Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart 315 2MP Digital Camera
By: Hewlett-Packard Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 87
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 On: 2006-08-17
Great starter camera that is very user friendly with absolutely no learning curve. Extremely sturdy unlike new more sophisticated models.
 On: 2006-05-14
I have had this camera for about five years and thought the poor photos were me. But after all this time the camera is still taking bad shots. Grainy(sp) pictures.
 On: 2006-04-19
This camera was another one of those gifts I couldnt use because I wouldnt upgrade from Windows 95, and truth be told I just liked film, so the little camera found its way into the closet; however, when I upgraded to an Apple iMac G5 Desktop with 17" M9843LL/A (1.8 GHz PowerPC G5, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) last summer I hooked it up and was very impressed with the results (Ive included six examples in the "share a photo" section, all were taken with the "Fine" photo quality setting (1200X1600 resolution.) A "Basic" (640X480) and "SuperFine" (1200X1600) are also available. Be sure to get a case to protect your camera, the best one Ive seen is the HP PhotoSmart Padded Hip Pouch for use with HP PhotoSmart Digital Cameras 215, 315, 618.
This is a beginners camera that was outdated years ago, yet it takes pictures that are more clear and colorful than any comparable digital camera Ive compared it to, including a few new cameras that are supposed to be marketed at more discerning customers. A friend of mine with a new and more capable camera was actually a bit miffed when he compared the results of our impromptu comparison test. I used it for Ebay and got fantastic results. Ive also used it to print photos on a HP PhotoSmart 7760 Photo Printer and got very good results as well.
Ive been using this camera for almost a year now and it has weathered over 100,000 miles of driving, bad roads, getting tossed into bags (then carried into hotels), so long as I am reasonably careful (its tough, but not built like a tank.) The only objection Ive had is a problem taking pictures of a very fast airplane that was powered by a rocket engine (and I managed to get a few ok pics of the plane anyway.) For the tiny price you pay to get an HP 315 today, plus the very inexpensive memory cards it uses, this is a fantastic starter camera.
On: 2005-04-21
The newer models are so weak and fragile comapred to this camera. While at 2 MP it is now a dinosaur, the exterior is incredibly tough and has survived being dropped, fallen down stairs, had soda and gasoline spilled on it, been through flames (briefly by accident) and has been stepped on.
It is still working and taking photos for my job that I need it for daily. It is a VERY durable camera!
The con to this one is that it only has digital zoom, no optical zoom capability. Optical Zoom produces the best photo quality. Digital Zoom makes the image look more and more pixelated as you go higher on the zoom level. It is best for small pictures used for emailing - not the best for printing, though it will do decent for 4x6 photos!
It also has a long delay for start-up and between the time you take the photo and the time it actually flashes....too long of a delay really so you have to hold still a few moments...
But overall a very durable camera, good for kids where photos arent as important and good for kids because its very durable with them!
The compact flash cards are very cheap now so the cards for this camera can be bought for around $30 at Best Buy for up to 512MB of storage!!
On: 2005-02-26
This is a great entry level camera. I have used it for years and had no problems with it. Just turn it on and shoot. Great use of battery life as well. I have shot over 800 pictures with lcd off before i had to change them.
On: 2004-08-08
I have loved using the hp 315 camera. Great beginner camera, easy to use I have had excellent results with it. Ive been told the pictures come out picture perfect when Ive sent them through email. I agree with most all the reviews I read on this camera. I have used it extensively for personal and outdoor work use. Works great with xp. Several days ago I dropped the camera and the LCD screen lens cracked. I am sad and am looking to purchase the same camera again. I bought this camera at a steal of a price about a year ago at Target - $100 bundled with an hp 825c printer. I will never get a great buy like that again or will I?
On: 2004-08-07
I have loved using the hp 315 camera. Great beginner camera, easy to use I have had excellent results with it. Ive been told the pictures come out picture perfect when Ive sent them through email. I agree with most all the reviews I read on this camera. I have used it extensively for personal and outdoor work use. Works great with xp. Several days ago I dropped the camera and the LCD screen lens cracked. I am sad and am looking to purchase the same camera again. I bought this camera at a steal of a price about a year ago at Target - $100 bundled with an hp 825c printer. I will never get a great buy like that again or will I?
by: Anonymous On: 2003-08-21
This digital camera takes wonderful pictures & its easy to use.
I printed 4x6 pictures on the HP Photo Smart Printer & they are better then pictures developed using a 35mm camera.....crystal clear. I would highly recommend this camera & it is for sale at a good price.
On: 2003-05-29
I know that everyone says that there is problems w/ XP recognizing the cards over 32 mb, but there IS a fix online; I forgot where it was located, but I am currently using a 128 mb card with my camera, and its working beautifully. ... Oh yeah, and the camera works beautifully, btw!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-05-14
If you work outdoors in a setting where dirt and bugs prevail, this is the camera for you. No optical zoom means no extending and retracting lenses. Moving lenses break easily because sand grains and dirt become lodged between the two extensions, and the camera stops working. This is a perfect 2 MP digital camera for field biologists, soil scientists, geologists, and anyone else that works outdoors or in a dirty place.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-17
I purchased this camera as a starter , but it didnt even
meet up to starter requirements.. as far as I am concerned I
wasted my money ..Pictures are all distorted with no clarity and colors are almost non existant.. not a happy camper
On: 2002-12-11
I have owned this camera for almost 2 years and absolutely love it. For a point and shoot style of picture taking, in the digital realm, it cant be beat. Ive taken almost 2000 snapshots with my HP315. Ive used it on vacation, for family snapshots, for capturing images of woodcarvings for my website, etc. Typically, I use the medium resolution, occasionally the high res. Medium seems to be fine for viewing pictures online or for informal prints. High res is definitely better for printing w/ photo paper. The camera can be hard on batteries, but limiting the use of the LCD view screen greatly extends battery life. I essentially only use the screen to review the picture immediately after taking it (the camera defaults to briefly showing the image and allowing you to accept or delete it). I use the traditional view finder to take most pictures. This REALLY saves the batteries; to the point where I cant remember the last time Ive replaced them. I would recommend a higher capacity CF card, I use a 128mb; also, a CF card reader is a must. If youre looking for a digital camera at around 2 megapixel for casual snapshots, this camera cant be beat!
