Pre-Photokina 2002: Hewlett Packard Europe has today announced the new Photosmart 850 digital camera. The 850 has a four megapixel sensor and big eight times optical zoom lens. It features a large 2" LCD monitor and a sharp Electronic Viewfinder. The camera is powered by four AA batteries and stores images to SD / MMC storage card. The 850 is the first four megapixel digital camera to feature a large zoom range, as such it's bound to generate a lot of interest. We have a detailed preview of a pre-production 850, no image samples yet but still plenty of information.

Click here for our detailed HP Photosmart 850 preview

Press Release (HP Europe):

HP introduces the new HP Photosmart 850

The only digital camera to offer outstanding image quality, powered by 4MP resolution and greater 8x optical zoom capacity, for under €700

BOEBLINGEN, Germany, September 2, 2002 -- Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) today unveiled the HP Photosmart 850, the only digital camera to offer extraordinary image resolution, greater zoom capability, a substantial lens, wide variety of manual controls and stunning digital imaging innovations for less than €700.

The HP Photosmart 850's comprehensive suite of features and benefits makes it the first digital camera to meet the needs of both the creative photographer and hobbyist. Offering superior image quality through its 4.13 MP (megapixel) total resolution and an unrivalled 56x total zoom - 8x optical plus 7x digital zoom (35 mm equivalent: 37 - 300 mm), camera operators can now get closer to the action and secure outstanding close-ups.

Once images have been captured photographers can preview, review and edit photos and videos on the generous 5 cm (2"-inch) LCD display with live view capability. In addition, users can store their photos with the 16MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card.

The HP Photosmart 850 digital camera also provides a wide variety of intuitive manual controls enabling users to customise the camera settings and ensure precision photography. The manual controls empower the camera operator to define the exposure, ISO, colour, white balance, aperture and shutter priority, resolution and compression for creative snapshots and more detailed photographs.

In addition to still images the HP Photosmart 850 allows users to capture memories and sound with its video and audio clip facility offering up to 60 seconds of video with audio.
The HP Photosmart 850's electronic viewfinder mimics the viewfinder of a SLR camera providing photographers with a versatility unseen in other digital cameras.

HP's digital imaging innovations - it's so easy - why not?

The easy-to-use HP Instant Share technology lets users preset the destination of individual images to either email or directly to print, right on the camera, making it easier than ever before to share digital images.

HP Direct Print, means that no PC is required, simply connect the HP Photosmart 850 via USB cable to an HP Photosmart or Deskjet printer to print photographs instantly.

The HP docking station enables the user to keep the desktop clean, download, print and e-mail images, or view them on TV - in one easy step. It also enables convenient in-camera battery re-charging.

The HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera docking station is available as a complete package with the HP Photosmart 850 camera at approx. 20% saving or as an optional accessory for the HP Photosmart 320, 620, 720, 812 and 850 digital cameras at €99 .

The HP Photosmart 850 comes with HP Photo & Imaging Software which includes HP Memories Disc, providing users with the opportunity to create their own CDs for their DVD players and is available at a recommended retail price of approx. €699. The complete HP Photosmart 850 / HP Photosmart 8881 dock package is available in one box at a recommended retail price of approx. €777.

[pricing might vary per country]