Physical Tour

The front of the HP Photosmart M425 features a telescoping lens barrel positioned on the right side of the front face. This retractable barrel has a polished silver ring surrounding it, and both the ring and the barrel extend slightly from the camera body. Above and slightly to the right of the lens ring, users will find the AF assist light with the monaural microphone placed slightly above it. This microphone placement is close enough to the edge of the camera body to pick up both lens noise and get muffled by meandering fingers. To the left of the camera’s lens and along the top edge of the camera, users will find the horizontal flash. From the top of the camera to the bottom edge, a scalloped curve has been carved into the camera face, effectively echoing both the curve of the lens barrel and the upper right-hand corner, which has been rounded off to give the camera a less boxy aesthetic.

Back

On the back of the camera, users will find the underwhelming, 1.7-inch LCD screen, with a resolution of 115 K pixels. This LCD screen is framed and raised from the camera body. Running along the top edge of this frame, users will find three slim buttons that provide access to Flash, Photo Express menus, and the Shooting/Playback Modes for this camera. These buttons are positioned in an uncomfortable and unintuitive place. On the R927 and the R725, HP finally got it right, placing these and other features on the top of the camera with clearly labeled, well sized buttons.

Moving towards the top edge of the camera body, the back face of the camera slants into the rest of the body of the M425, and once again, HP decided to position a control directly in this transition. The placement of the On/Off button at this juncture and its slender horizontal shape means that inevitably the side of a fingernail must be used to turn the camera on. This feature is also less than well labeled and easily overlooked.

To the left of the On/Off button, there is a bright blue LED which signals the current running state of the camera. The area to the right of the LCD is slightly depressed, effectively functioning as a thumb rest for the right hand. At the top edge of this shallow depression is the zoom toggle, which is shaped like an L rotated 90 degrees clockwise. Beneath this control, the well-sized four-way control features a large Menu/OK button at its center. Both of these controls are sized and shaped appropriately. Beneath the four-way control is a single lozenge-shaped control that functions as the Delete button for the camera when reviewing images in Playback.

Right

The right side of the HP Photosmart M425 has only one feature to note, a recessed eyelet for an optional wrist strap. This inset eyelet will be harder to thread than those which extend out from the camera body; however, users won’t need to worry about this version catching on a pocket’s edge or purse’s lining.

Left

The left side of the camera body has a small and light gray rubber port cover hinged to the camera by its top edge. When flipped upwards from the camera, it reveals the USB and DC in ports for the M425. Unlike other R-series models, like the R725 which used a locking cover, this rubber tab will easily be flipped open during transport and carrying, exposing these two potentially fragile ports. The top edge of the left side curves into the top of the camera body.

**Top
**The top of the M425 features a rounded transition from the top to the left side, while the other three edges are only slightly rounded. There are only two features on the top of the camera, both of which are on the far right half. Towards the front of the camera the user will find the unlabeled though well sized shutter button, an oval of polished silver. Parallel to the Shutter button and towards the back of the camera is a second smaller oval control that engages and disengages the movie mode for the M425. This simple, uncluttered design should make controlling these features an easy process.

**Bottom
**The M425 contains two features hidden by a locking port cover found directly beneath the slight right-hand grip. When the port covered is opened, the user will find port for the two AA batteries and the port for an optional SD memory card. Users will also find the port for the optional wireless or standard dock for printing and sharing of images on the M425’s bottom; it is not beneath a port cover. Next to this is a plastic tripod socket which will become easily stripped through continual use, much more so than a metal one.

Components

Viewfinder

Like all of the cameras being released by HP this week at CES 2006, the M425 does not have a viewfinder. With a measurement of 3.82 inches across, and the market this camera is intended for, the exclusion of a viewfinder should not be viewed as a huge loss. While it is true that an optical viewfinder would save on battery life, the inaccurate frame coverage and impossibly small size of it often make viewfinders found within this price range non-functional and useless.

