HP Photosmart 945 - 5 mp, 8 x zoom

HP has today announced the Photosmart 945. This camera is a progression from the 850 and features a similar body design, the same eight times optical zoom lens but now with a five megapixel CCD. The 945 also has a couple of unique features including HP's Adaptive Lighting technology (which we praised highly in our 935 review) and also a brand new feature; Digital Flash. Digital Flash works by analyzing the image and automatically brightening dark areas, similar to a fill-flash but without the flash!

HP Photosmart 945 pictures

Press Release:

Zoom in with the new HP Photosmart 945

The digital camera which offers the creative amateur photographer immaculate image quality, powered by an exceptional wide 8x optical zoom capacity and 5 MP resolution for under €600

BOEBLINGEN, GERMANY, AUGUST 11TH - HP (NYSE: HPQ) today unveils the HP Photosmart 945, the digital camera which provides extraordinary image quality, great zoom capability, a substantial lens, advanced photo features and a wide variety of manual controls, all for less than €600.

The HP Photosmart 945's impressive suite of features makes it the perfect digital camera for creative amateur photographers as well as ambitious beginners looking for an easy to use and reassuring digital camera with an array of benefits. With impressive zoom capabilities and exceptional functions, this model offers creative and versatile digital photography with 5.3 MP total resolution, an 8x optical zoom (56 x total zoom), a 32MB Secure Digital (SD) storage memory card, SLR-type microdisplay viewfinder and a large 5 cm colour LCD display.

This top-of-the range digital camera features a host of HP Imaging Technology innovations which offer exceptional image quality to the user. The HP Photosmart 945 is the world's first digital camera with the breakthrough HP Adaptive Lighting technology. This exclusive technology is included in the camera's "digital flash" feature and permits digital cameras to produce photos more accurately - the way you remember them. It balances brightness relationships between bright and dark areas in a photo, preserving gentle contrasts but compressing harsh contrasts. With clear and easy to use "low", "high" and "off" settings, the camera automatically balances shots by lightening specific areas within a photograph.

The HP Photosmart 945 also comes with HP's Instant Share technology allowing photographers to preset the destination of individual images to either email or directly to print. With 34 selectable destinations, this makes it easier than ever before to share digital images with individuals or address lists straight from the camera. Furthermore, with HP Direct Print, users simply connect the HP Photosmart 945 via a USB cable to an HP Photosmart printer, select HP Deskjet printers or select HP all-in-ones, to print photos instantly without having to use a PC.

Creative control over your pictures

HP's unique on-camera help allows the creative photographer to access quick and clear guidance on how to take the best picture with the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera's wide ranging functions. In addition, its enhanced manual controls allow concurrent photos to be taken through 'burst' mode without having to wait for the camera to prepare before each shot. These versatile controls enable customised results with automatic or manual functions. The settings alter features such as aperture, ISO, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, colour and sharpness as well as other key features to give more creative control over your shots.

For easy to use and versatile sharing options, the HP Photosmart 945 is available with the optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera docking station. The docking station enables users to download, email or print images direct to a photo printer in one easy step without using a PC. Users are also able to view pictures, videos and slideshows on their TV. In addition, the HP Photosmart 8881 enables convenient in-camera battery recharging via the included AC-Adapter and rechargeable batteries.

The HP Photosmart 945 includes HP's Photo & Imaging software, which includes HP Memories Disc Creator. This gives users the opportunity to create personalised photo CD-ROMs to play on DVD players or on a PC.

The HP Photosmart 945 is the successor of one of the best-selling large zoom digital cameras in Europe - the HP Photosmart 850 - and is available from September 2003 at a recommended street price of €599. The HP Photosmart 945 also comes bundled with the HP Photosmart 8881 docking station at a recommended street price of €679. The docking station is available to buy individually at a recommended street price of €99.

HP Photosmart 945 Specifications