HP Photosmart 945

Opinion: I got this camera after trying out an Olympus C730 demo for a few days.
What I like about the 945 is the EVF which shows a bright image even in dark scenes. Although it does not magnify the image when you use manual focus it is relatively easy to focus. The autofocus also works quite well thanks in part to the focus lamp.
The photos from the 945 are quite good. Colors are natural. The camera increases gain in shadow areas to bring out detail and gives photos a more "realistic" look.
The playback zoom on this camera is awesome. It will go down to the pixel level and makes photo checking easy.
The camera has a "digital flash" mode which is not really a flash but it will electronically lighten up dark areas of the photo. I did not try this feature out yet.

Overall I am impressed with features of this camera.

Opinion: Sharp clear pictures with great natural colors, some cameras are cartoonish.
Great 300mm Zoom is continuous, no pre-set steps, and you don't have to remove the lens, so no dirt gets on the ccd.
Controls laid out well, manual easy to understand, camera does not look like it came out of a Cracker Jack Box.
Lots of manual contols, and easy imaging software to use, it's like a chemical free dark room on your PC, I love it
Has built in flash but not hot shoe for the real amature..hey save a buck here..you want a pro image you light the scene.
Around $ 500 for this camera is a GREAT BUY. Take some photo classes and pump out those county fair winners folks.

Opinion: Synopsis: This camera is great for the high level point and shooter and low level amatuer photographer. It has just enough help and assist features to take away the need for extensive knowledge, but it also lets you do enough to really feel a part of the process. Its quality is excellent especially for a 5MP and for its price you really can't go wrong.

This is the second serious digital camera I have purchased in the 4 plus years that I have been using them. I took a lot of time considering all of the options I had and had narrowed my search down to a few different 5MP cameras. And then I threw caution to the wind and bought an unreviewed brand new HP digital camera. It was a good move.

The 945 has a good feel to it, a real solid build. The camera comes pretty much ready to use and requires very little setup or learning. The controls are intuitive and well placed. If you just wanted to shoot pictures and fiddle with much you can do that and your shots will come out just fine.

Of course just using this camera as a point and shoot would be, well, a waste. The most interesting and - in my humble opinion - useful feature is the digital flash. Personally I hate having to use flash in a lot of situations. Its disruptive and does not lend itself to taking those in the moment shots. With digital flash the camera adjusts the lighting on the dark areas and adjusts the levels before saving the data. Its not really a flash, but taking the full 36bit data adjusting it and then saving it in its final 24bit glory. What you get though is a much fuller picture that doesn't have that look of being "flashed".

Speaking of full pictures it might be that going from 1.3MP to 5MP has spoiled me and blinded my sense of good quality, but I have to say the images the 945 produces are quite excellent. I do a lot of inside shots under variable lighting and the camera has responded well in just about all situations. Occasionally the real flash is needed, or something else needs to be tweaked to get the exposure just right, but not too often.

I can't wait to use my camera a lot more over the coming months and hopefully years. I do know that I feel that I made a good choice with this camera.

Opinion: I have posted a full review of this camera on my personal website:

http://www.photosmarty.plus.com

stuie