Hands-on Review: HP Photosmart R827

I got to spend some time with the HP Photosmart R827, and while it's dashing good looks didn't immediately take my breath away, I was surprised by how many features the camera actually had. As I spent time with it, I came to the conclusion that this camera certainly gives you a lot more bang for your buck.

I like my gadgets thin and sleek, but looks aren't everything. The 7.2-megapixel HP Photosmart R827 is encased in a dark gray brushed metal body that perfectly hides any scratches that come with time. Operation was simple thanks to the especially oversized buttons, which were minimal and labeled with obvious icons. On the backside of the camera, you'll find a 2.5-inch LCD that's nice and clear even during the day—a must-have since it doesn't have a viewfinder. My only complaint with the design is the placement of the camera lens, which was too close to the edge. I ruined a few shots because I didn't have enough room on the left side for my index and middle finger. Maybe they should flip the placement of the flash and camera lens.

Navigating the camera's five-tab menu—Capture, Playback, Design Gallery, Setup, and even a Help Menu—is a no brainer. I've never seen a help menu more useful than this one, covering topics such as Top Ten Tips, using the Design Gallery, and explanations of camera buttons, all within the camera. This comes in handy when you can't find the user's manual and want to know how panoramic stitching works or how to delete all those pictures from the memory. On a sidenote: The latter has happened to me a few times, so having the option to delete pictures all at once from the memory is a terrific alternative. Trust me.

If you don't have Photoshop, you shouldn't worry since this camera has 14 artistic filters to posterize, solarize, and add cartoonish effects to your photos before you download them. I had a lot of fun with the slimming effect, which makes you appear ten pounds lighter with each tweak. Just take a look at the image above—now posted on my refrigerator to prevent me from midnight snacking. One reason I never use the sepia tone on my digital camera is because I have to remember to change the color mode before snapping each picture. I give this digicam two thumbs up for allowing the user to add effects to pictures after they've been taken, instead of having to set the camera to take all succeeding pictures with the same effect.

I'm not a fan of red eyes, but the automatic red eye removal feature became such a nuisance that I had to turn it off. Anytime I took a picture, especially of a person's face, the camera would take about a minute "processing for red eye." I recommend you just turn it off and go back later to retouch any images from the Design Gallery menu. To be honest, I wouldn't even use this feature in the camera. I noticed the red eye removal tool applies too much tint to the eyes making them appear like the have giant pupils (like the one pictured here).

I have to rave about one fantastic feature I accidentally discovered. The camera apparently allows you to record audio on individual photos. I noticed while I was looking through images on the playback menu that somehow I recorded everything I was saying. This can be accomplished by holding down the shutter button while taking the picture or through the Playback Menu. I think this would be useful when taking lots of images at museums or conventions, especially for bloggers who want rush home to write about the experience.

I also love the fact that HP included panoramic stitching, a photo slideshow, and video capabilities. I downloaded the included HP Photosmart Premier software to an HP Slimline PC to manage all my photos, and I was really impressed by the way it organizes images. You can view and manage all your photos by date, create projects, and produce backups. Price is important, so let's talk about that. The camera will cost you roughly around $250 give or take. Is it worth it? Definitely. I paid more for my Sony DSC-T30 camera, which doesn't even have all the features I mentioned.

Overall, this camera is great for anyone on a budget, especially as a first camera. More features, less money—what's not to like here?

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