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February 19, 2005 *– HP added three more models to its Photosmart M-series of digital cameras today: the M417, M23, and M22. The first model boasts 5.1 megapixels and a 1.8-inch LCD screen, while the latter two have 4 megapixels and 1.5-inch screens. All three cameras will begin selling in April 2005.
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All three of the Photosmart models have HP Real Life Technologies, including in-camera removal of red-eye, enhanced details in shadows, and panorama previews. The panoramas can be shot with 5 consecutive frames, then the HP cameras stitch the frames together for a full view in playback mode.
The HP M417 has a 1.8-inch LCD screen to view its playback mode. But more impressive is its 5x optical zoom lens with 7x digital zoom mode. The M417 has a 1/2.5-inch CCD with 5.19 total megapixels on it. The burst mode of 2 shots per second is average for a compact digital camera, but users can shoot only 3 pictures before the camera takes a rest to write the image to memory. This model has 16 MB of internal memory, a good feature for when there isn’t an SD card available.
HP’s other two M-series releases, the HP M23 and M22, are both 4-megapixel entry-level models without optical zoom. Instead, they have digital zoom, which only deteriorates the picture quality with the more zoom that is used. Both cameras have the same aluminum alloy weather-resistant bodies and 1.5-inch LCD screens. They both have nine shooting modes and the same HP Real Life Technologies that the HP M417 has. The biggest difference between the M23 and M22 is the amount of digital zoom. The HP M23 has 7x digital zoom; the M22 has 6x digital zoom. The M23 will retail for $169.99 and come with rechargeable batteries. The M22 will retail for $149.99.