HP announced so many new products yesterday, over 100 in total, that I don’t quite know where to start! The product launch, dubbed “Big Bang 2”, is part of HP’s “strategy to radically simplify technology to help people “enjoy more”...HP unveiled more than 100 consumer products designed to easily bring digital photos, music and video to life in new and enriching ways.

Website: HP Press Release

Of particular interest to photographers were the new digital cameras and printers; I’ll start my roundup by looking at the cameras.

The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera features HP’s exclusive Adaptive Lighting Technology that permits the camera to reproduce on paper what you see with your eyes, balancing the contrast between darkness and light. The camera captures detailed photos and achieves outstanding enlargements with 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is expected to begin shipping in September 2003 with an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.

Bob Atkins of Photo.net has already published his first impressions of the HP Photosmart 945.

“For the average consumer this camera provides a lot of features and a good price/performance ratio. The zoom range is greater than most other digicams on the market and the price is lower than any of its 5MP competitors with similar lenses. 5MP represents current “state of the art” in digital cameras of this type and is probably close to the limit of just how many pixels you can usefully cram into a 1/1.8” sensor.”

Website: DPReview - HP Photosmart 945

The HP Photosmart 635 is an entry-level 2 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom. The HP Photosmart 635 digital camera is now available with an estimated U.S. retail price of $179.

“Capture sharp, clear digital photos and videos with the compact, 2.1-megapixel resolution, 12x total zoom HP Photosmart 635 digital camera with HP Instant Share? technology. The HP Photosmart 635 digital camera captures sound and motion, features a 1.6 inch LCD screen, automatic and manual controls and can easily connect to a computer or TV with the optional HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock.”

The HP Photosmart 435 is an entry-level 3 megapixel digital camera with a fixed lens. The HP Photosmart 435 digital camera is expected to begin shipping in September 2003 with an estimated U.S. retail price of $149.

“Experience great performance and ease of use with the compact, 3.1-megapixel resolution, 5x digital zoom HP Photosmart 435 digital camera with HP Instant Share? technology. The HP Photosmart 435 digital camera captures sound and motion, features automatic and manual controls and easily connects to a computer or TV with the optional HP Photosmart 8886 camera dock.”

Website: DPReview - HP Photosmart 635 / 435