LCD Screen

Although the lack of a viewfinder on this camera isn’t detrimental, the size and resolution of the LCD screen is markedly sub par. This camera model, the least expensive within both the M and R-series, has a petite 1.7-inch LCD with 115 K pixels. This means that menu structures that were so easy to read on the high-end R927 are suddenly a strain to navigate, and while not impossible to use, it certainly makes efficient movement through the menus more complicated. Also, solarization and obscured viewing tended to occur with more regularity when shooting with this camera. And finally, when switching between the Design Gallery and Capture menu, the LCD tended to go blank and take a second to reactivate.

Flash

The flash settings for the HP Photosmart M425 may be found when the user enters the Flash menu via the flash button positioned on the back of the camera. This button is slender and horizontal, and has been placed on the cusp between the raised LCD screen and the back of the camera. This odd and unintuitive placement makes engagement of this feature more complicated.

Once the flash button has been found and pressed, an onscreen menu allows the user to rotate between the following options: Auto, Auto with Red-eye reduction, flash off, and flash on. Interestingly, out of all the new HP cameras, this one has its flash closest to the center axis of the lens. This means that the flash will produce more even coverage and fewer shadows. The flash range on the HP Photosmart M425 is 12.5 ft. (wide) and 6.9 ft. (telephoto).

It is also possible to correct Red-eye when reviewing images in playback by entering the Design Gallery menu and selecting the Remove Red-eye submenu.
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Zoom Lens

The zoom lens for the HP Photosmart M425 features 3x optical zoom and telescopes out from the camera body. When not in use, this lens barrel retracts into the camera, and automatic lens covers snap over to protect the glass. The 3x optical zoom HP Precision lens has a max aperture of f/2.8 (wide) to f/4.7 (tele) with a variable focal range of 6mm to 18mm. The telescoping lens should make it harder for users to accidentally mask or cover the glass when shooting, unlike the flush lens of the R725 by HP, for example.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance

The HP digital cameras being released in their R-series all come with metal bodies of either stainless steel or aluminum, which makes for a sturdier product and a more appealing visual. Although the M425 appears to be made of plastic, HP representatives assured this reviewer that the body is composed of a metal alloy. Check back for the full review for the final say on this. These cameras appear to be well constructed with tight seals, but the durability of plastic is always a concern, especially if consumers are looking to have this camera for a more extended period of time. 

Size / Portability

The HP Photosmart M425 isn’t the smallest point-and-shoot camera around, but with dimensions of 3.82 x 1.42 x 2.48 inches and a weight of 4.9 oz, users shouldn’t be overwhelmed with casual carrying. That being said, this camera isn’t going to slide into a back pocket, although a coat pocket or a purse would both be fine. The camera is fairly light, although the AA batteries do add bulk to the body.

Handling Ability

The physical design of the camera doesn’t offer up innovations in ergonomics, instead providing users with a standard rectangular body with slight rounding to visually soften edges. The only grips on the camera come from a scalloped fan on the front and a depression on the back between the zoom and four-way control. Neither of these features actually contain any grip or texture, so users should be glad that the thicker frame is available for extra stability and handling. The microphone is unfortunately placed too close to the edge of the camera, a design decision that will allow fingers of the left hand to block or mute the audio feature.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size

The controls on the HP Photosmart M425 are limited, a decision which makes it less likely for point-and-shoot users to become confused by the physical interface. But with that said, the three buttons placed on the edge of the LCD frame, and the On/Off button placed on the transition point between the back of the camera and the top, are poorly shaped and too small to be controlled with any accuracy or grace. When we were actually able to remember where the On/Off button was located, it was still a problem to turn on due to its slight build. With the R-series, HP made control decisions which left users with large, well-labeled buttons, allowing for fast navigation of multiple menu structures. This model leaves the user struggling with such key features as the activation of flash settings, power, and printing menu. The other controls on the M425 are well sized.

**Menu
**The menu sections for the HP Photosmart M425 are accessed by several different controls, though the most obvious and well placed of them is the Menu/OK button in the middle of the four-way controller on the back of the camera. Once this button has been activated, the user will be able to enter into a list-style menu with full text descriptions. The menu structure is identical across all HP cameras released at CES 2006, though the menus for the M425 are truncated in comparison to other models.

