120 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Silver).

1. this was a great investment. I got that package deal (camera,case,&duo stick for computer) at a better price than Sony or Best Buy offered. Camera has really great features (auto smile, set to look for adults or children, video, & slideshow to name a few). The only downside is that Sony has not made a Marine Kit to fit this camera yet for underwater use. Excellent quality on printed pictures.



2. An excellent camera -- very easy for me to use without having to read directions -I don't like to read directions.



3. you called and said my amazon charge had expired so I gave you my visa. i said i wanted it updated. the next day you called to ask if i wanted my charge updated for the camera i had asked about. ok. then i got two cameras. i had to pay 15.00 to return the second camera.
   i was very upset over this....



4. All goog, but the camera's and accesories came in a great box like PS3, too bigger.



5. I've had the DSC-W55 before and decided to buy this model. It's really nice. Love the quality of pictures. Very easy- to- use camera, specially made for starters. And the memory stick duo adaptor... great idea!
   The bad thing.... if you have big fingers, you are gonna have a little problem with the buttons of the camera.

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix P5100 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom.

1. It's the perfect almost professional little camera, with the possibility of adding a wide angle lens.



2. A small camera that achieves big results. A must have for nikonists that want to forget the weight of digital reflexs for a while.
   
   Great value for price, decent video capabilities, and many special (and useful) modes of exposure.
   
   Only two points to improve: the wideangle is not too good, and the optical visor is not too exact. If you can live with that, this is one of the best compacts you can buy. Specially if like to take control of what's happening.



3. I have the G7 (one model before the G9) and also this P5100. First the good of the P5100.
   1) Size matters...it fits easily in a pocket or in my wife's purse!
   2) Weight...much lighter...she doesn't realize it when i put it in her purse!
   3) Can use with my nikon SB-800 flash for nice bounced flash photography, allowing creative portraits or images.
   4) Decent images if in nicely lit areas
   The Bad:
   1) Very very ...very slowwwwww focusing...and i mean SLOW!!
   2) images above ISO 400 are so noisy, that its is not usable for any decent printing
   3) video images are of so-so quality (compared to G7)
   
   If size and weight don't matter, i seriously recommend the Canon G7 or G9. Image quality and response time are also better on the canon. Though i love the nikon small form factor.



4. I upgraded my Coolpix P5000 to Coolpix P5100 for enhanced image quality and overall performance. I was so disappointed that my Coolpix P5100 yielded blurry and hazy pictures taken in broad daylight, even with its "fine" mode on. Its indoor performance was even more deplorable (even under well-lit conditions for shooting still-life objects). The major factor contributing to Coolpix P5100's poor picture quality is probably its slow-reactive auto focus, which takes a few seconds (and several seconds when shooting indoor or in a shaded area outdoor) to lock in a target. If you are looking for a digital point-and-shoot with high MP, you should definitely avoid Coolpix P5100. I do digitized photo repair as a hobby, and therefore am highly attentive (and sensitive) to image details. Believe me, you will be disappointed with Coolpix P5100, if you have a refined taste for image quality. It looks cool, but its pictures are clearly not.



5. OK, so it was my "friend" who spilled my beer on the camera; I probably shouldn't have left it on the table, but it's so light and fun to use that I like to keep it handy. (The beer only splashed onto the front lens area, so not much damage. I was on it right away with napkins then cleaned it later with rubbing alcohol. The auto lens cover still sticks a little, but no long term effects as of yet.)
   
   Two months ago, I was shopping for a camera for my first ever trip to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. I was torn between the Nikon P5100 and the Canon G9. I agonized over all the reviews and sample pictures. The Canon was great, but cost $200 more and weighed a lot more. The Nikon was lightweight, more pocket friendly and still 12 megapixels.
   
   Believe it or not, this is my first digital camera. I have a couple film cameras, a Nikon 35Ti point and shoot and a Canon T90 SLR. I used to be a professional, toting bags of heavy equipment with me everywhere, and I wanted to get as far away from that as possible, even if it meant sacrificing "picture quality." And by that, I mean the difference between something you'd see in a scrapbook versus in a published book. This little camera does a great job; overall I was very happy with it. Most of my disappointments came from the rustiness of my own photography skills.
   
