A simple layout of well-labeled buttons makes the camera easy to operate for the beginning user. The 1.6-inch LCD can be quickly turned on and off, saving on battery life.

The HP 720 is powered by four AA batteries (included), but they will soon need to be replaced. Consider the optional HP dock (the 720 ships with an adapter for the dock), which includes four rechargeable batteries, and every time you dock the camera to transfer photos, the batteries recharge.

We were pleased with the 720's image quality--pictures appeared detailed and sharp. The camera can also capture 30-second video clips--complete with audio--at 20 frames per second and at 320 by 240 resolution. One minor annoyance: the lens was loud and slow as we zoomed in and out during shooting.

With 16 MB of internal memory, the 720 can house 17 high-quality shots. There's a Secure Digital memory slot for expanding the storage capability, always a useful upgrade.

The affordable HP Photosmart 720 makes a great camera for users wanting to break into the digital-image world, and features enough performance to make the trip worthwhile, yet without so many bells and whistles as to make digital photography frustrating. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Light and fairly compact
• High image quality

Cons:

• Noisy zoom lens
• Useful dock costs extra

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a CCD sensor with 3.3 million effective pixels, the Photosmart 720 creates images up to 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. It also features a 3x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom for a 12x total.

Storage and Transfer
Store photos using the 16 MB internal memory. The Photosmart 720 also features a Secure Digital slot for optional SD memory cards.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Photosmart 720 can also record movie clips of up to 60 seconds with audio at a frame rate of 20 fps. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.

More Features
With the optional HP Photosmart 8881 digital camera dock (which includes four rechargeable NiMH batteries), you can connect easily to your PC or TV, plus recharge your camera batteries.

Easily print photos directly from your camera to an optional HP Photosmart, HP PSC 950 all in one, or HP Deskjet (excludes 600 series) printer with USB connectivity--no PC required.

Other features include:

• Built-in flash with red-eye reduction.
• 1.6-inch backlit LCD display for preview and review of photos, battery levels, photo counter, and flash modes.
• Real-image 3x zoom viewfinder
• 10-second timer

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four standard AA batteries. We recommend a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries. It measures 4.7 by 2.9 by 2.1 inches and weighs 12 ounces. This package includes the Photosmart 720 digital camera, four AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, hand strap, and a CD-ROM with HP Photo & Imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.