The menu subsections appear as transparent and opaque bars overlaying a live view, so that users never miss a shot. There is only one live view provided when the user is manipulating manual controls; the Exposure Compensation control appears as a sliding scale in the center of the screen while the user is still within the menus. This live view will allow users to instantly see the impact that their image alterations have upon the shooting scene.

The user may also choose to enter the menu structure by pressing the up arrow on the four-way controller; it doubles as a shortcut to the Shooting Modes submenu located within the Capture menu. To enter into the Photosmart Express menu users must press the Photosmart Express button balanced on the edge of the LCD frame in a precarious and less than functional position. Once this is done, users have full access to HP printing and sharing capabilities. The menus cover pre-shot, postproduction, camera setup, help features and direct printing/sharing of images to PC, television and the Internet. The logic of the menu structure is simple, just like on the R927; however, the shift from a 3-inch LCD to a 1.7-inch LCD made comfortable reading difficult in poor lighting or at an odd angle.

Capture Menu - The Capture menu for the M425 allows users to manipulate the image settings prior to capturing them to either internal memory or memory card. These settings permit alteration of controls like image size and quality as well as the few manual controls that exist on this camera model. The Capture menu allows access to the following options: Shooting Mode, Image Quality, Date and Time Imprint, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, ISO and Exit. The only submenu that allows for live view of manual controls is the Exposure menu, while all other manual control settings immediately enter the user into another menu screen that has an opaque background.

*Design Gallery Menu *- The Design Gallery menu is far more truncated than the one found on the HP R-series. On the M425, users can control images with the following postproduction editing techniques: Remove Red-eye, Modify Color, Add Borders, Rotate, Record Audio, Move Images to Card and Exit. The record audio feature allows users to select specific digital still images and then record audio clips to accompany these images. The user will have to export these audio files to an external playing device though, since no internal speaker is available on the M425. The Design Gallery and Photo Express menus are intended to function as elements that would normally be found within a Playback menu.

Setup Menu - The Setup menu on the M425 is accessed by pressing the Menu/OK button and scrolling over from the Capture Menu section. The Setup menu controls parameters ranging to… well, setup. The settings included are: Display Brightness, Camera Sounds, Date and Time, USB Configuration, TV Configuration, Language and Exit.

Photo Express Menu - The Photo Express menu is entered by pressing the Photo Express button, inconveniently positioned on the edge of the LCD frame. This button opens the Photo Express menu, which allows users to select among post-capture options. This menu allows users to: Print, Buy Prints Online, Share Menu Set-up and Exit. The options found here, when combined with those offered in the Design Gallery menu, provide users with controls normally found in the Playback menu of most digital cameras. Separating these two features shouldn’t really slow down navigation, and in the case of printing and sharing images, should actually result in a swifter process.

Help Menu - The Help menu on the HP Photosmart M425 is one of the most extensive in-camera help options found for a camera within this point-and-shoot price range. For users uncomfortable with their new camera, this feature will be able to cover most basic shooting problems that they may encounter when shooting out in the field and when sharing images at home. This menu is entered by pressing the Menu/OK button located on the back of the camera body, and provides a list of the options, which can be selected to provide full text descriptions of their topics. The topics that are covered by the Help menu are as follows: Top Ten Tips, Camera Accessories, Camera Buttons, Using Shooting Modes, Sharing Images, Printing Images, Recording Audio Clips, Recording Video Clips, Reviewing Images and Video, Deleting Images, Transferring Images, Managing Batteries, Getting Assistance, About and Exit.

Ease of Use

The HP Photosmart M425 features a menu structure that is list-based and filled with help menus and thumbnails to provide unsure or beginning users an opportunity to further educate themselves on settings and image effect parameters which they may engage. The manual controls are limited, and those that exist are simple to understand thanks to the full text descriptions. Although White Balance doesn’t have a full manual mode, the preset options are provided with both a text description and a thumbnail image of a hypothetical situation where it may be engaged. The refresh rate for the LCD is markedly slow when switching between menus, and appears to drop frames.