On: 2002-12-02
Great camera for all the begginers out there. It does work with xp. You can get 41 of its best quality pics on a 32 mb cf card. I would recemend rechargeable batteries since it takes about four pictures with flash and lcd to kill them. great pictures and comes with good software.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-22
This camera i an excellent camera for beginning photographers, or just to take snapshots. The 2-megapixel images are nearly indestinguishable from regular photos (from a distance). Overall, this camera is an excellent buy. Oh yeah, it doesntt work with Windows XP, so youll need a compactflash reader, along with a larger card.
On: 2002-11-03
This camera is very easy to use because of the USB cord, and it takes brilliant pictures. I was particularly impressed by the night-time pictures: the foreground is clear because of the flash, and the background lights and texture really come through. My family has commented on what fine pictures we take with this camera, and I cannot think of any cons. We find that if you turn off the automatic viewing of every photo on the back display, the batteries last a lot longer.
 On: 2002-10-14
For the price I bought it for it is a good deal. It uses up the battery life too fast for my liking, but rechrgables are easy to get and so its alright. If you can wait for the optical zoom cameras to drop, definitely wait.
On: 2002-09-18
I have taken nearly 1000 pictures with this camera since I bought it here at Amazon and it downloads and prints great. It really uses the batteries but since I bought rechargeables this is no longer a problem. This camera is sure alot cheaper to use than my regular 35mm "film" camera. I would recommend it to any one wanting to shoot non-professional photos.
On: 2002-08-28
I have had my HP315 for about 6 months now. I bought it with a HP printer as a starter kit and I have been nothing but pleased with the performance of both the camera and the printer (HP 825). I always hear people complaining about downloading pictures off the camera and onto the computer with other cameras but with this camera it is so easy and quick. There is really no need to buy a wall adapter as the batteries last a long time!!! The quality of the pictures is great and I have had NO problems with the software or the camera!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-08-24
If you plan to use this camera in a medium to low light situation, please consider one of the cameras that has a ISO rating of 400 or 800. Not having an optical zoom feature like other cameras, it is very difficult to zoom in on your subjects unless you walk up to them and stand just a couple of feet from them.In addition, under low light situations, the LED viewer is not able to show the images you are trying to take photos of. You are restricted to using the view finder to find what you are trying to take a photo of. I found out about this limited feature while attending a wedding reception. I was not able to see what I was trying to take a photo of unless I used the view finder and as a result, many of my photos show the bride and groom very far off in the actual photo. The camera takes wonderful photos outdoors and in limited flash photo situations so it is a great camera for those types of photos. As for indoor, low light photos, it may turn out to be a nightmare. Happy photo shooting.
On: 2002-08-05
I bought this camera at a store liquidation. I thought that Hewlett Packard would probably deliver a decent level of quality, but not necessarily the best. As I was planning on using it mainly to sell stuff on online auctions, I didnt need a camera with lots of features or spectacular quality.The controls on this camera are very easy. I suppose if one wanted to they could get away with just pressing various buttons until they got to the menu item they wanted. You can simply link the camera up to a USB port and not bother with installing software. The quality of picture, however, was rather fuzzy. I sell collectibles online, and the camera did not capture enough detail to show if the item I was selling was damaged or not. I stood from a few feet to 12 feet away, no difference. I finally gave up and sold it to someone else who didnt mind the quality issues. I think this camera does particularly poor at short distances. My work had a different brand camera, same megapixels. It did a much better job, and I currently awaiting my new Olympus. If quality is a rather low concern and the price youre getting is very low, this camera might be worth it. If theres not that much price difference between this camera and another with better quality (say a Nikon Coolpix 2500), Id opt for the other camera.
On: 2002-07-30
I bought a Photosmart 315 digital camera a year and a half ago. This month the flash stops working. I contact hp, they wouldnt provide customer service over the phone unless i was under warranty or I paid $25. I refused to pay $25 to speak to someone who will tell me that yes, my camera is broken and it will cost more than the camera to fix it.The camera worked decently well until the flash broke. The delay in pressing the button and taking a picture was ridiculously long. Otherwise I was satisfied for 13 months.
On: 2002-07-29
This camera is a decent starter camera, and seems to be the best value buy for the 2 mp category. Its very easy to use, and the pictures are decent at max res. Also, it uses the popular compact flash format, which makes getting extra memory cheaper in comparison to SM or Memory sticks.My major grudge against the camera is its lack of special features and agonizingly slow speeds. The lack of compatibility with XP has already been addressed by other reviewers, but I would recommend getting a flash reader regardless. If you have experience with digital photography, or want professional quality photos, think about spending another [money]. If you want an easy to use camera for casual use, id recommend this one.
On: 2002-05-17
I bought this camera about 1 month ago. I have used it to take pics for my websites and the pics have come out, for the most part very nicely. The pictures are very clear and look very nice when I upload them to my computer. Its a bit misleading to take pictures with the camera because I still havent found the so-called zoom, and the images I am capturing look far away. But so far I know basically what I am trying to capture and I know (now from experience) that the details will be in the picture when I upload it to Paint Shop Pro (my editing program). The camera takes 10 pictures at a time for me, before becoming full. This isnt really a problem yet so I havent bought a flashcard. The batteries remain at full power and I havent had to change them since I bought the camera. I dont use an AC adaptor either, so that is promising. Note that I havent used the viewing screen on the camera yet (I dont really like them) and this supposedly uses a lot of battery power. Overall, I am very happy with the quality of this camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-05-06
For the money I cant see getting any other 2.X megapixel camera than this one. It doesnt really have too many nifty features, but HP seems to make that up in image quality. There is a self timer on it, and it takes great pictures at 1600X1200 maximum resolution. These make for awesome 4X6 photos coupled with an HP Inkjet Photo Printer(I use the HP 932C and it looks great!).Make sure to get yourself some NIMH Rechargeable batteries for this, cuz as with any digital camera, unless you want to spend a lot on batteries, it is the only way to go. The 32MB Compact Flash limitation on Windows 2000 is a minor thing, just be aware that if you are going to use larger CF cards that you get a CF reader, they are cheap now a days, and they will transfer pretty fast to the computer. Recommendation: Get one now that they are on sale.
