HP Photosmart R847 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

I received my HP Photosmart R847 8MP digital camera for my birthday in May 2008. First the praise: R847 is indeed simple to use, and it's light, small and slim - a good pocket size, BUT...(see Disappointments). If you manage to find perfect focus on its "best" setting, this camera produces absolutely gorgeous images - you can zoom in and in and in (during edit, that is) and the details just get richer and yummier (in the blow-up in front of me I can count my kitten's eyelashes - beautiful!). Now the disappointment: this camera has ZERO battery life, since its first full charge and use - I am able to take and review 40 photos MAX on a full charge before it is depleted. I called HP about this the first week after I received the camera, and I was basically told "gee, tough luck" - but that they'd be delighted to sell me another battery, 50 dollars please. (VERY poor customer service experience.) R847 doesn't like to find focus on small objects. I particularly like spiders and bumblebees, but focus is very hit and miss, and usually several inches behind the object you want to capture. I just can't figure out the "sweet spot" - it seems pretty random. A tiny change in angle, lighting, etc and you lose focus again. Although, as I mentioned, this camera is a great pocket size, you can't carry it there because the stupid slide-down lens cover is SO easily flipped open. And then it sits in your pocket and GOES DEAD. Actually, that even happens in the carrying case occasionally, if you knock or bump it. This is a MAJOR design flaw. It needs a catch on the cover to prevent the accidental nudge-open. I love the image quality, but half the time I can't even take photos because R847 is stone dead. I would not buy another camera of this design, and I would not recommend it for others to purchase.

This Camera is Excellent, Self explanatory in each mode you choose. So many built in options that you would mostly find in the software CD, I love the huge 3" screen and the built in zoom is very nice. My photo's look like professional takes. Best camera I've ever owned...Hint...A camera is only as good as you take care of it.

So far, so good. I'm very happy with it esp. the video. Just press the button once to start and then once to stop. Sit the camera down and it keeps on recording. What I don't like is the fact that it will not import other photos from my computer to add to its slideshow. My Kodak can do that.

This camera is a JOKE! Don't buy it unless you want all of your memories to look like they took place inside of a funhouse. I don't know what HP did with the lenses, but if you take a photo of a square object, the sides of it appear to "bend" or "bow" outward. It's sad because other than this one major flaw, this is an awesome and easy-to-use camera. The large and bright display is very impressive too. What a shame! It's back in the box, and will be returned today. I think next time I'll stick to a company that has experience with camera optics.

Very high quality construction, small, easy to use, multiple functions and controls, excellent pictures taken in variable light conditions, very good recharge battery life. In other words, the HP Photosmart R847 that I purchased to replace my very good, 8 year old Kodak, so far, is superbly excellent.