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Summary: How to Conserve Battery life
Review: First off, repeat after me, "I will not use the LCD"Seriously, you can extend battery life very well if you perform the following steps. 1. Buy Good (E2 Energizer or Ultra Batteries) 2. Turn off the LCD, if needed only use the Quick Review feature to review photos just after shooting. 3. Get a Power Cable for when you transfer images to your PC. 4. Turn off when your not taking a picture. 5. Use the Flash only when needed. Enjoy! All in all it's well worth the money, I purchased mine as part of a HP Trio combo, (Printer, Scanner, Camera) Love it!
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Summary: Batteries
Review: At first, i was discouraged because my batteries kept running out quickly. I have found that using Duracell Ultra batteries work great for this device. Also, to maxamize your batteries try not to use the LCD more the needed.
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Summary: Update: My 215 works great with rechargeable NiMH batts!
Review: I decided to take the plunge/risk and try some NiMH rechargeables (1.2V) that the salesperson at the electronics store promised could not harm my camera under any circumstances. The battery brochure also made that promise, saying that any product that accepts disposable AA's can take these rechargable AA's and Voila! They work dynamite, last 30% better on one charge than the best disposable alkalines, and can be charged more than 500(!) times before a new 4-pack needs to be bought (of course u keep the charger forever). At about ... for the charger kit with 4 pack of batts you save a ton over disposables in the long run. You also save stress, frustration, and help the environment. Despite HP's vague and cryptic claims that rechargables can damage the 215's circuitry and also pose a safety issue, I just don't see the logic and everything is working fine. Whether or not HP has some kind of clandestine agreement with the disposable batt companies is another story. It may be that only CERTAIN rechargeables pose the risk due to too high voltage. I mean, the original 215 enclosed catalog included rechargeables as an accessory item... I say go for it with rechargable 1.2V NiMH AA's!
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Summary: Nice, especially for the price!
Review: This is a great digital camera. I was looking for a little digital with LCD, with in-camera editing and a macro. A year ago the cheapest thing I could find was in the Nikon 900 series and cost about over $800. We got an advanced Nikon digital camera for work, and it's good, but I didn't want to spend that much for myself -- espeically when I convinced myself that all I wanted was a snapshot camera. I was so glad to find this HP camera! (It's point and shoot, but it can be used as more than just a snapshot camera. I love cameras like this with over-ride features that let me be in control when I want to). The only thing that came close to the HP 215 was a Kodak camera that cost about $20 more. BUT, the Kodak camera had no macro, and you couldn't delete crappy pictures right after you took them (no in-camera editing). For me, why buy a digital camera if it doesn't have those features? The HP 215 had the features I wanted and at a joyously low price. It's fun and it's easier to use than I had anticipated -- I love the wheel feature that's part of the controls. Downloading the images via the included cable is also much easier than I had anticipated. A positive experience. For the incredible features I got, I can easily stand the camera's need for disposable batteries only. These batteries are cheap compared to some of the specialized digital camera batteries, and the AA batteries are easy to find! (A friend of mine just spent the better part of a week trying to find a specialty battery for her digital camera here in Seattle -- I don't envy her). Also, if you keep the LCD and flash off as much as possible it still takes great pictures and doesn't drain the batteries.
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Summary: Major Battery Hog
Review: I purchased the PhotoSmartC215 because I liked the features, but it DOES hog batteries BIG TIME. Another thing I didn't like, is that it takes several seconds for the shutter to snap after you press the button,[very difficult to compose a picture that way.] Anyway, I burned through 2 sets of alkaline batteries just getting the feel for the camera. I got about 10 pictures from four batteries,both times. Unbelievable. I returned it.
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Summary: Good Value
Review: I think that this is a great enry level digital camera. The pictures come out good and the camera has many features. My take on the re-chargable battery debate is that it DOES NOT accept them. However, I found what seems to be a good alternative in Energizer's Double A "Lithium" batteries. I have taken about 40 picturs using them and the battery indicatore still says full, while it said empty after about 10 pictures using Energizer's "Titanium" Double A batteries.
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Summary: Rechargeable Batteries
Review: The following is an HP bulletin I found at "tech support" on the HP website. Chapter 7 of the 215 user manual also warns against using rechargeable batteries. "HP Photosmart 210 and 215 digital cameras - Rechargeable Batteries Not Supported; Other Battery Tips ISSUE: The final version of the DC Pro accessories catalog, which is shipping in the box with the HP Photosmart 210 and 215 Series Digital Cameras, contains a product number for rechargeable batteries. CAUTION: Rechargeable batteries must never be used in the HP Photosmart 210 and 215 series digital cameras. The camera's circuitry is inadequate for that type of battery power, and using rechargeable batteries poses a safety issue. The User's Guide that is included in the box with the camera contains more information regarding this issue in Chapter 7. SUMMARY: HP and DC Pro are working to maximize awareness of this issue when filling orders for rechargeable batteries."
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Summary: Camera is a great value!
Review: This camera has some GREAT features for such a small price! With settings up to 1200 X 1600, you can't go wrong! (prints great 8 X 10 pictures at this setting) It WILL NOT use rechargeable batteries! (they forgot to mention this when the camera first came out but it now tells you this right in the instruction booklet) However, by using the AC power adapter to view pictures in the memory and to download the pictures to my PC, I have been able to get around 300 pictures from one set of batteries. I also use the AC adapter when I am taking pictures around the house too! For this price, you won't find a better camera!
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Summary: The ongoing rechargeable battery debate
Review: I wrote the HP product support people an email asking them if the 215 would accept rechargeable batteries and they responded that the circuitry would not be able to handle it (voltage or amperage not specified). What gets me is that AA alkaline batteries are 1.5v and AA rechargeable batteries are 1.2 - 1.4v, so I see no problem. Has anyone use rechargeable AAs with their HP Photosmart 215 and what were the results?
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Summary: Great camera!
Review: I recieved this camera today for Christmas. It was very easy to set up ( it took minutes ) The pictures look great and the software is pretty good too.
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