Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C618xi 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
By: Hewlett-Packard Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 21
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 On: 2007-11-18
I bought this camera seven years ago when digital imaging was still in its infancy as far as residential photography. (It was also much more expensive then... the curse of being an early adopter of technology.) From the beginning I found the C618 (U.S. software version) to be simple to use, overall reliable & rugged, and for its time loaded with features. Image quality was and still is quite good, within its 2-megapixel range...color balance & saturation is quite good, it handles contrast details well, and the manual options (shutter speed, f-stop, white balance) allow for great flexibility & creativity -- many cameras today in 2007 dont offer some of these features. A great feature for individuals concerned with image quality in regards to reproducing/printing is the option to save pictures as TIFF files instead of JPEG (eliminates compression artifacts); again, even modern cameras seldom offer this feature. And few cameras even today offer more than this cameras 3x optical zoom. All in all this camera has performed well. But... two things have been problematic/annoying about the camera, and one thing about HP.
First, the cameras AC adaptor/power supply (which came bundled with the camera at time of purchase) rapidly became loose where it plugs into the camera, meaning that it often loses connection and the camera loses power...quite annoying during image transfer/download, and a critical problem if it occurs during image capture. I dont know if its caused by the cameras power cord port being loose, or the power cords plug itself being a tad bit undersized, but regardless it has been a strike against the camera in my opinion.
Second, when I bought the camera and began using it (and when I printed the users manual from the accompanying CD) I found the sound clip recording feature to be quite interesting -- it allowed a brief (up to 30-second) sound clip to be recorded, when attached to a particular picture in memory, using a built-in microphone/speaker on the back of the camera. After getting the hang of how close or far away I had to be from the microphone to get decent sound without distortion, I was impressed at the sound quality when played back through the cameras speaker. However, when I tried to download the sound clip along with my pictures, I noticed that it didnt appear -- as though it wasnt there. I was able to play the sound clip back on the camera, but it didnt show up in the images folder. I tried using the HP software, I tried using the USB transfer function, I tried using the memory card in a card reader...no success. Finally, in desperation I contacted HP Customer Support and explained my problem. After going back and forth for days via e-mail with four different techs, I was told that the camera I had purchased (directly from HP) was the U.S. version and came with U.S. software which didnt allow users to access the sound clips -- I could use the feature on the camera, but I couldnt access/download the files. In order to do that I would need the European software (for the C618xi model, which is identical except for the software bundle). I was and still am amazed that HP would pull this kind of shady marketing ploy, especially without specifying at the time of sale that not all features would be available on certain destination models. This has made the camera less appealing to me, although I have still enjoyed it as far as the images Ive captured over the years. A bit disappointing.
Even more disappointing was HPs response to my request for the full software that would allow me to use all of the cameras features. I was told that I had to call a long-distance number and request a copy of the software, and pay a nominal fee (never specified) along with shipping & handling charges. I was quite angry that I was expected to pay for what should have come with the item.
All together, I give the camera four stars. A bit generous perhaps, if you consider the great strides made in digital photography in the years since my purchase, but if you base the rating on the available technology at the time of purchase, as well as the long-term durability & features offered (TIFF files, manual settings, sound capture -- if you get the right software) then the C618 was and still is a good deal...even with HPs terrible marketing & customer service. Given the current price-per-feature marketing today (this camera with accessories cost me over $400 seven years ago, but todays equivalent would retail for about $100) I would definitley buy this camera again.
 On: 2002-01-05
This past summer I studied in Cuba for a month. Of course this is once in a lifetime opportunity, so I had to get a camera and it HAD to be digital. Ive never owned my own camera before and already too many moments in my lifetime have gone by without ever being recorded. I also have a problem with getting myself to the store and going through the tedious and costly process of developing film.
So I went ahead and purchased the HP C615 model and it was probably one of the best purchases I ever made. I also purchased the 96 MB memory card which holds up to 360 photos at the lowest quality (which is better than some film cameras). It was well worth it. All of the other American students whom I met in Cuba, were envious of the fact that I could selectively view and delete my pictures through the camera. In comparing film pictures with mine of the exact same images the HP 615 won out every single time. So thats not a bad large investment compared to buying film, lugging it around and then waiting for it to be developed. Now all I carry is the camera and an extra set of batteries.