On: 2002-05-01
I paid [money] for this camera and couldnt be more thrilled. I did not do as some have done during ratingas as my rating was based on price/performance. While there are many cameras out there with better features, none beat this camera in price/performance ratio. You can set the camera for high resolution and it will take fantastic, detailed pics. You can set it for low res and save almost 700 photos on a 64 mb Compactflash card.(Not included, but cheap). If you are planning on using zoom then you will need to spend more money and get optical zoom.The digital zoom leaves a little to be desired but I didnt buy this for zooming. Therefore it gets a 5 out of 5.
On: 2002-04-05
A maximum of 24MB Flash can be used on this thing without a card reader. 24 MB isnt that big. I am a bit teed off because I had to dig this info up. I had purchased a 64MB Sandisk. Dont buy more than 24MB unless you also buy a card reader which will allow you to remove the card from the camera and hook it to your pc like a floopy disk.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-03-30
I really loved this camera until I got a new computer with Windows XP. Hewlett Packard web site says it is fully compatible but it isnt. I can no longer use my 64mg CompactFlash Card...Windows XP cant recognize it. Hence, cant get my pictures. After a lot of trying this and trying that, an HP tech told me the truth...HP 315 Photosmart will not work using a 64mg card unless you unload it with a card-reader. That is a $40 to $50 "option" that is now a necessity if you plan on using 64mg or higher CompactFlash cards. HP will do nothing and it really pains me because the 315 is a gem of a first digital camera.
On: 2002-03-14
Generally seems to be a reasonable entry level camera. Fairly easy to use, and so far seems to take good pictures.Just a warning for those that have Windows 2000 or Windows XP - this camera cannot handle >16MB flash cards on those platforms when connected via the USB interface. HP wasnt at all helpful about when or if this would ever be resolved - only suggestion they had was to buy a flash reader.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-03-06
I couldnt give 5 stars because it doesnt have an optical zoom lens. That is not too bad. What did you expect for the price? It is a great little digital camera overall. The users guide is easy to understand along with the good software. A lot of the posts about the batteries are right on. A card reader is a good idea to have and/or the AC power adapter. I also use conventional and rechargable batteries. I dont have any problem with picture quality. Just be aware that the digital zoom is not going to be clear or as clean as the standard settings. I have had it for a year now and have shot over 900 photos with this great little digital camera. Inside or outside, it has done all that I have asked of it. The LCD is a little hard to see in bright light. The price just keeps on dropping. Maybe Ill need another one if I wear this one out. One more item, I showed it to a buddy and he had to have one for his vacation and has no regrets. He has some wonderful photos of whales off the coast of Mexico. A great little digital camera.
On: 2002-03-03
Takes great pictures for a camera in this price range. Very easy to use. I believe the best bang for the buck. I do have complaints, but they arent serious enough to lower the rating below 4 stars. 1)The LCD display draws .7 amps, draining your batteries fast. 2)If you purchase a larger flash card than 32 Mb must also purchase card reader if using Win XP. XP reports the card as empty or not formatted. Talked to Microsoft about problem and they state HP hasnt come out with a driver for XP [at the time of this review].
On: 2002-02-18
I searched for a long time before I decided that the HP Photosmart 315 was going to be my choice. It has the right mix of features, ease of use, and so far Ive been extremely happy. When set on the highest resolution, it takes great pics, worthy of any traditional point and shoot. I have an iMac running OS X, and I use iPhoto to manage all my pictures. The two work great together. The only reason I dont give it five stars is the LCD screen could be brighter, and its a little larger than I thought it would be. But for the price, those are relatively small issues.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-02-17
This is the best camera Ive ever owned. Easy to use and goes anywhere. Software is very user friendly.
On: 2002-02-17
I just Bought this camera today and so far it is the simpleist one I have ever saw to use. I have not Printed anything from it yet but it should be Great. I do not know why some people have said that you cant turn off the auto focus because you can it is the button on the top next to the flash symbol.
The battery issue is the only thing that worries me.
I have looked for an affordable Digital Camera for some time now and this is it most 2.1 MP cameras are well over $200.00 and 4.3 MP cameras are mostly $500.00 this one will do till I can afford to get one of them.
On: 2002-02-10
2.1 megapixels for under [price]! Sound too good to be true? It is. This camera disappoints on a number of levels. Image stabilization is non-existent. Nearly every shot has some blur to it. The delay from when you press the shutter button is unbelievably long, consequently, the picture you take inevitably is never the one you thought you took. The flash is useless outside of 3 feet. The viewer cannot be seen outside in the sun rendering it unavailable for outdoor shots. "Zoom" takes place in increments of .5x making it more difficult to frame a shot. I rarely make poor purchases, but this one was a turkey. Caveat Emptor
by: Anonymous On: 2002-02-07
I spent [alot of money] on this camera 13 months ago and now it does not work. Im about to throw it in the trash right now. Performance up to this point was very good, but because the warrenty on this camera is only one year, and the cost that HP quoted me to repair it was [almost as much as the camera cost], I am forced to buy a new camera. If you are going to buy this camera, you might want to invest in an extended warrenty.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-01-02
I am very pleased with this camera! You will be shocked at how good the pictures really are. I would highly reccomend them to anyone who wants a good starter camera. all you really need is a good printer (I have an Epson 880) and more memory, and youre all set.