   However I did hit a enough snags to reduce the rating to 4 stars. The camera sometimes had a hard time metering, especially at the Paint Pots or waterfalls. I usually used either Aperture or Shutter priority, depending on whether I wanted depth of field or stop-action -- I love having that ability. But when the meter was fooled, I would have to switch to Manual. I never tried the preprogrammed settings (Portrait, Landscape, etc). The other problem was focusing -- the camera does great with people, but terrible on landscapes with no contrast (again, the paint pots or thermal features with lots of steam). I found that setting the focus from AF to landscape helped a lot, but I was frustrated enough to take away a star.
   
   So I'm sure I would have gotten much better pictures had I spent $1500 on a new SLR and lenses and a tripod and hauled 40 pounds of equipment with me instead of carrying a $300 camera (with the extra telephoto extender too) that fits in my pocket. But would I have had as much fun? I doubt it.
   
   P.S. I spilled coffee on it too. That I can't blame on anyone but me.

5 comments about Olympus Stylus 850SW 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Yellow).

1. My wonderful father sent me this camera as a complete surprise and I couldn't be happier with it! It's lightweight, easy to use, and so far I've had no problems with droppage (as in I've dropped it and it's remained in perfect working condition!) as well as it takes great underwater pictures. I would recommend this camera to anyone who enjoys taking pictures.



2. I received this camera a couple of days before leaving for a month long vaction in Spain. 2 days after arriving in Spain I went online to update the firmware of the camera so that I could take longer videos. Within a minute of completing the update and making sure that the extended video function worked, the camera shut off. Thought the battery ran down so I recharged it and the camera simply will not start now. Called Olympus long distance from Barcelona and they said I had to send it in for repair. Told them I needed another camera stat and they basically said tough luck. Told them that I would need to leave a negative review on Amazon and they couldn't care less. So, if you're looking for a dependable camera, look somewhere else.



3. We actually purchased this camera for our teen daughter, but have ended up using it as much as she does. She loves the underwater capability and has used it often to take pictures in the pool and at the lake. I love all of the available options and great picture quality. We recently purchased another camera, but chose to take this one on vacation. If there is one downside to the camera, it is that you must have the Olympus software program installed on your computer (comes with camera) to upload pictures. As far as the weird sized memory card that comes with the Olympus goes, we just use the micoSD (which is also used in cell phones) card instead. If you are looking for a fun camera that takes good pics, especially if you want the underwater capability, I think you will enjoy this one.



4. I bought this camera after our Sony was stolen in South Padre and I couldn't be happier. Yeah I was sad that we lost all our pictures from a week long vacation but it is almost worth it. Along with the camera I have purchased two extra batteries (you will need them) and 2GB xd card and a 4GB micro sd card. On normal mode the xd card holds about 1000 pics. We have updated the software and the videos are amazing. The picture quality is great, at first I didn't like the night pics but once I put it on the correct setting the pictures were wonderful. With my old Sony I never used the scene settings bc I never noticed a difference, with this camera the settings make a huge difference. The panorama was easy to use (but only in P mode)I was one that would never read the instruction manual but with this camera it helped so much.
   Also the floating strap is a must, it will sink!! We have put it in water several times with no problems, I check the battery and usb doors every time to make sure there isn't anything in there. We haven't had ideal underwater opportunities just yet, but when we used it we had a blast with it.
   I love this camera and have turned many people on to it! And if you are looking for an orange one Best Buy had it.



5. Just got this camera after doing lots of researching of underwater cameras. This camera is awesome for the price! Love that it has a rechargeable battery and so many different shooting modes! It's really easy to set up and get started...even my kids love using it! Purchased a bigger memory card right away and am getting a silicone skin as well. I've been recommending this camera to everyone!

5 comments about Nikon Coolpix S210 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Cool Blue).