Of course this review wouldnt be objective if I didnt put one complaint in. My only complaint is that the viewfinder is not very well lit. Its actually pretty dull compared to some other cameras that Ive taken pictures with. It also does not provide a very accurate width of the actual photo that gets processed. But since I realize the fault of the camera, I know its OK to cut off peoples arms straggling on the edges of the viewfinder because the photo comes out perfectly trimmed. This does cause a problem for those one or two occasions when you have to rely on a waiter or passerby to take your own photo. They usually include too much of the surrounding area. But I found a way to get around that too; now I set the zoom and area for the innocent bystander.
The pictures I take are breathtaking!! The colors are scintillating, and the lucid ambiance palpable. If youre just starting out this is a great choice. People who now view my photos assume that I have some kind of talent or training, but I am honest and admit to them that its really the camera.
On: 2001-11-10
After extensive research into 2 and 3 megapixel cameras, I settled on the H-P C618xi (identical to the C618 except for included software). I was going to Europe for two weeks and wanted to give digital photography a serious workout. Boy, did I make the right choice!
The camera is worth much more than it costs, an idea supported somewhat by resell prices higher than what I paid for it new. It has tremendous versatility: Easy to use automatic features for carefree snapshots and excellent manual capabilities for greater artistic control.
I do professional work for feature and spot news stories. Over the last two or three months, I gradually have pared down the "film" equipment I keep with me until all I take along is the C618xi. The lower JPEG settings are great for newspapers, yet the highest rez TIFF images reproduce perfectly in 4-color glossy mags. Instead of a bulky kit, now I have only a small tote with a wrist strap, containing the camera, 4 spare AAs, a lens brush and CF memory cards. That will last me all day in just about any setting. If Im doing a flash-heavy shoot, I carry along 4 extra AAs just in case.
This camera is not as power-hungry as some Ive seen. However, any user will find that 1600mAH NiMH batteries are the way to go to keep the energy costs down. My personal recommendation is to go with Ray-O-Vac: Their AAs are the highest potency around and they make a great compact 1-hour charger that will charge 4 AAs at once (...).
For the amateur or the professional, I cant recommend this camera highly enough. I wouldnt part with it for anything.
On: 2001-11-05
i was looking for a digital camera with at least 2 megapixels in a certain price range, and after careful consideration, i chose this one. its a great camera. one of the criticisms ive seen about this camera was the size: i dont find this a problem, and ive had camera with the opposite problem (elph lt, which was sometimes too small to put your hands around). It has some very nice features, including remote control, easy to use menus, usb extension for easy download onto your computer.with the 16mb memory that comes with it, you can take 28 pictures of really good quality. Im still getting used to being able to look at the pictures right away and deleting them/etc. i highly recommend this camera!
On: 2001-09-26
After admiring the digital cameras of a few of my friends at various functions, I decided to put my tax rebate from President Bush to good use and joined the world of digital photgraphy! After hours of online research, comparing performance specs, reading reviews, etc., I decided to go with the HP C618. Im happy to say so far I couldnt be happier with my choice. Although its packed with special features, it also features an ease of use that lets beginners start taking pics right out of the box(well, you do have to install the batteries). A quick-start guide gives you the basics to get you going, while a far more comprehensive manual on an included CDROM tells you how to get the most out of your camera.So far Ive taken a couple of hundred pics, and, except for a few, the results have been fantastic! I christened the camera with a trip to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in Orlando. Got some great pics which I downloaded to my screensaver/wallpaper on my computer at work and have received loads of compliments on the pics. Next test- a trip to Busch Gardens next week(living in Central Florida does have its benefits!). A couple of suggestions to add to your digital camera experience- get a card reader, to facilitate the transfer of your pics from the camera to the computer, and a larger memory card. The included card is 16MB, which will get you started, but a larger card, say 64MB or up, will allow you to take a lot more pics without worrying about deleting to make room for more.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-09-13
I had been thinking about a digital for quite awhile. The family has always used auto-focus 35 mm cameras for the convenience and easy results. We are not photo experts. We were looking for something with enough resolution to print up to 8 x 10 pictures, yet be a fully automatic camera with easy "point and shot" abilities. But at the same time we were looking for all the "extra" features if we wanted to experiment a bit. I did my research both on the internet and in the stores and finally decided on the HP 618xi. I have not been disappointed. I was taking digital pictures and downloading them to the computer within minutes (as well as printing). The camera has a solid feel and after a brief review of the fast start manual, easy to use. Be sure to purchase at least 2 sets of Ni-MH baterries with a charger to keep you going non-stop, and to read the Amazon editorials on purchasing a digital camera to see what features you really want. Be sure to get a camera with an optical zoom (as opposed to digital).
by: Anonymous On: 2001-09-01
Ordered on Sunday - Recieved on Thursday afternoon - Taking pictures and had them on my computer that same day. Easy to use. Great camera for someone who is a novice photographer. I upgraded from a HP C30 and found the C618 to be leap years ahead of it. I felt there should have been a printed Instruction book sent with the C618 camera. The software package was more than I needed. However, the Photosmart SW requires many more steps than the previous SW that came with the C30. Recommend you consider purchasing rechargeable batteries.
