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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 <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 3/26/2001

Camera Modes and Menus

Capture (Record) Mode: Accessed by turning the mode dial to the green camera symbol, Record mode sets up the camera for capturing images. The Exposure Mode dial on top of the camera controls the exposure mode, selecting between Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program AE, Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Action, and Night. The following exposure options are available through the Capture settings menu (some settings may not be available, depending on the exposure mode):

• Capture Settings:
  • File Settings: Pulls up a submenu of file settings:
    • File Type: Sets the file format to JPEG or TIFF.
    • Quality Level: Determines the amount of JPEG compression, with options of Best (least compression), Better, and Good (highest compression).
    • Resolution: Establishes the pixel resolution size of the image. Options are Full (1,600 x 1,280 pixels) and 1/4 Size (800 x 640 pixels).
    • Color: Enables the Full Color, Black and White, or Sepia capture modes.
  • Time-Lapse Settings: Allows you to establish the number of time-lapse images to be recorded (from two to 1,000) and the interval between shots (from 15 seconds to 24 hours).
    
    
• Photo Assist:
  • AF Range: Establishes the autofocus range as Normal or Macro.
  • White Balance: Sets the white balance to Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, or 5,500K, to match a variety of light sources.
  • AE Metering: Selects the camera's metering system. Choices are Spot, Center-Weighted, and Average.
  • Focus Lock: Determines whether the camera continually adjusts focus (Continuous AF), or focuses only when the Shutter button is halfway pressed (AF Lock).
  • ISO Speed: Adjusts the camera's light sensitivity to 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400 ISO equivalents.
  • EV Bracket: Sets up the camera to take a series of three exposures: The first will be underexposed by a half/full stop, the second will be a normal exposure, and the third will be overexposed by a half/full stop.
    
    
• Image Stamp: Designates the type of image stamp recorded on each image, with the following submenus:
  • Date & Time: Places the date and/or time that the image was recorded on the image, with options to select the Placement (one of four corners or center of the image), Transparency Level (clear, opaque, or semiopaque), Text Color (white, red, green, blue, turquoise, purple, yellow, or black), and background color (same as text).
  • Text Stamp: Once enabled, allows you to create your own text message, then determine the placement, transparency level, text color, and background color.
  • Logo: Prints a logo on the captured image, with five placement options. A set of downloadable logo files are available from the PhotoSmart website (www.hp.com/photosmart).
    
    
• Preferences:
  • Display: Pulls up a submenu of LCD display options:
    • Brightness Level: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD monitor in values from one to seven.
    • Instant Review: Turns off the Instant Review function, or sets the amount of time for the review display (from one to 30 seconds).
    • Live View: Turns the Live View function on or off, which controls whether or not the LCD monitor automatically displays the image view when the camera is powered on. Turning this setting off reduces the amount of battery power consumption.
    • Sleep Timeout: Sets the period of inactivity before the camera shuts itself off. Times range from 30 seconds to five minutes.
  • Sound: Allows you to set the playback volume level and turn the camera's beep sound on or off.
  • Format Card: Formats the memory card, erasing all files (even write-protected ones).
  • PC Connect Mode: Establishes the type of connection to a computer, either a USB Disk Drive or Digita Device. (Digita devices, such as other HP digicams, use the infrared interface on the front of the camera to exchange images.)
  • Date and Time: Sets the camera's internal calendar and clock, with various format options.
  • Image Counter: Continuous Counter continues file numbering from one memory card to another; while Reset When Empty resets file numbering with each new card.
  • Camera Name: Allows you to edit the camera's name by scrolling through and selecting letters from the alphabet.
  • Language: Changes the LCD menu language to English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, or Japanese.
  • Reset Settings: Resets all the camera settings to the factory defaults (except for language, date and time, PC connect mode, and video settings).
    
    

Playback Mode: The traditional playback symbol (a rectangle surrounding an arrow) designates Playback mode on the mode dial. Here, you can scroll through captured images, play them back in an automated slide show (when the Slideshow menu is activated), or enlarge captured images to 2x. Pressing the menu button displays the following options:

• Slideshow:
  • Content: Selects which images to include in the slide show, all images or those grouped into a category.
  • Duration: Sets the interval that each image is displayed, from one to 10 seconds.
  • Sound: Turns sound playback on or off (for sound clips recorded with images).
  • Loop: Sets the slide show to loop or play only once.
• Playback Rate: Allows you to set playback rates from one to 10 seconds.
• Video: Establishes the A/V Out signal as NTSC or PAL.
• Overlay: Determines whether the top information overlay bar takes up two or three lines.

Review Mode: This mode is indicated on the Mode dial by a rectangular box with smaller boxes inside, representing the index view format that it employs. In Review mode, images can be viewed, edited, and organized. The Review settings menu offers the following options:

• Edit: Offers the following edit tools:
  • Delete: Deletes the current image, with an option to cancel.
  • Group: Manages image groups. You can establish new groups and give them individual text names. Once a group is established, you simply select another image, and "Add" it to the group (by selecting Group and pressing the Add soft key). Groups can also be dissolved or deleted.
  • Protect: Write-protects individual images from accidental erasure or manipulation, except from card formatting. Protected images will be marked "Read Only" when transferred to a Windows computer.
  • Categories: Assigns images to particular categories. The 618 has several preset categories, including Scenery, Vacation, Friends, Family, Pets, Work, Circle, Triangle, and Square. Assigning images to categories makes them easier to sort and locate.
    
    
• Print Order Form: Creates a DPOF file for printing images on compatible devices, with the following settings:
  • Add Images: Adds selected images to the file, letting you choose the number of copies to be printed (from one to 999) and the print size (Standard or Index).
  • View Order: Allows you to double check the DPOF file and verify the print number and size settings.
  • Erase Order: Deletes the entire DPOF file.
    
    
• Transmit: Sets up the camera for transmitting images:
  • Camera-Camera: Allows you to send or receive images from another HP Digita camera, via the infrared interface.
  • Camera-Printer: Uses the JetSend infrared interface to send images to an HP JetSend printer.
    
    
• Find: Searches images on the memory card, either by date of capture or category.
  
  

PC Mode: This mode enables the camera to connect to a computer via the USB interface.