My wife bought the HP R817 in August. I hadn't used it until this last weekend. I am astounded over the quality of the photos this camera takes. I'm enamoured enough that I splurged away some bucks today on this little bad-boy. I bought a whole underwater setup and accessories, plus a sandisk 2gb card today. Can't wait to take it down. In addition to phenomenal stills, it has really decent sound recordings and video - hoping to push the limits with a 2gb card.
Wish all the stuff would be here in time for the scubaboard group I'm diving with this week. But anyway I hope to post some results next week as soon as the surf subsides a bit here on local beaches.
It's such a tiny little thing but the optics are so amazing. Just found these details on the HP site ... this camera so rules!
Zoom, zoom, zoom! The Photosmart R817 has 5x optical, 8x digital zoom for a combined 40x total zoom. Its 5 megapixel resolution will bring you crisp, high-quality prints and enlargements.
Includes 50 free prints from Snapfish.com!1
Last but not least, it's got HP's Real Life technologies—easy features including adaptive lighting (with bracketing), in-camera red-eye removal, panorama stitch and preview, and video prints.
Ideal for capturing action in the distance—or in the same room
• Get crisp distance shots with the 5x optical zoom for up to 70 percent more zoom than with 3x lenses; then get even closer with the 8x digital zoom
• Take exceptional photos, make exceptional prints and enlargements up to poster-size with the 5.1 megapixel resolution
• Never miss a moment: Catch everything on video with sound at 30 frames per second, then save stills for printing
• Pack it and go: this stylishly small camera, which sports a sleek, stainless-steel design, fits easily in your pocket or purse
• View images, indoors or out—even on a sunny day—on the large (2") color LCD
• Comfortably take one-handed shots with the ergonomic, sculpted grip that keeps the camera steady
• Remove red eye while your photos are still fresh in the camera; no need to add extra flashes or make touch-ups with software
• Take up to five photos in panorama mode, stitch the panorama together in the camera, see a preview of the shot, then print once connected to a PC or printer