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HP PhotoSmart 618 HP's capable mid-level model offers 2.1 megapixels, an optical zoom lens, and ease-of-use. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PhotoSmart 618 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on PhotoSmart 618 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 03/19/2001

Optics
The built-in Pentax 3x, 5.2-16.5mm lens is equivalent to a 34-108mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. The lens itself is protected by a retractable cover that slides open and out of the way when the camera is powered on. At the same time, the lens telescopes out from the camera body about an inch (regardless of the camera mode). The lens features nine elements in eight groups, with two aspherical elements. The aperture can be manually or automatically controlled, with settings ranging from f/2.4 to f/9.6.

Focus is also manual or automatic, with a focal range of 1.64 feet (0.5m) to infinity in normal mode and 0.33 to 1.97 feet (0.1 to 0.6m) in Macro mode. When set on Auto Focus, the 618 uses a contrast-detection method to focus, and a green LED lamp next to the viewfinder provides a status of the process: It glows steadily when it's finished focusing and flashes when the camera is having trouble focusing. If the green light is flashing, try locking the Auto Focus (described further down), or you can change to Macro mode or Manual focus. Once enabled through the Photo Assist menu, Manual Focus is controlled with the right and left arrows of the rocker button. Instead of a distance scale, the current focus distance is displayed in meters in the top left corner of the LCD menu. The Focus button (far right) on top of the camera cycles between Normal, Macro, and Infinity Fixed Focus modes, in Auto Focus only.

In addition to its 3x optical zoom, the 618 also offers up to 2x digital zoom, activated by zooming past the optical zoom range with the Zoom button. The camera's instruction manual reports that digital zoom offers 1.2, 1.5, and 2x settings, though these figures aren't reported on the LCD screen and it's a little hard to control the amount of digital zoom. Instead, a magnifying glass with a plus (+) sign appears in the top right corner to indicate that the Digital Zoom has been activated. Keep in mind that digital zoom is only cropping out and enlarging the center portion of the CCD image, usually resulting in a loss of image quality due to lower resolution or excess image noise.

The PhotoSmart 618 does not have an auto focus lock, but it does allow you to manually lock the focus for a particular part of the subject. To lock focus, frame the desired portion of the subject in the center of the viewfinder, press the shutter button down halfway, then recompose the shot while keeping the shutter button halfway pressed. The focus is locked until you either let go of the shutter button or press it all the way down to capture the image.