Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
Aesthetically, the HP Photosmart 435 is elegantly simple, unlike larger cameras with more complex features. The Photosmart 435 isn’t gaudy or flashy, yet its curved brushed metal and chrome front and faux-metal plastic back still manages to make a statement. The HP Photosmart 435’s sliding lens door makes this model more durable than most compact cameras.

Unfortunately, like so many things that appear elegant, the Photosmart 435 is not entirely practical. While the buttons on the back are clearly and neatly laid out surrounding the LCD screen, they aren’t well positioned. The buttons on the right of the LCD are too close to your thumb to be pressed without awkwardness, and the buttons on the left of the screen are too much of a stretch. I found myself feeling as though everything on the back should have been shifted an inch or so to the left. The lens is placed closer to the right side, making it an easy spot for your left hand’s fingers to wander over. And if you’re using the viewfinder, you won’t know your fingers are in the way. The HP 435 is designed to be a sturdy digital camera for point-and-shoot users. In general, it looks chic, it does the trick, but it would have been better if more thought had gone into the layout.

Size / Portability (6.5)
Slightly longer and lighter than most of its counterparts, the HP Photosmart 435 measures 4.59 x 1.54 x 2.25 inches and weighs 5.8 ounces. This makes the camera light enough for easy portability, but not quite small enough to be considered pocket size. It is ideal for taking on vacation; it can fit easily in a purse or backpack without becoming burdensome. (As we’ve all experienced, after a few hours of hiking or touring museums, every ounce makes a difference.) There is a wrist strap included to carry it around, making it even more portable.

 Handling Ability (6.5)
The HP Photosmart 435 sits naturally in your hand and has a comfortable weight that gives it enough heft to feel solid but not unwieldy. Unlike some of its contemporaries, the HP 435 uses the protruding front sliding lens cover to give the shooter a solid grip. While taking still frames feels completely natural, the moment you veer away from the shutter, all other buttons become awkward to access. Although it may be assumed that no user would be navigating buttons other than the shutter while shooting, it would be nice to not have to use two hands to reach them all. Considering the diminutive size of the camera, it would have been possible to do this if the buttons had been nudged a little to the left. This aside, the user can take a still shot effortlessly.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
While the HP 435 may be small, the controls on the camera don’t require a lady’s dainty fingers to operate them. Because the buttons are spaced and labeled well, children and men shouldn’t be fumbling to navigate them. Unfortunately, when a user is shooting a frame, the three buttons to the right of the LCD are covered by the thumb, and the three to the left of the LCD are too far to reach. With ample space on the far left side of the camera, one is left to wonder why everything wasn’t simply shifted left. It also seems odd that, of the three buttons located next to the shutter, the video button is easy to reach, while the flash button is a stretch. The two zoom buttons, the telephoto and wide angle, are placed on the back of the camera; it would make more sense if these were on the top located near the shutter release button to make quick adjustments. Whether this will annoy you depends on how much you will use the camera for still shots versus movie mode; for shooting stills, the positioning is awkward and uncomfortable. Aside from the positioning, the buttons are all solid and easy to navigate with two hands.

 Menu (7.0)
In order to access the HP Photosmart 435’s menu, the user must press the OK button while in Live View mode, meaning that the LCD is on and actively composing shots. If the OK button is pressed while in Playback mode, a different set of options will appear. The advanced settings menu that is displayed while in Live View is straightforward, offering: Image Quality, EV Compensation, White Balance, ISO Speed, Color, and Setup selections. The list and submenus are navigated with the up/down keys, are selected by hitting OK, and each includes a Help section that explains the feature — an excellent aid for beginners, because chances are when a question arises during shooting, the manual wont be there to help. Also, unlike some cameras that have constantly changing menus depending on the active shooting mode, the Photosmart 435 remains consistent. When in action mode, it simply grays out the ISO option. Unfortunately, its menu system shares an irksome quality with other digital cameras: when changes are made in a subcategory, you instantly exit to shooting mode. Why not back to the main menu to make more changes, rather than constantly going in and out? Also, it would have been clearer to have the menu accessed by a “menu” button rather than an “Ok” button (which is rather vague) and have the “Ok” or “Exit” options a part of the menu itself. Other than that, the menu of the HP 435 is quite intuitive; there are even pictures next to the words.

 Ease of Use (7.0)
The Photosmart 435 is designed with the amateur photographer in mind, and because of the sheer simplicity of the camera’s features, it succeeds. Certain features, like the help columns explaining each menu option, are obviously added to aid beginners. But in general, the ease of use is derived from the fact that there aren’t many features to get lost in, not because of an excellent navigation system. The fact that there is no consistent system (either a button or line item in the menu) to exit the playback mode is slightly bothersome, but permissible because there is not much editing that can be done. Considering how basic the camera is, the Photosmart 435 could be more efficiently designed but, even as is, beginners shouldn’t get lost.

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