On: 2001-12-28
I really like the HP PhotoSmart 315 Digital Camera
by Hewlett Packard. This is my first digital camera. Its really easy to use, and takes very good pictures! Uploading the pics to your computer couldnt be easier. All you have to do is install the software and plug the camera into your computer. The software prompts you on what to do next. Great starter camera!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-12-17
This camera is fine if all you want do is take still-lifes with a wide angle lens, and not pay a lot of money to do it. Otherwise, look elsewhere. The auto-focus, which you cant turn off, means a huge several second delay between the time you push the button and when the exposure gets made. The result is that kids, who were giving you a great smile, are caught looking down at their jackets, dogs have run out of the picture, etc., in frame after frame. This is REALLY frustrating. Additional issues: battery life is an ongoing problem, and the software has a major flaw which evidently in rare cases can render the camera permanently unusable. The company (to their credit) addressed this by sending us a new camera. AAgh! You can do much better.
On: 2001-12-14
This is a simple tool that I have taken on hunting and trail riding trips, family outings; taken to weddings and baby showers and have used to document business related events, personal inventory for posterity and insurance purposes...not to mention capturing the special moments that are so fleeting that a regular camera almost always fails to be ready and able to do. I have reached a personal goal of having a small business on the internet largely due to the use of my HP315 Photo Smart camera. With a simply wonderful, yet affordable software program and an average ink jet printer I have created gifts and cards that have saved me time and money over and over again. The purchase of my HP315 camera was one of the best investments I have ever made.
On: 2001-12-13
I bought this camera in April and have had great luck with it. I think that for the money, it is a great "starter" digital camera. There arent a lot of confusing options, and it is very easy to operate. I suggest buying an a/c adapter with this (or any) digital camera to avoid draining the batteries if you are near an outlet while shooting, or while unloading the camera. My only complaints are that it cant take action shots because the subject blurs. To be honest, I am not experienced enough to know if this happens with more expensive digital cameras or not. But for basic photography, I think this is a great choice. I have never had a mechanical problem with it, and I think it has paid for itself in the film development costs Ive avoided...you only get the good shots printed, and just delete the bad ones!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-12-03
Im not a photo buff but needed something to document construction forensics. The camera and the jet send to my hp printer is perfect.
On: 2001-10-28
I bought the HP 315 Photosmart camera several months ago to learn about digital photography. Before using it, I had seldom produced a picture I would call remarkable, so the low cost of the camera was attractive. Thanks to the high storage capacity and reusability of Compact Flash cards, I have been able to capture hundreds and hundreds of images at a very low cost, and throw away the bad ones. Slowly but surely, I am becoming a better photographer, an accomplishment I never would have achieved at the high cost of film and film processing. I carry the HP 315 everywhere. I send digital pictures as email attachments to family and friends each week, and soon Ill burn CD photo albums as holiday gifts. This camera is perfect for me. With two 256MB Compact Flash cards in my pocket, I can travel and snap pictures for weeks without ever having to offload the images onto my Mac. In my opinion, the digital camera is to photography what word processing is to computing, a tool that enables everyone to create something useful, maybe even something extraordinary. Dont hestitate. Even camera and computer phobics will fall in love with this one!
On: 2001-10-27
OK, basics: Picture quality is very good, resolution is obviously not sharp as a film camera, but for e-mail and 4x6 prints the HP315 is very good. -With the 8 meg card it comes with, low res setting holds 79 pictures, med holds 19, high holds 9 pictures. Medium/low res. are good for e-mail, high/medium res. are good for printing. -I got a 64meg memory card for it, (by Sandisk) low-649 med-162, and high-81 pictures.(Maybe i bought too big. :) ) But larger flash cards take a bit longer for the camera to recognize: when you turn on the camera there is a couple of seconds you have to wait before you can shoot. The 8-meg card took 2-3 seconds the 64-neg card takes 5-6 seconds before you can shoot. -Transfering to computer is easy, (im on a mac) USB connection took about 1-2 minutes to transfer a full 8 megs. -Only cons for this camera are the battery life, because unless you have a couple of sets of rechargable batteries(I have three sets) or the more expensive NIMH? batteries, (which I have heard good things about), you will not be able to use the LCD screen when shooting your pictures, as this eats up the batteries. Which is a shame, because the digital zoom is rendered hard to use, as you need the LCD to choose it via the menu. And well I assumed the LCD was a standard function which HP should have thought of when making this camera. (Digital zoom of course is just an internal magnification/cropping of the image and not a true zoom like "optical" zoom) With the LCD off however i can go 3-4 days with one set of batteries. (4AAs) I am very happy with the camera though, the picture quality is excellent, a bit dark on most indoor shots. I use it for shots of friends, parties, sketching for work, sending via e-mail, etc. If you are looking for an excellent entry level digital camera this is a very good choice, despite the battery life. Buy more batteries and good luck.
On: 2001-09-07
This camera is fantastic for anybody who is your average point and shoot photographer. If you arent the type that usually uses the camera in the most basic way possible, this is a good camera for you. If you expect a lot out of your camera, look elsewhere.Pros:
- VERY easy to use. Easy to move pictures from the camera to the computer (you do not need any special s/w, it shows up just like an external hard drive.)
- Great price for the image quality. This gives you good bang for your buck.
- Good battery life. I took 160 pictures with 1 set of batteries, and still had a little juice left. Cons:
- Zoom is useless... its very grainy. There are other products available that you can attach to this camera to do zooming.
- LCD is useless at night, or in a dark room.
- Default memory card is not big enough. 10 pictures is just not enough. If you get this camera, buy a bigger memory card. (I took 95 pictures with a 64Mb compact flash card.)
On: 2001-08-30
This is my first digital camera and knowing nothing about how to work them I have to say after reading all the reviews on this Im so glad I chose this one,I found it very easy to use and the pics I took came out great even the one of a rock in the river with water over it came out great.
I found even in very low light "my" pics still came out nice and clear,inside and outside shots.
The only thing I found confusing was unloading the pics to my pc but after awhile I did get them in,I dont think its the users guide,its just me(not very good at that kind of stuff).
I gave this five stars because for someone thats real new to using the pc this is a really easy camera to use and the pics come out great.
I even use the LCD but do have an AC adaptor that came with mine and I would tell people to buy one if your like me and like to preview evey pic that you take.