1. This camera not only looks cool, it's also cool to use.
   
   All the icons help me to get what I want and where I need to be to get my perfect shots.
   
   The quality of my photos were fantastic!
   
   Thank you Coolpix!



2. I bought this camera for an upcoming vacation. Its so small (almost the same size as my cell phone) and fits great in my pocket. My old camera was bulky and not pocket-friendly. It starts super fast too, so you won't miss any "kodak moments." Picture quality seems up to par although I haven't used it that much yet. Fairly simple to use; I spent an hour or so going over the manual. Altogether a pretty good buy!



3. Takes great pictures and is simple to use. Small enough to fit in a purse or pocket easily but big enough to see whats in the view finder without glasses.



4. I want to add a minus- easy to place batery in wrong way and it gets stuck. Not for older people with bad eyesight



5. I love Nikon cameras! So I had to stay in the family when
   I upgraded. This small, sleek camera is easy to carry as well as to use. The new features and added megapixels are even more of a plus.

4 comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5K 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black).

1. I've owned this camera for just about a month now after dropping my beloved and four-year old Sony Cybershot into the ocean. I debated buying another Cybershot (it would be my third) but decided to go in for a little variety instead. My Cybershot sported a Zeiss lens (i'm a former film photography enthusiast). This Lumix sported a Leica lens and you can't really beat the price for a 10 megapixel, leica lens digital with some built in memory and i really wanted the wide angle lens (which is great, as is the image stabilization). I also looked at the Olympus Stylus of the same size; however, the word "proprietary" was mentioned far too often in regards to the Stylus so in the end, I went with the Lumix instead.
   
   At this point, however, I'm a little disappointed - the Cybershot was much simpler to use. Dare I say it but there might just be TOO many options on this particular P&S. I honestly think I might have been better off sticking with an interface I was familiar with.
   
   As someone who's tested the usability of an interface more than once in her life (professionally) - I always found the Cybershot to be so simple I had no need whatsoever to view the manual (this has always been my #1 indicator of a good interface). Not so much with this one - I can't even figure out how to delete multiple images at once on here, or whether I have the option to manually set my shutter/aperture. In addition, since I am a photography enthusiast, I find some of the presets wanting and as of right now, I can't figure out how to tweak them to my own specifications.
   
   Perhaps it's time to change my tactics and resort to the manual.



2. I've owned mostly Nikon Coolpix point and shoots for years and nothing was more complex than the interfaces to these cameras. So when I got the Lumix, I expected the same. But unlike the previous review, this camera was very simple to understand. Maybe going from the harrowing interface of something like the Nikon to something fairly simple like the Lumix made it an easy transition (kind of like driving BMW with i-Drive to a Honda). Don't get me wrong, I love the Nikons, but the Lumix's portability (small, small size), Leica lens and wide angle ability, is simply the best.
   
   The battery and SD card placement is well designed (meaning, next to each other with one panel opening to deal with). Trigger button is significant and zoom in and out switch is where you'd want it. The screen IS the back of the camera, which grants a viewing area that's impressive.It's solid in feel and again, small enough for the pocket, bag, and hand palm. It's size is also one of those things that make you think, "I could lose this", but that's the price of it's footprint. Just look after your stuff - or yeah, you'll lose it.
   
   Pics are very good. At 10MP, details are impressive. The wide angle tends to add a parallax, but nothing that's significantly distorting.
   
   Check this camera out, by all means - especially as the vacation documenting device that is simple to take, simple to use and easy on the wallet.



3. This is the first digital camera I've purchased, and so far I think it's pretty awesome. I'm a little technophobic, and have always loved taking pictures with my old Pentax 35mm manual, but this camera is great for what I'm using it for, and has allowed me to learn how to take better pictures.
   
   As a student I wanted a lightweight camera with a nice lens that could easily be taken on a study abroad trip, as well as on backpacking trips and hikes. This camera has a Leica lense, which is of great quality glass and this company makes very decent microscope lenses so I figured it'd be a solid quality-over-quantity purchase.
   
