HP made major cutbacks on their digital camera business two years ago and went through a long dry spell without any new releases. The company is making a comeback with the announcement of five new 12.2-megapixel digital cameras on Feb. 19. They are giving camera production a second chance, but will consumers give HP a second chance?
The HP PW460t is on the pricier end of HP’s spectrum with its $149 price tag. Its defining feature is its 3-inch LCD touch screen that allows users to take pictures with a tap of a finger. It also enhances navigation in the playback mode as users can swipe their finger across the screen to scroll through images. HP also released an even more budget-friendly version of the touch screen camera: the CW450t has a 2.7-inch touch screen and will retail for just $109. The two touch screen cameras have 4x optical zoom lenses, as do two other new HP releases.
The HP CW450 and SW450 also have 4x optical zoom lenses with their widest angle being 29mm. These two cameras also have 2.7-inch LCD screens. The difference between these two is their battery power. The CW450 runs on two AA batteries, while the SW450 has a proprietary lithium-ion battery. The CW450 will retail for $99 and the SW450 will go for $129.
The PW460t will come with a rechargeable battery, as will the PW550. The latter is HP’s only release with a 5x optical zoom lens. The lens is slightly wider at 28mm. The PW550 will have a 2.7-inch LCD screen and will retail for $149. The five new digital cameras will go on sale this spring.
“HP is giving consumers a better way to interact with point-and-shoot cameras by offering models with advanced features at a great value,” said Mark Ostendorf, manager of business development at HP, in the Feb. 19 press release.
Although HP hasn’t publicized their digital cameras until now, they’ve released a few under the radar. The HP CB350 has similar specs to the new releases with its 12.2 megapixels and 2.7-inch LCD screen. It has a shorter 3x optical zoom lens but adds manual and priority modes along with 28 scene modes. The CB350 sells for $109 on the HP web site. HP also has a PB360t, found on a QVC shopping web site, that has 12 megapixels, a 3x lens, and a 3-inch LCD touch screen. It is selling for $152.
