HP Photosmart R725

Value
The HP Photosmart R725 has a reasonably-sized 2.0-inch LCD, a 6.2 effective MP CCD, numerous in-camera postproduction editing procedures which work with varying success, and several manual control options with full Help menus. The price at this time has not been decided, though the price range for the entire series was placed at under $400; this model should be an affordable option for many consumers.

The camera is petite and certainly portable, due to the aluminum frame’s light weight. It has video clip capabilities, optional WiFi bases compatibility, and the ability to directly upload, print and share images to a variety of folders. The menu structure and help features will be a great asset to any user who wants to begin experimenting with manual controls but feels overwhelmed by the prospect of keeping track of what does what. The R725 isn’t going to turn heads with its design or visual aesthetics; however, for the money it appears to provide strong basic point-and-shoot capabilities with simple navigation and in-camera editing opportunities.

Who It's For
Point-and-Shooters -This camera makes the most sense for the point-and-shoot crowd, particularly those looking to avoid the hassles of PC editing software and complicated camera structures. With a full auto mode and presets on board, wandering into manual mode won’t be necessary.

Budget Consumers -For the budget consumer, this model is probably the more suitable choice than the R927, although manual controls, LCD size, and overall aesthetics have been lost in favor of a lower price.

Gadget Freaks -There are no features on this camera that would mesmerize a gadget freak. The preset shooting modes and Design Gallery features are interesting, but they won’t satiate the true Gadget Freak’s need for serious editing tools.

Manual Control Freaks - Having lost manual shutter, aperture, and focus; the R725 is bound to disappoint the average manual control user. Out of HP’s newly released 2006 cameras, the R972 is the best choice for this level.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists - There is no real reason for the Pro or Serious Hobbyist to use this camera. The size, lack of controls, and the presets/Design Gallery features are no contest against an extensive knowledge of Photoshop.