   This camera has performed exceptionally well on the snowy and overexposed summit of a 14,000 ft peak, and the quality of the pictures are more than I had hoped for. It's very easy to understand, especially for someone who isn't great with modern gadgets. The zoom can get very detailed close ups of animals, and there are many options for different scene modes, including candlelight and starry sky scenes, but if you're into not thinking about it the intelligent auto mode is very efficient and consistently takes nice shots. Manual adjustments can be made to compensate on different exposures, one can edit the picture from the camera before downloading it onto a PC, and it often finds and focuses on faces automatically.
   
   Another nice addition is trip planning and the calendar, where if you're going out of country or far away you can set the time of your journey and pre-set the time ahead or behind, which I think is great because I like to know when I took pictures and in what order. The manual is easy to understand, too.
   
   Overall, excellent camera for someone not wanting to spend a lot, like students and most people :) I think it's a good introduction especially for people who are used to old point and shoot cameras, but it has enough to offer to teach people to be better picture takers.



4. I didnt get this camera for myself, it's my sister's. She loves it. She told me it's a little bit complicated, because it has so many functionalities. But it's worth investigating and learning. I know Lumix, and the pictures are pretty great for a point and shoot.
   Also, i really like the pictures this camera takes with flash. I own 2 cameras, one SLR and one point and shoot. My point and shoot doesnt take very good pics with flash. It's a great PRO for Lumix in my opinion.
   You're not going to be dissapointed with this camera...plus the size it's perfect, not to big, not so tiny it's impossible to use!

5 comments about Fujifilm Finepix J10 8.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Matte Black).

1. I bought this camera for wife so she would have small camera to carry around with her on vacation. While the pictures it takes will never be mistaken for pics taken with a DSLR, the results are generally very good. It's also very simple to use. If you're the type of person that is going to "pixel peep", or be upset about "noise" at a high ISO, then this probably isn't the camera for you. Then again, no camera for around $100 is going to make you happy. If you want an inexpensive, small camera to just take pictures, then this camera is an excellent choice. It's a small, no-frills, to the point, point and shoot. It also seems very well built, and the 2.5" screen is acceptable for a camera at this price. The camera itself probably rates about 4 stars, but I give it 5 stars at its price point.



2. I bought this camera for personal use. Although I'm not a professional photographer I greatly enjoy taking pictures and this camera has suited me well. It's because of its generally high reveiws that I chose this camera out of the many to choose from, and I add my two thumbs up to it! The picture resolution is so clear and amazing and the "movie" recording works fantastically. Another thing that has pleased me is the way it captures in real color instead of giving it that "picture" look. For a camera of its price I am thoroughly satisfied. :)



3. Absolutely unbelievable! This camera is great. I have had some bad experiences with Nikons in the past and for my first Fujifilm I was supremely impressed. The shots are enormous and can be really crisp and clear. It's not as fancy but there are lots of settings and helpful features that get the job done right.
   
   Be careful to set the camera to the proper camera mode before going into a situation such as a wedding or graduation. I missed my brother getting his diploma because I had to change the setting last minute (But we have it on film camera and video camera)



4. Great looking camera, takes great pictures without all the bells and whistles I didnt want. Uncomplicated and easy



5. [[ASIN:B0011ZK6ZC Fujifilm Finepix J10 8.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Brushed Silver)This is our first and came with a nice thick book for use. We struggled to get the memorey card installed and had a younger family member do that for us. We love it and are having fun transferring pics to the computer to share with our kids & grandchildren. This little camera takes beautiful pictures and the display is large enough for anyone to see. It is very small and fits into your shirt pocket. LOVE IT... AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT

5 comments about HP R742 Photosmart Digital Camera (Black).

1. I have this camera in red. The camera itself is alright. I wish it had a viewfinder as well as the screen. I do not like how fast the screen shuts off. The picture quality is marginal. Even in the steady photo mode, the picture is real grainy. In other modes such as night mode, you have to hold the camera real steady. I tried that and my pictures came out blurry. I wish I would have read reviews before purchasing this. Its an ok camera overall.



