HP Photosmart R707: if you're looking to go beyond a point-and-shoot digital camera, this might be the model for you.

Digital cameras are getting smarter, providing some of the same features you'll find on the most expensive film cameras; for example, better-quality sensors and the ability to exchange lenses as needed. Joining the elite group of smart digital cameras, the HP Photosmart R707 certainly lives up to its name in several ways, making it a strong choice for anyone who wants more than just a simple point-and-shoot camera.

HP introduces a number of innovations with this model. The brushed metallic faceplate is a radical improvement from last year's rather plain Photosmart models. There's no real difference in terms of body size, since the Photosmart lisle has always been a bit bigger than other digital cameras. The metal face is more scratch-resistant than the earlier models, too.

Auto vs. manual

At 5 megapixels (MP)--the rating that determines picture resolution the R707 produces amazingly bright, clear, high-resolution photos.

Interestingly, the clarity is partly a result of the greater resolution and partly due to the slew adaptive lighting technology HP has introduced with this camera. In terms of a truly intelligent camera, there are no knobs and dials to twist when it comes to this feature. Instead, the camera automatically brings out more clarity by balancing the background and foreground image. You can see the difference, especially if you're used to the slight background blurriness you get with other digicams. In fact, after shooting approximately one hundred photos, not a single shot looked blurry or overly dark. While other companies (such as Kodak and Fujitsu) are adding more buttons and picture enhancing features you have to enable on the camera, the adaptive lighting technology is a welcome non-interactive addition.

There are some on camera functions worth noting, however. Apart from the usual zoom and focus options, the HP Photosmart R707 slow lets you remove red-eye on the camera itself after you take the shot. For novice photographers, this is a helpful feature since most of us think about red-eye reduction only after a birthday party or company dinner is long over.

Another intelligent feature involves how you can access the photos after you've stored them. The camera provides 32MB of internal storage and supports secure digital (SD) memory cards, the new de facto standard when it comes to digicams. On most digital cameras, you have to copy the photos, then move them to a floppy drive or send them to Grandma via e-mail. On the R707, you can configure the camera to transmit the photos to one of 32 different destinations, such as a printer, e-mail address, or network drive. It's a one-button affair, but although I usually prefer any automated approach to routine tasks, I found that the feature is more of a novelty than a useful innovation. More often than not, I just connected the camera using USB, waited for Windows XP to bring up the SD memory drive, then copied the images to my local drive.

There are other features borrowed from the film-camera world. A burst mode lets you take three shots in rapid succession, especially useful for sporting events. The white balance options are quite extraordinary: you can perform simple bracketing in one third increments to help you color-balance the shot. And, I absolutely loved one of the smartest features on the camera: If you turn the camera body for a portrait mode shot, the viewfinder senses the change in orientation and switches automatically. I also noticed that the R707 is faster than previous Photosmart models, especially when it comes to calling up previously taken photos (they pop up on the screen immediately).

Still, it's worth mentioning that, other than the features I've already mentioned (adaptive lighting, smart orientation, and one-touch destinations), the HP Photosmart R707 isn't all that different from most other higher-end 5 MP cameras on the market. The 1.5 LCD viewfinder isn't especially large or bright. The 3X optical zoom can't compare with the Panasonic Lumix lenses, some of which feature a large 12X lens. Digital zooming was predictably poor. I did appreciate the simple Mode button that lets you switch between portrait, scenery, sports, and seven other scene settings with just one button click.

I quickly realized that HP has started using a kitchen sink approach to the camera. There's one button for just about every function including the timer, macrofocus, and play modes. Apparently, the designers have learned the hardware design rule to not make one button perform multiple tasks; but, the end result is an array of buttons that's initially confusing. After spending a week with the camera, you begin to appreciate this new approach and the camera gets easier to use.

UpShot

At $349, the HP Photosmart R707 is priced at the higher end of the market. Sure, the auto features are handy and will help you take better pictures, but the lack of a powerful zoom and a large LCD viewfinder make the R707 less attractive. Still, if you have an interest in a bit more professional photography or just want to make sure the photos you take turn out better than you expect, the R707 is one of the best--and smartest--digital cameras available.

HP www.hp.com Photosmart R707 $349

DIMENSIONS: 3.78" wide, 2.36" tall, 1.38 deep; 7.5oz

DISPLAY: 1.5-inch color, outdoor viewable LCD

RESOLUTION: 5.1 megapixel

ZOOM: 24x total zoom (3x optical, 8x digital)

STORAGE: 32MB internal memory; SD/MMC card slot 

CONNECTIVITY: USB (USB 2.0 compatible)

ADVISOR[R] EVAL[TM] BUSINESS BENEFITS

A digital camera that borrows many features from traditional film cameras.

+ Simple design + Outstanding photo results + Smart features - Small viewfinder - Poor zoom - High price

John Brandon is a freelance writer from Buffalo, Minnesota. Before starting his writing career, he worked as an IT manager with a large consumer electronics retailer. His areas of expertise include handheld computers, notebooks, smartphones, wireless technology, displays, and any other computer-oriented device.