35% off Dell's Most Popular LaptopsHP Photosmart R937
Manufacturer: HP Part number: L2473A#ABA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If not for the massive amounts of noise in some photos, the HP Photosmart R937 would be a good point-and-shoot camera.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
HP Photosmart R937 price range: $649.95
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Edited by: Philip Ryan
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2007
The good: Intuitive interface; huge screen; fast performance.
The bad: Horrible noise; really small zoom rocker.
The bottom line: If not for the massive amounts of noise in some photos, the HP Photosmart R937 would be a good point-and-shoot camera.
Don't judge a book by its cover, and don't judge a camera by its appearance. HP's 8-megapixel Photosmart R937 might look strange, but its unique design makes it one of the more pleasant snapshot cameras to work with.
The R937 looks downright cyclopean, with its lens sitting in the center of an otherwise smooth, matte-black shell. A huge touchscreen dominates the back of the device, making it look more like a stylish View-Master than a camera. Though these design elements might be aesthetically questionable, together they form a simple, intuitive camera that's easy to pick up and use.
Like most touchscreen-based cameras, the R937 eschews all but the most basic buttons in favor of an interface almost entirely controlled by its 3.6-inch screen. The large display and colorful, simply designed menu system makes changing most settings a breeze. When you begin shooting, only shooting mode, resolution, and flash options appear on the screen, giving you an otherwise unobstructed view of your subject. As you change more settings, such as white balance or sensitivity (aka ISO), those settings appear as their own buttons on the screen. This simple design element works very well to keep the interface clean, while leaving often-modified options readily available. While the touchscreen menu lets you change nearly every setting on the camera, it does not control the 39mm-to-118mm equivalent, f/3.5-to-f/4.2, 3X optical zoom lens. If you want to zoom in or out, you must deal with a tiny zoom rocker that's barely larger than a grain of rice and is crammed on the right edge of the screen.
Underneath its large screen and unique design, the R937 features HP's full suite of in-camera image editing and organizing options. Through HP's Design Gallery software, you can rotate and crop photos, use various visual effects, and even digitally remove red-eye from both people and pets. This last feature may be the most useful, as the R937's flash sits right above the lens, making it a red-eye magnet. You can also tag photos as you shoot with both preset (Vacation or Holidays, for example) and custom tags. Once you tag your photos, you can then automatically organize them as you import them to your computer with the included HP Photosmart software. Since these tags appear as metadata in the photos themselves, you can also use third-party software to organize your pictures.
Speedy in both shutter lag and shot-to-shot time, the R937 impressed us in our lab tests. After a scant 1.2-second pause from power-on to first shot, we could take a new photo every 1.5 seconds with the onboard flash disabled. With the flash turned on, that wait increased to a still-respectable 2 seconds. The shutter lagged only 0.5 second with our high-contrast target and just 1 second with our low-contrast target. Only burst mode seemed to falter, taking just three shots in 2.2 seconds for a mediocre rate of 1.4 frames per second.
Unless you only shoot in broad daylight at ISO 100, you're going to be sorely disappointed by the R937's image quality. Noticeable levels of noise crop up as early as ISO 200, and get significantly worse as sensitivity rises. By the time you reach the camera's maximum at ISO 1600, grain utterly consumes all detail and mutes all the colors in your picture. If not for the noise, the R937's photos would look good. Fine details appear relatively crisp, colors look neutral and balanced, and photos remain almost completely free of distortion. Unfortunately, you'll only notice these qualities at ISO 100 and, at best, ISO 200.
The HP Photosmart R937's well-designed touchscreen interface and quick performance make it a very tempting camera, but I simply can't overlook its extreme noise levels. Though the camera is great to shoot with, the photos you're left with are often barely usable.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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Typical shot-to-shot time | |
Time to first shot | |
Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
User reviews
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What a great camera
by tayloredlion on November 2, 2007
Pros: Features Galore!!