On: 2001-07-21
This is a pretty sexy-looking digital cam and feels great in your hand. The image LCD is larger than most. Agree with others that this camera is great for your first step into the digital world of photo-taking...Complaint is...the lag time. Yes, its "point and shoot", but after you "shoot" ...tick,tick,tick then,maybe you will (or maybe you wont) get the picture you were going for. I have not found an explanation within HPs website or their manual (which does not come in the box and must be found online). I also agree with others that the images are a bit off from what you see in the viewfinder.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-07-18
This is my first Digital Camera and I am very impressed. I took the camera to Europe for 6 weeks. It was easy to upload the pictures to my Laptop and email them to friends. I took over 225 pictures and only changed the rechargeable batteries once. When I got home, I printed some of the pictures using an HP 1215 printer and as I was told "They look like a Postcard." The camera was easy to use and I used all of the default settings. The zoom was great and it work like a point and shoot.
On: 2001-07-10
A remarkably easy to use and understand digital camera, but with many advanced features and high resolution. I was drawn to this camera because of Hewlett Packards excellent reputation and have not been disappointed. Within a few hours of using it, I was sending pictures by e-mail and editing my shots on the computer. It looks and feels like a film camera (unlike many boxy or ultra-small digitals)and has controls at logical places. The quality of the photos is remarkable. This is a camera I will grow into as I learn more and more of its features.
On: 2001-07-05
I bought it for snapshots, and it does that and more. Serious photographers might have issues, but Im more than getting my worth. The included software is nice - especially the printer software. Im printing photo quality stuff on an old HP 722c. You might want something like Photoshop to twiddle with the files, but that would probably be true about any camera you buy.Most reviewers have complained about battery life, after using the camera for a day or two. The manual states that the batteries reach full life after 4 recharges, so that improves as time goes along. I bought a recharger and two additional sets of batteries, and have had no problem keeping things running, even during intensive use. If you are using a Nikon SLR, this camera might not please you. For the rest of us, however, I highly recommend it for its optics and versitility. I was more than happy to hide my two bags of cameras and lenses, and just have fun taking pictures.
On: 2001-07-05
As a experienced 35mm SLR camera buff, I was looking for a digital camera that could be used in a variety of situations: point and shoot (when I needed something quick), and user adjustable when I wanted to get creative. The HP C618 did not disappoint! I was taking great photos in 5 minutes out of the box under a variety of lighting conditions. Everthing worked the first time. If you are someone trying digital photography for the first time, you will be taking quality photos in 10 minutes. If you are experienced and want a digital camera that has the ability to be very flexible within a reasonable price point, this camera fits the bill! The 2.1 megapixel range may be insufficient for your needs if you wish the best professional results. This would be a limitation/consideration at the price point that the camera is offered at. A wide range of accessories are availble. The camera is compact, light weight, produces clear photos, and is simple to operate! The instructions are clear. Overall: RECOMMENDED!
On: 2001-07-02
This is the perfect Camera for the people who like the "Old Fashioned" camera style. Everybody will think that it is a regular film camera. Advantages: Strong construction, Friendly menus, Remote control, Software included and HP-Pentax combination. Weaknesses: Doesnt come with case, and thats it. Beside the camera you will need: Case, Battery charger and rechargeable batteries, memory card reader (Ive got the CF-Adapt from Viking and it works perfect into my Dell Laptop PC-Card slot).Very good camera!!!
On: 2001-06-25
Recently purchased this camera after returning the Kodak 3500. What a difference! The features,quality and construction are amazing. Took the camera on vacation to the beach and it performed beautifully. Brought back 70 Pictures and they were better than ever before! Took all of those pictures on the batteries that came with the camera. Comes with an excellent set of Photo Batteries from Energizer.I took a rechargeable set and never had to use them. Havent been brave enough to try the camera on manual yet but I will. Took along My laptop so I had somewhere to unload the pics, which is a breeeze. Highly recommended camera!!
