HP Photosmart 435

Viewfinder (5.0)
Compared to most point-and-shoot digital cameras of its small size, the Photosmart 435 has a decently sized viewfinder. Because most digital cameras are designed with the thought that the LCD will be the principle means of composing a shot (which is usually true), the viewfinder is often given the shaft. It is refreshing to see that the Photosmart 435’s optical viewfinder doesn’t seem like an afterthought in the design, and is well positioned. Good thing, considering the battery life of the Photosmart 435 makes the use of the viewfinder an energy-saving necessity.

 LCD Screen (4.0)
Sporting an LCD with 61,380 pixels, the Photosmart 435 is slightly above average for its low price and on par with slightly more expensive cameras, like Fuji’s FinePix 330 which has 60,000 pixels and the Kodak EasyShare CX7330 with 70,000. At 1.5" it is also just large enough to compose shots and navigate menus with ease.

 Flash (7.0)
Surprisingly, the Photosmart 435 offers more flash options than its bigger brother, the Photosmart 635 and the pricier Kodak EasyShare CX7330. Using the flash button near the shutter on top of the camera, the user can toggle between auto, auto with red eye, flash on, night, and flash off. Very often in basic cameras, the option to "force" the flash is left out and the user simply has to accept the camera’s auto flash decision. The option to use the flash as a fill, or turn it off when necessary (like in long-distance shots or when shooting through glass) gives the user more creative control.

 Zoom Lens (2.5)
The Photosmart 435 has a fixed 36mm lens with a 5x digital zoom. This allows for a shooting range of 33.5" to infinity, but does not allow for any close-ups. If shooting flowers or other macro photography interests you, the Photosmart 635 might be a better option, as it has a focal range of 3.94" to infinity. The lack of optical zoom is definitely the strongest hindrance on this model; with a non-interchangeable lens and only digital zoom, the camera cannot alter focal length without sacrificing quality.