Cons: Sound in video shooting mode could be better
Summary: Its outright the best camera I have ever owned. Yea the red-eye thing is a factor...but they can be removed with an in-camera program. Got a zit? No problemo......
Summary: Its outright the best camera I have ever owned. Yea the red-eye thing is a factor...but they can be removed with an in-camera program. Got a zit? No problemo...the R937 has a touch-up program that will easily remove blemishes. And the HUGE touch screen is AWSOME!!! GO GET IT
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Overall
by d1am0ndpr1nc3sz on August 18, 2007
Pros: Screen, black finsih, picture quality, battery life, features
Cons: none you wont find any in this camera
Summary: This Camera is yet by far one of the best around, with the huge touchscreen and stylus included is so easy to fix or edit pictures, the quality of pictures ...
Summary: This Camera is yet by far one of the best around, with the huge touchscreen and stylus included is so easy to fix or edit pictures, the quality of pictures are beyond great and the feel of this material is pretty much unscratchable but it still looks sort of a shiny black, the features inside like slimming, cartoon, drawing, black and white, and everything else will blow your mind away.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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"Red Eye Magnet" is right!
by ProTell on September 10, 2007
Pros: 3.6" Touch Screen
Cons: Red eye or pet eye on virtually every flash shot
Summary: We purchased the R937 because of it's 3.6 inch touch screen. We had a grandbaby on it's way and wanted to be ready with the latest technology ...
Summary: We purchased the R937 because of it's 3.6 inch touch screen. We had a grandbaby on it's way and wanted to be ready with the latest technology in digital cameras. What we got was red eye or pet eye in virtually every flash shot both in the delivery room and at home. The camera does have software that should remedy most of the eye problems (but not all), however each picture has to go through a "processing" procedure first. After 135 pictures in the delivery room, trying to process out the red eye and pet eye in each picture was ridiculously time consuming. The CNET review said this camera was a "Red Eye Magnet" and it was right. This is a design flaw that is a killer if you take a lot of flash pictures. If the camera doesn't correct the pet eye problem it's hard to find a software program that will fix it. My software programs I tried only fix red eye. The camera is being returned this week.
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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impossible to download pics to PC
by joellen011 on November 17, 2007
Pros: great touch screen features
Cons: can't download pics off of camera
Summary: after repeated efforts to download, including call to help line, reloading HP SW, getting updates to HP SW, trying to use Microsoft picture manager and Adobe Photoshop to download, plus ...
Summary: after repeated efforts to download, including call to help line, reloading HP SW, getting updates to HP SW, trying to use Microsoft picture manager and Adobe Photoshop to download, plus just trying to let computer see camera as a USB drive, have managed to download 4 of 74 pics and now camera will not turn on at all, and will not charge. Am going to return camera.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Malfunctioned after 14 months!
by rczar311 on November 29, 2009
Pros: The screen is excellent to see a quick view of what you just shot.
Cons: Red eye is BAD. Our camera started giving an error code after only 14 months of use. It would freeze midshot and give a blue screen which made you lose your data. Now, two years later, it goes crazy, flashing pictures and shutting on and off.
Summary: For the price you pay, I'd expect this camera to last more than 14 months! Contacted HP, we'll see what they have to say.
Summary: For the price you pay, I'd expect this camera to last more than 14 months! Contacted HP, we'll see what they have to say.
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I LOVE THIS CAMERA!
by fannymae7008 on November 28, 2009
Pros: THE3.6" TOUCHSCREEN IS FAB. EASE OF OPERATION JUST THAT! I'VE TAKEN PHOTOS THAT MAKE ME LOOK PROFESSIONAL AND THE QUALITY IS GREAT.
Cons: THE PRICE IS LARGE
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Camera seemed good until the touch screen broke.
by sbetker on March 30, 2009
Pros: Loved the large screen and the touch screen - never dreamt it would break so soon.
Cons: Once the touch screen goes, the camera is done. I only had the camera for a little over a year, and probably only took about 300 pictures.
