NewsFebruary 2005

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HP Photosmart R717

Pre-PMA 2005: HP has today announced a replacement for the dpreview highly recommended R707. The 6.2 megapixel Photosmart R717 is the new range topper and features HP's wave-shaped indent signature styling designed to improve grip. The R717 has a brushed stainless steel front with a rubberized back. It features 12 shooting modes, a 1.8-inch LCD (compared to 1.5-inch on the R707) and manual controls, which can be saved as custom settings. The Photosmart R717 is available in the spring priced £199.99 ($299) or as a bundle version which includes the R-Series camera docking station, as well as a second HP R07 rechargeable battery (price to be confirmed).

Press Release:

Capture the moment with the new HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera

New camera delivers precision digital photography with user-friendly advanced features

LONDON, FEBRUARY 18, 2005 – HP today announced the launch of the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera, the latest model in the HP Photosmart R-Series range, incorporating all of the features of its predecessor, the awarding winning HP Photosmart R707 Digital Camera and more. With its sleek design and high-functioning technical innovation, the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera offers both ease-of-use and exceptional digital photography results to all users.

With an impressive 6 MP resolution, the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera produces clear and crisp shots in a variety of conditions. In keeping with HP’s signature styling the new digital camera benefits from a sleek and sculpted design with a stylish brushed stainless steel front and asymmetric body details.

The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera boasts a new, powerful 24x total zoom (3x optical, 8x digital) HP Precision Lens and multi-zone auto focus for sharp, accurate shots from almost any distance, making it ideal for amateur photographers looking for control and creativity from their digital shots. With a 32 MB internal picture storage capacity, the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera gives photographers the power and flexibility to get the most out of their digital photography.

The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera also benefits from a host of exclusive HP Real Life technologies to help produce award-winning HP image quality and a creative and pleasant digital photography experience for the user. These landmark features include HP Adaptive Lighting, which automatically brightens selected areas of high contrast photos to give brighter, more true-to-life shots and HP In-Camera Red-Eye Removal system to ensure that digital photography results are flawless. HP Panorama photo mode allows users to produce stunning multi-shot photos of landscapes by displaying a ghosted section of the previous image on the LCD screen and ‘automatically stitching’ the shots together when they are downloaded to the PC, providing a seamless finish.

To put the user firmly in control of their digital photography results, the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera provides a full range of auto and manual modes for full control, including a customisable ‘My Mode’ selection. With 12 shooting modes and a rapid burst mode, this HP digital camera provides a clear and user-friendly way to improve and build upon your digital photography skills.

The stylish new HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera is also accompanied by the HP Photosmart R-Series digital camera docking station, an easy-to-use and flexible device either bundled with the digital camera or as an optional accessory. This multi-functional docking station can recharge the Li-Ion battery while it’s in the camera, as well as provides an extra charging bay for a second battery that is included with the dock. The HP Photosmart R-Series digital camera docking station connects to a PC or Mac and uses HP Instant Share software to allow easy downloading, printing and emailing. It can also be connected to a TV to allow easy viewing of photos as a slideshow using the ultra-slim remote control.

The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera and Dock bundle comes complete with an HP Photosmart R-Series Quick Recharge Kit for quick and convenient recharging even on the move, as well as a second HP R07 Rechargeable Battery and HP AC Adaptor. The optional HP R-Series Silver Camera Case is also available for the camera.

The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera is available at a recommended street price of £199.99 and the HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera and Dock bundle version is available for separate purchase at £239.99; (actual prices may vary).

Key features and benefits

• 6.2 megapixel resolution for photo quality enlargements up to poster size.
• 4.5 cm (1.8 inch), outdoor viewable LCD screen.
• 12 shooting modes.
• Multi-zone auto focus provides sharp, clear photos by searching for focus in several areas of an image to capture the best shot.
• Robust manual controls enable creative touches in addition to customisation of settings, which can then be saved as a unique mode.
• HP’s exclusive Real Life technologies, developed in HP Labs, help take the guesswork out of digital photography and make it easy to produce great photos that are crisp, realistic and true-to-life. HP Real Life technologies include:
• Adaptive Lighting to adjust high contrast photos bringing faces out of shadows and details out of backgrounds.
• In-Camera Red-Eye Removal to eliminate the red-eye while images are still in the camera.
• In-Camera Panorama Preview to allow the user to view a ‘pre-stitched’ image on the camera before downloading to a computer.
• HP Image Advice for tips on how to improve a specific photo the next time it is taken.
• HP Instant Share makes sharing, printing and saving digital photos easy. Users simply take a photo and select any one of its 34 destinations right on the back of the camera, including email addresses, online photo albums, printers and more, simply by pushing a button.
• When the digital camera is later connected to a computer or the optional HP Photosmart R-Series Digital Camera Dock (sold separately), the selected photos are automatically printed or emailed without burdening the recipient with large file attachments.
• Email recipients see thumbnails of the images in the body of their email message, as well as a link to the web page where they can very easily view, print and save the photos, upload them to online photo albums and more.

Additional features

• HP Image Zone software is a complete, easy to use software solution for the needs of digital photographers.
• Video clip capture with audio, is a feature which records memories in sound and motion and also shoots a series of photos in rapid succession.
• Optional HP Photosmart R-Series Digital Camera Dock (sold separately) connects with the camera to send photos to a computer, view photos on a TV screen and recharge the battery in the camera. It also features an additional charging bay to power a second battery, also supplied with the camera.

Technical specifications

• 6.2 megapixel resolution
• 24x total zoom - HP Precision 3x optical lens, 8x digital
• 32 MB internal storage memory for storing photos
• Dimensions/Weight
• 9.7 cm (W) x 3.6 cm (D) x 6.0 cm (H)
• 180 g without battery
• 210 g with battery
• SD/MMC card slot for storing additional photos
• 4.5 cm (1.8 inch), outdoor viewable LCD screen
• HP Photosmart R07 Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery with in-camera recharging included
• PictBridge support
• Exif 2.2 support
• Support/Connectivity
• USB connectivity (USB 2.0 compatible)
• USB-compatible PC with Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, Me— Pentium II (233 minimum) and equivalent Celeron or compatible; 64 MB RAM, 200 MB disk space; Windows 2000, XP Home and Professional Editions— Pentium II (233 minimum) and equivalent Celeron or compatible; 128 MB RAM, 400 MB disk space; SVGA monitor (800 x 600, 16-bit color), CD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer 5.01 with Service Pack 2 or later, open USB port compatible with USB 2.0 specifications USB-compatible Macintosh computer with Mac OS X v 10.2.x or later, 500 MHz PowerPC processor; QuickTime Version 5.0.1 or later; 128 MB RAM; 240 MB disk space; SVGA monitor (800 x 600, 16-bit color); CD-ROM drive; open USB port
• One year limited warranty and telephone support backed by HP Customer Care

Accessories

• HP Photosmart R-Series digital camera docking station, an easy-to-use and flexible device either bundled with the digital camera or as an optional accessory
• HP Photosmart R-Series Quick Recharge Kit for quick and convenient recharging even on the move
• HP R07 Rechargeable Battery and HP AC Adaptor
• An optional HP R-Series case and Silver Sport Case is also available for the camera

Pricing and availability

Estimated UK street price of £199.99 ($299). Expected to be available for purchase in Spring 2005.