Great camera and great price.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-08-26
I have had the HP 315 for about 2 months now and have taken many pictures with it. This is my second digital camera and I love it. It is very easy to use and takes great pictures. I did buy a 128MG Viking memory card so I can take more pictures. The 8MG that it came with was WAY too small! I was also disappointed that it did not come with a case or a power cord. The cord was quite expensive and I still havent found a decent case for it and use a small sock to protect it from scratches. Now Im looking to buy a photo quality printer and dont know which one to get.
On: 2001-08-24
I have taken about 400 pictures with the HP315, and as far as clarity goes, they were very good. I have some reservations about the lense quality, distance pictures come out farther then the actual subject. Outdoor picture quality is excellent. Indoor quality is good with the exception of the flash just does not have enough punch to give you a properly lit picture. You have to enhance the brightness on your computer to get better clarity. You should invest in a flash card reader. Downloading pictures from the camera to the computer is a bulky project. Battery life is fantastic. I use the Eveready Lithium AA cells which come with the camera. I got over 300 pictures with one set of batteries. I dont use the view screen though, this will greatly decrease the life of the batteries. Overall, I am a bit disappointed with the few items I mentioned, and would advise anyone to look at the HP 215 model and save a hundred bucks and get pretty much the same camera features.
On: 2001-08-21
If you can get this camera for less than $200, its worth it. This is a perfect companion for those are new to digital imaging. Dont use the lowest quality (640x480) - not good for printing. The medium quality (1600x1200 with less compression) is best when you resize to 800x600 for printing (esp. in an under light condition). The best is to use 1600x1200 with the highhest compression - good for printing 8x10".8MB CF wont be enough for anything. Get at least 64MB or 128MB + rechargeable battery. Pros 1: Dont need to install the software. Just plug-in the USB cable, and windows will take it as a removable drive. Very user friendly. The OS of the camera also very easy. My grandma will be able to use it without reading the manual. Pros 2: Not battery eater. I wont say its the best, but I am quite satisfied. 80 pics taken with LCD on and transfer all of them with the same battery. Not to mention sometimes reviewing the pics taken. Pros 3: In almost totally dark condition, with highest setting, produce a decent quality. Cons 1: For Win2K users only: all HP digicam wont support CF higher than 32MB for direct transfer. You need to get a CF Reader. I have 128MB Viking and I need a CF Reader to download all the pics. No problem with other windows. Cons 2: Dont use the digital zoom. Its horrible. Cons 3: USB Cable is very special - hard to find replacement. Cons 4: In the dark, there is no light/backlight. Not easy to control the cam.
On: 2001-08-03
Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C315 Digital Camera is the best camera I have ever used..The quality of the picture is so great and unbelivable. Good value for money.
On: 2001-08-03
For the price, this camera gets the prize. The quality of the images that it can produce rival cameras costing twice as much. It has very little delay from when you press the trigger to when the image is imprinted. The camera is very durable and very easy to use. The software that is included is ver simple. In fact, I recently upgraded my camera, but I still use the HP software.
by: tlinton On: 2001-08-01
At [...] you can buy an adaptor mount for mounting 30mm accessory lenses and filters to the HP PhotoSmart 315 digital camera. The lenses available are: 30mm 0.7x Wide Angle Lens; 30mm Super Close Up Lens, +18; 30mm 1.3x Telephoto Lens and the filters available are 30mm Circular Polarizer Filter and a 30mm UV Protection Filter. I am delighted with this camera. At first I was unimpressed with the image quality, but then I read the manual! Turned out Id had it on the lowest setting. I bought some glossy photo paper for my inkjet printer and printed some out only yesterday and already had a friend mistake them for actual professional photo prints. I solved the battery life problem by buying a set of Rayovac Ultra Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries and they work *great*! I should mention that I use the LCD screen all the time. Its been days since I last recharged, even though I take my camera everywhere with me (and have a cute little kid just begging for photos to be taken). I would recommend this camera to anyone!
On: 2001-08-01
This product was a poor purchase, its photo quality is fair but its durability is awful after about 3 weeks my view frame would not work and the batteries had to be replaced every couple of days. The response time for the image to actually show up on the screen was exceptionally long also.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-07-27
Thats what I have to say about the 315, its fun! I havent used the zoom yet, but everything else has gone well. My pictures are very clear. I added a 32mg flashcard and can take 324 pictures on the low resolution setting. How about that? What a kick. Ive heard complaints about battery burn up. Hmm, Ive taken 400 pictures and Im only on my second set of batteries, and they still show full charge. I know the LCD is supposed to burn them up. I dont use the LCD all the time, but I DO use it. Im thinking this is one of the best things Ive ever done for myself and my family. I bought one for my son too. We send pictures back and forth all the time. Hes far away so this camera really brings us closer together. Ive taken close-ups of desert tortoises and distant shots of raging rivers. Most of them come out well. I love this little camera.
On: 2001-07-05
I brought my brother this camera for his job; he is a fashion stylist and he fell in love with it, the first time he used it on set! He said it was easy to use after just a couple of minutes with the instruction booklet he was taking pictures like a pro; zooming in on the details of his clothes and of the celebs in them! He loves the quality so much he no longer hires a photographer to be on set with him to grab the pictures for his portfolio that he does it himself and they look amazing! The clarity and photo quality is top notch and he even changes the background on the images and makes some truly inventive things. He raved about the camera so much that I went out and brought myself one and you know what? He was right! This is the best camera I have ever used!!
On: 2001-06-11
At first I was a bit reluctant on buying this product. I decided to spend some hours looking for offers and I thought this camera to be the most convenient for me. Despite of the few negative comments Ive read, Im 100% satisfied with the performance of this digital camera. Its amazingly simple to operate - point and shoot say it all. Downloading the photos to a computer is fast (at least with a Pentium III 750MHZ + 261 MB in Ram) and so far I have nothing but compliments about this great product. Its worth spending a couple of hundred bucks to have an excellent camera at home.