Summary: I will never buy another HP product.
Summary: I will never buy another HP product.
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died after one year of use
by livelifefree on March 17, 2009
Pros: Love the ease of the camera, large display, easy to set up, great pictures
Cons: Hard to see screen in daylight, camera quit working after one year anniversary, just went dead.
Summary: For the price, it failed too soon. I kept it in camera case when not in use.
Summary: For the price, it failed too soon. I kept it in camera case when not in use.
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LOVE THIS CAMERA!
by ineztoney on January 19, 2009
Pros: I LOVE THIS CAMERA DUE TO THE LARGE SCREEN AND STYLIST PEN YOU GET TO USE THE TOUCHSCREEN. TAKES GREAT PICS.
Cons: BROKE A TINY PIECE OFF OF THE LIP WHERE YOU SLIDE THE BOTTOM TO GET YOUR MEMORY CARD/BATTERY. NO REPLACEMENT AS ITS SO TINY YOU CAN'T EVEN GLUE IT! THAT PART OF THE LID YOU SLIDE OUT IS WAY TOO FRAGILE AND FLIMSY! I GUESS I HAVE TO TAPE IT SHUT!
Summary: LID WHERE YOU SLIDE OUT TO GET YOUR BATTERY/SD CARD IS TOO CHEAP AND FLIMSY AS A PIECE OF THE LIP BROKE OFF AND YOU CAN'T REPAIR IT ...
Summary: LID WHERE YOU SLIDE OUT TO GET YOUR BATTERY/SD CARD IS TOO CHEAP AND FLIMSY AS A PIECE OF THE LIP BROKE OFF AND YOU CAN'T REPAIR IT EXCEPT WITH A PIECE OF TAPE.
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whoderful camera
by hakidd on October 26, 2008
Pros: large screen and nice pictures easy to use
Cons: this is my second camera that the battery area door has broken does anyone else have this problem. i only had it for less then a month before this happen and the first one was with in a week .
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: L2473A#ABA
- Description: If you like state-of-the-art gadgets, the Photosmart R937 is expressly for you. It sports the coolest interactive touch screen, complete with virtual keyboard. The huge (3.6") display is a joy to use, both indoors and out. Discover how easy it can be to do everything from framing and viewing your photos to sorting and sharing them.
General
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Width 4.1 in
- Depth 1.1 in
- Height 2.9 in
- Weight 0.4 lbs
Main Features
- Resolution 8 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Effective Sensor Resolution 8.0 megapixels
- Light Sensitivity ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 8 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Action, Sunset, Theatre, Close-up, Landscape, Panorama left, Portrait mode, Night portrait, Panorama right
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 10 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Average
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/2 EV steps
- White Balance Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Shade, Sunlight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light
- Digital Video Format MJPEG
- Still Image Format JPEG
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture 640 x 480
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 32 MB Flash - Integrated
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Integrated Memory 32 MB
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage JPEG 3264 x 2445, JPEG 2624 x 1960
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Flash ON mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6.5 mm - 19.6 mm - F/3.5-4.2
- Focal Length 6.5 mm - 19.6 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 39 - 118 mm
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 0.1-1.0m
- Lens Aperture F/3.5-4.2
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 10 sec
- Additional Features Date/time stamp, PictBridge support, USB 2.0 compatibility, In-camera red-eye removal
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - 3.6 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Drivers & Utilities
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows Vista, Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9, MS Windows XP Home Edition, MS Windows XP Professional, Apple Mac OS X 10.4 or later, MS Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive, SVGA monitor
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
- Cables Included USB cable
Battery
- Supported Battery HP Photosmart R07
- Supported Battery 1 x HP Photosmart R07 Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- Labs information All values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our labs information page for information on how digital cameras are tested.
- CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time 2.0
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 1.5
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 0.5
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 1.0
- CNET Labs Typical burst speed 1.4
- CNET Labs Wake up time 1.2
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- HP
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse HP products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.hp.com
- Address:
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
