Amazon.co.uk Review
The HP PhotoSmart 318 is a well-specified digital camera at an entry-level price point. It delivers a high 2.31 Megapixel resolution as well as providing 8 MB of internal storage. This is a basic point and shoot digital camera that lets you capture images at either 1,792 x 1,200 or 592 x 400 pixels. To store these images the 318 uses 8 MB of internal memory, which can be expanded using an additional Type I CompactFlash card. There are three choices of image quality based on a star system. Onestar is at the 592 x 400 resolution. Two stars is at 1,792 x 1,200 with high compression and the three star rating is at the 1,792 x 1,200 resolution with minimum compression. At the best quality this internal memory only stores 7 shots, increasing to 16 using the 2-star mode. With the current cheap prices of CompactFlash, this is not a significant drawback, but more flexibility of resolution and compression would have been nice.
The available features on the camera are basic, offering options such as red eye removal, a x 2 digital zoom and a timed shutter mode. In use the LCD back is very grainy but helpfully the menus system is one of the best looking we've come across, making it simple to manage and preview your images. Final image quality could best be described as average, when compared to other 2 Megapixel cameras, with a general lack of detail and graininess especially with darker shots. The automatic white balance also didn't do a particularly good job, and the camera seemed to take quite a while processing each finished shot.
In its favour the supplied software is easy to install and use, if somewhat basic and made transferring the shots from the camera over its USB port an effortless job. The camera is powered by 4 AA batteries (included). As an entry level camera the HP PhotoSmart 318 provides a high image resolution but this is let down by the average quality of the images produced.--Nick Baxter
Manufacturer's Description
The HP Photosmart 318 digital camera provides great results and point-and-shoot ease with 2.31 MP resolution and a 2x digital zoom. Easily preview your photos with the 1.75-inch color view screen with magnification. With 8 MB internal flash memory, quick photo transfers, easy USB connection to PC and Mac, you're ready to capture all the action.