2. This camera is incredibly easy to use. The screen is larger than most digitals cameras so it makes it easier to see what you are shooting. To download or print pictues is simple. The cameera holds almost 1700 pictures with a 2MB card so you do not need to worry about running out.



3. I purchased the R742 about two months ago, the red version. The color is very nice (it's not a magenta red like the pictures may show). The camera color doesn't matter that much though, so let's get to the real issues. Photo quality is quite good, I have no problems with graininess, lines, color issues, etc. As far as this is concerned, it is exactly what I would expect from a camera in this price bracket ($0-$250). Sure, you can't do as much with it as you could with a higher end camera or a SLR, but then again, look at the price you're paying.
   
   Pros:
   1) It is nice and small, very easy to slide into a pocket or purse to have on hand.
   
   2) While 3x zoom (the other 7x is digital and not worth anything) is not much, it works for being a small camera and seems pretty standard.
   
   3) The price is inexpensive, yet is a nice low-end camera.
   
   4) The click-to-snap time is less than a second I find (i.e. the time between when I press the button, it figures out the exact focus, sets off flash, and "snaps" the shot) which is better than my prior camera which seemed to delay things longer.
   
   5) The 7 MP is plenty for nice shots even if I want to enlarge to greater than 8 x 10.
   
   
   Things I don't like, but you may, and things I find different between the R742 and my older R727:
   1) The R742 power button is a bit hard to press the way it is buried. I have a medium hand size with dexterous fingers, but even I have to press it twice sometimes. The good thing about this though is you don't accidentally turn it on when it's in your pocket! However, my old R727 I sometimes turn on by accident.
   
   2) The R742 button to switch between taking and viewing photos is a "slide" button. It seems a bit flimsy, and although I have not had a problem with it I much prefer my older HP727 that had the buttons for this on the top that you press as it is easier to toggle between the two while taking photos.
   
   3) The lens moves out when turned on - now this is normal for a lot of cameras, but coming off of my HP727 that did not have an external lens (yet still had 3x optical, 7x digital zoom!), this has taken getting used too.
   
   4) On my old HP727, the buttons for setting focus and flash are right on the camera, but now I have to scroll through two menus to get to this; which is annoying when I want to pull this new HP742 out for a quick shot. Now, instead of less than 2 seconds to select focus range and flash setting, it takes about 10. This is a huge difference, for example, if I see some birds, or deer, etc that I want a picture of before they fly/run off.
   
   Summary:
   Over the course of more than two years, I would think that there should be improvements on the R742 from the older versions of pretty much the same model (i.e. my old R727). In reality, the easy usability backslid in those 2+ years, and features (The 1 MP better and faster click-to-snap time) made only tiny strides. If my menu/"ok" button on the R727 constantly worked I would have returned this R742 immediately, as the above two mentioned strides do not make up for the usability issues I have with it.
   
   I just went on HP's site, and did not find this camera nor very many others listed. I wonder if they are not going to make cameras any longer. I really like HP products; my desktop (HP D4100E from 2005 and still going strong, no problems at all), laptop (newly purchased TX2000z), printer/scanner/fax (C7280), and camera are all HP. However, this most recent purchase has me wishing I went with a Cannon, or had just waited until I have enough money for a Nikon SLR. I think HP has lost the market on their cameras, and based on their website, they know it.



4. This is an excellent camera and I've been delighted, but guess what? It's now no longer available and neither is a replacement charger for the battery. My charger got misplaced when we moved, and I thought, no problem I'll just go to the HP site and reorder. The charger is not available; no picture of it anywhere, no suggestion of an alternate item to buy. The online help referred me to the HP Parts store page, no mention of it there either. My opinion of HP has changed...they do not stand by their products.



5. This is my families third HP R742 digital camera. It is very easy to use. It has a rechargeable battery with charger. This 7 mega-pixel camera takes excellent pictures. It comes in different colors witch is great because everyone in my family had a different color camera.