On: 2001-06-10
I bought this camera for my husband not knowing anything about this type of thing. I was afraid to do so on the net but I want to tell you this was the best little camera I could have ever chosen. We take it where ever we go and it is less expensive to operate than our other camera. We just print out our photos if we like.(have a hpPSC500 copier)and the photos are outstanding. I am an artist and it is wonderful to get subject matter very inexpensively. If you dont like the picture, you just delete it. We use this to go out and take a picture and shoot it to the friends and family all across the U.S. and world. Great way to communicate. This camera holds 80 pictures and that is a lot of memories and subject matter. Love the quality of print, clarity and I dont know when I have found a toy for my husband that "I love so much!" Incidently, he uses it more than he does his other professional 35 milimeter and he is a simi pro. Started out with this interest as a teen ager and is now 70. Wow, what a camera!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-06-03
This is my first digital camera, and I only bought it because of the good reviews here and in electronic magazines. It takes great pictures, clear and good color. I just posted my first photos on the web and was very pleased with the clarity.I would definetly reccommend this camera for a first time user. The price is hard to beat........
On: 2001-06-01
The Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C315 Digital Camera by Hewlett Packard is a functional and artistic tool. Details such as individual pubes are incredible. My girlfriend and I have had great success in amateur photography with this camera. For examples, our work can be seen in Up and Cummers #78.
On: 2001-06-01
When I first received the camera I said to myself what have you got your self into now. After reading the instruction manual it wasnt but a few minutes and I felt better about choosing this product. It takes super pictures. The only problem I had was remembering not to use the view finder so as not to run the batteries down so fast.
On: 2001-06-01
When I first received the camera I said to myself what have you got your self into now. After reading the instruction manual it wasnt but a few minutes and I felt better about choosing this product. It takes super pictures. The only problem I had was remembering not to use the view finder so as not to run the batteries down so fast.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-05-30
Being our first digital camera, it worked out better than expected! It was a truly plug and play experience with our Windows 98 machine. The 8Mb flash card hold tons (i.e. 80) of low res pictures, which are at a good resolution for the web. Havent tried printing them, though. Upgrading the firmware in the camera was a little clunkier than it had to be, but otherwise a great camera.
On: 2001-05-06
This is my second digital camera and I am very happy with this product. Dollar for dollar, it is the best buy on the market. The pictures are easy to download with the software provided but overall the software could use some improvement. Still, this camera compares to products at twice the money. Thanks HP for another great product!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-05-04
If your shopping for quality and price in a digtial camera thats easy to use, easy to carry and store, easy to upload to your computer, HP software to share and email, this is the one for you! A great bargain...
On: 2001-05-04
I just got my HP C315xi today and I think it is a wonderful camera. Its very easy to use. You just plug in the batteries and you are good to go. The instruction manual is very easy to understand. This camera is sized the same as most regular cameras. I also recommend getting the Viking Compact Flash card of about 64 Mb which is a [good price]. This card will store a lot more pictures and will be greatly useful. The pictures taken cannot be matched by a manual camera but they are quite good and I am yet to get them printed out. The software provided is easy to use and does everything for you. You may want to get a case for the camera (hp does not include one) and also an adapter to save on the batteries when uploading pics to the computer if you like. This camera from HP is a very good buy. HP has excellent customer service and amazon is very prompt and efficient with the delivery. Overall your reading the review of a very pleased customer !
On: 2001-04-24
Okay, Ive seen some reviews putting down the quality of this camera. My only guess is that they havent dealt with digital cameras before. This camera takes great pictures, especially when considering the $300 price tag (I found a code on the internet and got it for $260, shipped free). What it sounds like people (giving poor reviews) are doing is keeping the pictures in the large 1600x1200 format. What you need to do in order to make the pictures more crisp and clean is resize the picture to 1024x or 1280x pixels. This puts out fine pictures. Yes, it lowers the size of the picture, but these resolutions are still larger than most peoples desktops. I use a free program Infranview which is downloadable off the net. It will resize pictures very easily. Will the pictures be as good as regular film. No. But the pictures are very good for a digital camera at this price. I spent a good amount of time doing research for a digital cam and decided on this one. The cam is fairly sturdy and has fine battery life (On 2 AAs Ive taken roughly 25 pics using the LCD, and 140 w/o the LCD). The USB connection is fast. I would suggest this camera for anyone without a lot of cash to put into a dig cam but still wants fine pictures. Great for auctioneers. Good Luck.
On: 2001-04-06
COMPARED TO OTHER CAMERAS I HAVE USED THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT FOR THE MONEY. I HAVE OWNED A KODAK OF THE SAME QUALITY AND THE HP IS FAR BETTER. RESOLUTION CONTROL IS ON TOP OF THE CAMERA.THAT IS NICE TO HAVE AT YOUR FINGER TIPS. USB INTERFACE BEATS SERIAL PORT ANYDAY. HP STUFF IS GREAT ANYWAY. FOR THE MONEY IT CANT BE BEAT.
On: 2001-04-05
My previous camera was the HP C200, which from an image quality standpoint was fantastic. My mistake was carrying this opinion over to the 315 model. There are improvements, such as a far superior LCD screen, and better battery consumption. However, the image quality is unacceptable. The images have a clear grain to them, even under professional lighting. This is evident both on screen and printed on photo quality paper. The firmware update did nothing to correct this issue either. I would strongly suggest purchasing another model, or another brand all together.
On: 2001-04-03
I bought this camera 4-1-2001 and so far I am very pleased! I love to take pictures with it and love the software included. There are all kinds of fun templates for creating a photo album and editing photos... The HP315 came with everything I needed to get started...I knew that digital cameras drain batteries horrifically...The batteries that were included ran out within a few hours of playing with the camera using the LCD and downloading and what not, which seemed ridiculously fast to me!!! ... I think Ill buy another set of rechargeables (NiMH) so when Im using one set, I can charge the others. Otherwise, I could just charge the set I have now when Im asleep... I do love this cameras simplicity and quality, and I highly recommend it, especially for beginners & intermediates. Ive printed out some wonderful pictures of my kids and pets in fine mode on plain paper with great results! This is a great camera...