 On: 2001-06-19
I live in England and my daughter sent me this camera from California, in May. ... So far I have one image in the computer. ... Taking photos was fine - though the viewfinder is poor compared with my SLR. But they just would not load - nothing but error messages - Cant recognise the file type - Jpeg, for heavens sake - and eventually, corrupted files. Meanwhile the batteries were flat, so bought a charger and batteries and a new card. With these I actually got a photo in the computer, Now I am looking for an AC adapter - hard to find over here. Apart from all the hassle, it looks like a nice camera, and I hope to use it some time. Negotiating the menus is a bit tricky - my fingers are too big for the little buttons. But it will go in my pocket, which my Canon wont. my rating is provisional - I havent really used this camera.
On: 2001-06-09
Ive had this camera for only a day and a half but already have a good feel of what this camera can and cant do. Pros: strong flash, accurate color, easy to use. photos were very pleasing, and the software that comes with the HP is easy to use and understand. Cons: a bit slow capturing the photo once the action button is depressed, making it difficult to catch an "action photo." also, importantly, the viewfinder is off-center!! it is aimed higher than the cameras eye actually sees. you have to use the LCD to aim correctly. If you can deal with the cons, i think the camera is actually a good purchase.
On: 2001-05-14
I went from a HP C30 to the HP 618. I am impressed. The body just fits my hand, the buttons/controls are readily available and easy to operate. The 3x zoom beat the others I was looking at hands down. The camera can easily be put into auto mode, then just point and click. Or, it has lots of manual settings to experiment with. The HP software isnt super great, but putting the camera into "USB Disk Drive allows me to treat it as a removable disk - I Love It!! Good clear LCD, Just an all around great camera! Highly recommend!
 On: 2001-03-24
I went to a great deal of trouble researching digital cameras before I selected this one and, by all rights, this camera should have been ideal. It has fabulously exciting features, is compact, easy to use, and uploads its photos to your computer with hardly any help from you at all. The problem??? ALL my photos shot on the automatic settings came out either VERY dark or overexposed and the instruction manual told me absolutely nothing about how to adjust the F-stop and/or white balance to overcome this problem. I am strictly a point-and-shoot photographer -- I have never taken a photo class and need a camera that will "do it all" for me on its automatic settings. If this is what you need, as well, DO NOT buy this camera. The pictures I took at my sons third birthday party, with my "wonderful" new camera, are all horrible and I cannot go back and do it again! I have returned this camera and gotten the Kodak DC4800. All my friends who have Kodaks are VERY happy and my sister-in-law, who got a Hewlett-Packard for Christmas, is also extremely disappointed with the quality of her photos. STAY AWAY FROM HEWLETT-PACKARD!!!
On: 2001-02-22
Just recently I purchased a Hewlett Packard C618 digital camera. Although I have not used a digital camera before I find that it is very easy to use, even for a retiree as I am. If you wish, you can just turn on the camera, point and shoot. The camera will take care of everything else, such as exposure, focus, flash, white balance to compensate for various light sources, advance to the next frame, etc., etc. It is really a great little camera that comes up with pictures that rival the pictures I have taken with my Pentax.The instruction book is detailed and covers just about everything you may want to know about the camera. It includes features that I will probably never use, but they exist nevertheless. The camera simulates a single lens reflex as closely as possible, and that includes the sounds of the shutter when taking a snapshot. There is also a quick start guide that gets you on the road quickly. I purchased the 48 meg memory chip, NiMH batteries with battery charger, and a camera case. All seem necessary, matter of fact, a spare set of batteries is probably a good idea. Im also planning to purchase the AC power supply because you can spend a fair amount of time at the computer with the camera in operation when working with your images. Although minor in nature, the automated registration was a problem because the serial number on the camera did not match the number of digits required by the registration form. Also there is an automated camera software download that could become a problem, especially if one is working with brand new NiMH batteries. Initially these batteries seem to have a significantly reduced capacity until they have been recharged several times. Dead batteries during a download may become a problem. A quick call for help to HP solved both issues. All in all Im very pleased with my purchase and Im looking forward to using this camera extensively this summer.
On: 2001-02-20
This camera is the best balance between the highest quality and easiest to use. If you want to be able to remember those family moments in high quality like you are still there, then get this camera for all those family memories.
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