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HP PhotoSmart 912 HP and Pentax team up to make a true SLR digicam with Pentax lens, HP color wizardry, and ample features. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PhotoSmart 912 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 912 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Design :(Previous) | (Next): Optics>> Page 4:Viewfinder Review First Posted: 3/26/2001

Viewfinder
The 912 features a Through The Lens (TTL) optical viewfinder, following the traditional 35mm SLR design, as well as a two-inch LCD monitor for composing images. The optical viewfinder eyepiece is surrounded by a round plastic bezel, which not only serves as an eye rest, but also as the diopter adjustment dial to accommodate eyeglass wearers. A series of dots on the back side of the bezel indicate the degree of correction. There isn't as much room for wearers of thick eyeglasses (when compared to other PhotoSmart models), because the corners of the view begin to disappear immediately after moving back only slightly from the eyepiece.

The viewfinder display features a set of autofocus and autoexposure target marks, as well as an information readout along the bottom. This small LCD information display reports the shutter speed, aperture, flash status, exposure compensation, AE lock (when used), number of pictures remaining (depending on the exposure mode), and whether or not the image is in focus.

As we mentioned earlier in this review, one consequence of the SLR viewfinder design is that stray light entering the viewfinder eyepiece during the exposure can cause ghosts or streaking in the final image. In normal use, this isn't a problem, since your eye will block any extraneous light from entering the eyepiece. When the camera is mounted on a tripod though, light can enter, particularly if the light on the subject is coming from behind the camera. To avoid ghostly blobs in images shot from tripods, HP provides a small plastic clip to cover the eyepiece in such situations. This is such a small item that it could easily be lost, but fortunately, HP's neck strap provides a compartment for storing it when not in use.

Also on the 912 is a two-inch, low-temperature, polysilicon, TFT, color LCD monitor comprised of 130,338 pixels. The LCD and surrounding panel lift up off the back and flip upward about 90 degrees for better viewing. A Display button just over the LCD monitor controls the image display. An information overlay reports the soft key functions (the three keys along the bottom of the LCD monitor), and reports camera information such as error messages. This information display is canceled by pressing the bottom center soft key, labeled "Overlay."

The Status function (activated by pressing the far right soft key during normal image display in Capture mode) pulls up a full screen display of the camera's settings, including Resolution, Quality, White Balance, EV Compensation, ISO Speed, and AE Metering mode. This is useful when you want to double-check exposure settings, without having to fish back through the menu screens.

In Playback mode, the top overlay bar provides capture information, including the image number and the date and time it was taken. The bottom center soft button is a playback zoom function, which enlarges captured images to 2x for close-up viewing of fine details. The button on the left plays a slide show of the captured images, while the button on the right Expands and Collapses groups or sequences of images stored on the CompactFlash card. Playback mode offers only one menu of "Play Settings" which determines Slideshow content and duration, Playback rate for Time-Lapse and groups of images, and sets the Video Out preference to NTSC or PAL.

The Review mode has its own notch on the Mode dial. Instead of an index display, it automatically displays small thumbnail images along the top of the LCD and a larger thumbnail of the selected image below it. Next to the larger thumbnail is a text area that provides the image number, date and time it was taken, and group name if one has been selected. This is the mode where most of the Review functions are set, with Edit, Print Order Form, Transmit, and Find menus. The center soft key is used to delete an image, the left button to mark an image for printing.

In our testing, we found the 912's optical viewfinder to be pretty accurate, offering 90-91% frame coverage relative to the final exposure. The LCD was even more accurate, at 96-98% coverage. Both viewfinders are better than average in terms of their accuracy.