On: 2001-03-21
This is a very good camera for the price, and for anyone who wants to take snapshots and various shots for fun and leisure, it is probably the best I have encountered for the price (trust me, I did plenty of research before purchasing). The USB download capability and camera recognition software has always worked flawlessly for me, and with a program such as PhotoSuite or PictureIt, you can really get great results with a decent quality inkjet printer. The prints also look great on webpages where resolution can be lowered.For the serious buyer, I should point out a few shortcomings. First, the batteries do tend to drain quickly, but this is lessened by using the lcd screen only when needed and keeping the camera off unless ready to shoot. Also, the zoom is a bit awkward to use unless you have a stationary object that you are aiming at. In addition, the lcd screen is not very well-lit and may not be visible at all in medium to low-light situations. Finally, the pictures can get grainy if enlarges too much - grainier than I expected for a 2.1 megapixel. Still, despite the drawbacks, this camera is a standard in my house now for shots of family and friends, and can produce some very nice results.
On: 2001-03-20
Based on the review this camera got, I bought one. I took it back the next day. This was my first digital camera and I was really disappointed in what I saw in the pictures. They were grainy and lacked detail. I suppose if I looked more closely at the camera, I would have noticed the 1/8 inch diameter lens and that might have clued me in that there would be a difference. I was just looking for something to take pictures to send in e-mails and this did not do the job. The pictures taken inside were dark. I expect that if I only used this camera outside on sunny days it might work better. I also found it very hard to hold. Because all the controls are on the side that you hold the camera, the camera seemed unbalanced and was easily dropped. The wrist strap is a must. ... is the most that I have ever paid for a camera, and I guess I expected more. I can see from the general pricing of the digital cameras that this is on the low end. Since I was not after something that would be used for printing pictures, I had assumed, from all the favorable reviews, that this camera would work. I was mistaken. I am not sure I place much trust in reviews, without some actual photos to back them up. The software to import the pictures into the computer worked very well and was fast through the USB port. I may be a bit harsh with a 2 star rating, but I would not go over 3.
On: 2001-03-14
I bought the camera about a month ago and have been VERY pleased with the results....The pictures are crystal clear and even at the lowest setting are very sharp. The medium setting gives you decent 8x10 prints and the highest quality gives you excellent photo quality images. Battery life is great as long as you can live without using the LCD screen, it seems to kill even the strongest set of batteries. There is a wide array of accessories available. All in all, this unit is a great little starter camera for the beginner or casual photographer. With its ease of use and awesome photo quality, theres no way you can go wrong!
On: 2001-02-09
I first purchased the HP 215 Digital Camera. I was low on money and thought it would do a great job. It did except for one thing. I didnt want to burn up the batteries so fast so I did not use the LCD. I trusted the Optical wievfinder and when I got the pictures downloaded, they were all shifted to the left and to the top by 1/4th of the frame. I upgraded to the 315 for $100 more and have been happy ever sence. With this camera, you can totally trust the viewfinder and know that "What you see, is what you get!" I can take up to 400 pictures in the "Fine" mode with Enegizer Titanium batteries. This is, of coarse, without using the LCD. Pictures are crystal clear and you can go as close as 10" for close-ups. I use 64mb of compact flash and get up to 173 pictures in fine mode. If you take lots of pictures, this will be plenty of memory unless you go to Las Vegas and try to shoot everything there is! This Camera is the Best for the price. Very Easy to use. HP gets 5 stars from me!!
On: 2001-02-06
The PhotoSmart C315 was actually my third choice when I was looking into digital cameras. Id considered the Olympus, but ruled it out on features. I then settled on the Fuji, which was out of stock. Being in a hurry, I switched to this one and have been very happy with the choice.Being a Mac person, my choices were limited to begin with, but I made the right one here... even if it was by default. Not only does this camera give crisp images, but it also mounts to my desktop as an external USB hard drive for click-and-drag simplicity. FYI- When not using the LCD monitor as a viewfinder, the batteries will last quite a bit longer. Also, the Super Fine mode cuts the number of pictures you can take in half with negligible quality difference between the Fine mode. Stay with Fine unless youre just set on having fewer pictures. Overall, this camera gives high quality images and is easy to use.
On: 2001-01-19
I have owned this camera for a few days now. Great price, great quality, great quanity of pictures... but.... make sure you have a Windows 98, because if you have any lower, the camera wont be "read" by the computer... therefore it wont work. So before you purchase this item you would have to make sure your window is 98 or higher. Otherwise, this camera is the best on the market.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-01-14
I am not a shutterbug - this is a replacement for my pocket instamatic so you can tell Im not used to anything too fancy. It has done what I have wanted it to do, as long as I am aware of the shortcomings.Does great for pix for web sites and for emailing. Even printing on plain paper with an HP color inkjet printer does pretty well. Has 3 picture quality settings and for these purposes its not worth going to the highest. The middle setting does just fine. The drawbacks - dont be fooled. The digital zoom works fine, but is no subsititute for a true optical zoom. But then youd pay another ... for the optical so you get what you pay for. It does use batteries rather quickly (I use the display for my picture taking all the time so they do tend to go a bit quicker). And trying to catch action shots can be a bit tricky since there is a half second or so delay between pressing the button and when the picture actually takes. But from what Ive seen this is true of a lot of digital cameras. Downloading is fast and easy. Included is software to put multiple pix onto a page in various layouts to create an "album" for printing and emailing. A little odd to use, but very functional.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-01-08
For the first time Digital Camera user / buyer, this purchase was a no-brainer. The pictures are good quality, the software and camera are simple to use. The quality for the price is unmatched.....I dont believe it supports the "camcorder type" recording mode that you see in some of the higher priced models (My guess is, it does not). But for someone who is looking for Digital Camera basics (point & shoot, preview on the LCD, and download for emailing / posting / printing I see this as a great buy, put out buy a great company (HP).
