Digital Cameras : HP PhotoSmart M305

I paid $115 w/ tax at a local Staples store. With $30 rebate and $35 256mb SD memory card, the total cost is $120 (assuming I get the rebate), not bad for a digital camera with 3X optical zoom. unlike most digital cameras in this price range that only has digital zoom, this is a desirable feature that adds value to the camera. The updated M307 model has 5X digital zoom (in additon to 3X optical for both), a dubious improvement. The camera is solidly made although the battery hatch is somewhat flimsy. It has 16mb internal memory and takes SD memory card, unlike most Canon and Nikon cameras (stupid!!) that take large, clunky compact (oxymoronic) flash drives. This camera is battery hungry and if you plan to use rechargeable NiMH AA batteries, you better pack extra and a fast charger. Also, you want AA batteries that have a rating of 2100mAh or higher. The supplied software is clumsy and loads lots of junk program in a way that sucks up your laptop system memory by causing it to load automatically at the start-up. Photoshop Elements 3.0 is the best econmical photo software unless you want to pony up for Photoshop CS. As for the photos, its not bad under normal to bright lighting. It does very poorly under low lighting, badly underexposing them with bluish hues. Luckily, is has exposure compensation feature that allows you to increase the exposure manually. Unfortunately, it reverts to default setting when you turn the camera off.
Overall, for the price, it takes decent photos and is the most feature-laden model in this price range. If you don't mind spending extra $40-50, fujifilm A330 (if you can find it, its replaced by A340 which is $50 more expensive) or Olympus D535, by far one of the best at its price range. Hide Full Review

Do not purchase this piece of crap camera. My daughters received one each for Christmas. Since then, we have went through five of them. We were able to get about 10 pictures before the batteries totally depleted on the first two cameras. We bought the rechargeable batteries that were recommended for the camera by hp. The retail store replaced one camera in the first 90 days. Same problem. I finally called hp. After two hours on the telephone with someone I could barely understand and who was getting extremely rude with me cause I was having a hard time doing what he said, he diagnosed both cameras as dysfunctional. Hp mailed us two new cameras just like the others. These were worse than the first three. We missed having memories of my daughter's baptism because of the junk. Hp then took $300 out of my account because the two old cameras didn't arrive in so many days. Took forever to get it straightened out. I finally called headquarters and got different cameras. Hide Full Review

This camera EATS BATTERIES!!!!!!

You can only take a few pictures before it completely shuts down. I paid $190 for it in 2005. A time in my life when I didn't really have the extra money, but needed a camera for my job. Contacted support and was sent a refurbished replacement camera with the same troubles! Eats batteries! HP's biggest goose-egg and I'm just another victum. How about a recall on defective merchandise? Don't manufactures do that anymore? Hide Full Review

Absolutely horrible camera, eats batterys like crazy and died on me after a few months. i didnt even use it that much, every button brings me to the same thing and the website was not helpful, i was not the only one this happened to i dont recommend this camera at all. Hide Full Review