On: 2001-01-06
I absolutely love it and wish I had had it years ago! I love it so much that we have actually gone on to order all the lenses available, such as the telephoto..super close up...zoom...and the polarizer filter, as well as a tripod. I still need a power adapter and am hesitant to pay [$] to HP to get one....I dont understand why just any 6 volt adapter wouldnt work if the polarity was correct....I am researching this. I highly recommend this camera....it will pay for its self in just a few years... especially if you have kids and pets you love to take pictures of!
On: 2001-01-05
This is my first digital camera, but Im not necessarily a novice though. Ive used a few other cameras (borrowed from friends) so I at least have a frame of reference. Let me just say that for the price and what this camera has on it, its a great deal. Granted, it doenst have optical zoom, but if it did, Id be paying another $60 to $100 along with maybe one or two other features. It takes very good pictures. Its very easy to use/understand. Took me no time at all to take it out of the box, flip through the instructions, and start taking and downloading pictures to my PC. There isnt one feature thats confusing to use. I think this is the perfect first digital camera for anyone. If youre experienced and want all the bells and whistles, dont buy this camera. If you want good quality photos, you can e-mail and print and view on PC with a decent amount of feartures, buy this camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-01-04
This was my first experience with a digital camera. This camera makes me wonder how I ever lived without one! It is so easy to use and takes EXCELLENT pictures. There are 3 settings on it, depending on the quality of picture youd like to take (I havent even tried the best quality setting because Ive been happy with the middle of the road setting). The only downside I have found so far is the amount of battery power this thing uses, but I think that is true of all digital cameras. Perfect for a first time digital camera user!
On: 2000-12-28
The camera has lived up to everything Ive expected from both digital photography and HP. It is easy to use and reliable. The USB port allows very fast download of your pictures to a USB equipped PC (running Windows 98 or Windows ME. Warning - USB is not really supported in Windows 95). Photo colors are excellent and quality terrific. If you use the viewfinder instead of the LCD, your batteries will last a reasonable length of time.The SanDisk 8Mb CompactFlash chip that came with the camera worked the first time out and continues to work well. On the other hand, the PNY 16 Mb CF chip that I bought did not work even after multiple attempts to format it. I will have to exchange it and hope the new chip will work. PNY technical assistance is poor.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-12-27
My husband gave me this camera several days before Christmas and I really love it now that I have become familiar with it. I wanted (and still want a Sony Mavica), but for the price, I am really happy with this one. I have already purchased two compact memory cards and electrical adapter to help save on batteries. I wish it had more zoom but the picture quality is terrific! It came with a USB connection cable and disk program to make downloading to your computer really simple, but it you have Adobe or similar photo program, you probably dont even need to bother-just download direct to what ever photo program you may already have. Most all newer computers come with some sort of preinstalled photo program.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-12-27
This camera is so easy to operate, I took it to a class reunion after having the camera for only 2 days. I took 35 pictures and emailed them to the school website and all the alums could download the photos they wanted. I had also purchased a 48mb flashcard, so I have been able to take 60 photos at the sharpest setting. I had heard about these cameras eating batteries, but I have taken well over 200 pictures, reviewed, downloaded, and erased with the same batteries that came with the camera. The battery indicator is still registering full battery capacity. I use the optical view finder to actually take the pictures. Photo quality is excellent and the software that accompanies the camera is also user friendly. You just plug the camera into either a serial or USB port and follow the easy steps to view or download the camera. After shopping the internet for the best features and prices of digital cameras and borrowing cameras from friends, I am really impressed with this camera. The only thing that keeps me from giving it the highest rating is that it doesnt have optical zoom, however, it does have digital zoom. This camera is a bargain for the price.
On: 2000-12-03
I really like this camera for its overall value. It has all the functions that are important to me (2.5 zoom and 2.1 MP) at a great price. I was a bit unhappy at the quality of the pictures in full glaring daylight. Overall Im very pleased with this camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-12-03
This is my first digital camera and I am happy with the performance. I got the 16MB flash card free as a promotion but then found that I should purchase the AC power adapter (~$50) to save batteries when downloading pictures. Oh well, for the price, I still believe that I got a good "starter" camera.
On: 2000-12-02
We bought the HP315 having trust in the HP name from printers we have used. My first digital camera mind you, and I am sure there are features and functioons I have not used and that I am not qualified to critique. The camera is simple to use, a battery hog if you are foolish enough to use the LCD screen on batteries, but performs well on low resolution, storing 70 to 80 clear pictures on an 8mb card. The viewfinder is not as accurate as a regular SLR camera, they assume youll use the LCD screen. So the aim is a bit right of center and bottom heavy. After 800 photos I am impressed however. Heres the rub. The retailers are not allowed by HP to stock the 6 volt AC adapter because HP wants the buyer to come to their shopping site. Not only is it the worst website weve ever encountered, they havent even manufactured the bloody adapter yet. The week the camera came out, they were "out of stock." And rude help on the other end, amazing that they stay in the running. If I was the CEO, Id bring out the big AXE. But that is besides the point. If you want to use rechargeables and get a large memory card, buy this camera. If you are trying to power it up for a studio setting, for online auctions, etc, beware. If anybody knows any other power adapter I can use for this camera, please contact me.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-11-30
The value of this microcosmic wonder is funny and/or amazing/extraordinary in theory though that is cannot be proved through scientific evidence of that particular nature. A very flashy piece that fills one with joy and promotes the taking of pictures in many scenerios. I would also like to note that this camera is a lovely item to play catch with if you are into baseball games and such. I would \\would not purchase this crafty piece of merchandise because it might trick you into a deceitful act of trickery and/or mischief\\thievery of some sort.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-11-29
This is an easy camera to use. The software that comes with it is great. I like that we can use a USB port or a regular serial port. The pictures are very clear. When we print them out on glossy paper, it looks just like a picture.
On: 2000-11-22
Excellent camera! 8mb card holds 80 pictures at the lowest resolution and are very viewable. Pictures print good and email quickly. When saving pictures to a computer a new folder is created using the current date and time. Very nice for when you begin using the same numbers and dont want to overwrite older pictures. The HP315 camera lets you look through a viewfinder or through a LCD display. We are really enjoying the camera. Great quality for the price.
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