Modes

Auto Mode

Auto Mode for the HP Photosmart M425 will actually provide users with both a full auto mode and access to manual controls. When shooting Auto mode, users will be able to access settings within the Capture menu which control Exposure Compensation, ISO, White Balance presets, Flash settings, Program modes like Sun and Beach, AF modes, Burst and Image Quality. Outside of the in-camera control features, users will find that they are able to alter flash settings via the flash button located above the LCD screen. Metering, Aperture and Shutter Speed are all automatically dictated, regardless of mode setting.

Movie Mode

When shooting in Movie mode, users will be able to shoot in QVGA resolution (which is at a resolution of 320 x 240), far from the full resolution attained by cameras in the R-series. This setting shoots at a rate of 30 frames per second according to HP representatives, which would provide smooth video, although we were not able to validate this statement at the time of this writing. Check back with us in the future for the full review of the M425. Movie mode records monaural audio simultaneously with video; however, it unfortunately is not capable of playing audio clips in-camera, due to the lack of an in-camera speaker. And unlike cameras within the R-series, the M425 will not be able to extract and save still images to memory card.

**Drive / Burst Mode
**The Burst Mode for the HP Photosmart M425 is found when the user enters the Shooting Mode menu. The shooting Mode menu is found within the Capture menu for the camera. Once the burst mode is selected, users will find a text description describing this feature. The M425 shoots at a rate of 2 frames per second for 3 frames, an acceptable rate considering the approximate $150 price range. The camera also features a Self Timer mode within this same menu structure, allowing users to set the camera for a 10 second delay.

**Playback Mode
**There is a Playback mode on the HP Photosmart M425, although not a specific Playback menu, so users will likely use two separate menu options to fully engage in playback capabilities. The Design Gallery menu provides opportunities to modify image colors, add borders, and rotate images. There is no cropping feature available with this camera model.

Still images and video clips may be displayed in either Multi-up or single frame viewing, and it is possible to use playback zoom when examining photos. That being said, digital zoom on a 1.7-inch LCD is hardly a process that will result in legible images. The camera is able to play back digital video clips although sound may not be heard unless the camera is connected to an external playing device, a distinct hassle when not at home. The user may remove red-eye during the playback process in addition to attaching audio clips to still images previously captured by the camera.

In addition to these image and audio additions and alterations, users will also be able to export, print, share, upload and save images via the Photo Express menu, which provides the opportunity for either direct print or upload of images onto the HP Snapfish website for other approved members and friends to view.

The playback mode is simple to navigate, and will be provide users with easy and basic image alteration processes prior to exportation of images from the camera’s memory sources.

**Custom Image Presets
**The preset shooting modes for the HP Photosmart M425 are located within the Shooting Modes submenu, located within the Capture menu. The Shooting Mode submenu appears on an opaque background and provides users with both explanations and thumbnail images of situations where these settings could be used. When shooting with the M425, users have access to settings which cover: Action, Auto, Beach and Snow, Burst, Fast Shot, Landscape, Macro, Night Portrait, Portrait, Self Timer, and Sunset. The shooting mode may be entered in two different ways. Users may choose to either enter the menu structure through the Menu/OK button, at which point they will need to scroll down and highlight the appropriate Shooting Mode submenu. A shortcut provided by HP allows users to merely press the up arrow on the four-way controller, bypassing the multiple menu interfaces to provide immediate access to the Shooting Mode options.

Control Options

**Manual Control Options
**The HP Photosmart M425 has a smattering of manual control settings; however, it is really intended for the point-and-shoot camera market. The camera provides control over Exposure Compensation, ISO settings and preset White Balance settings. The only one of these settings that provides users with a live view is the ISO mode, which produces a sliding scale overlaying a real time display.

Focus
*Auto Focus
*The Auto Focus settings for the M425 are the only focus controls that can be altered by the user. Auto Focus controls for the M425 are limited to Normal and Macro. To enter the camera into Macro mode, the user must switch the camera into the Capture menu and enter the Shooting Modes submenu. Once entered into this menu the Macro Mode setting will be listed along with a description of this feature. The autofocus worked fine; focusing time was acceptable and resulted in appropriate focal depths and subject frames.

*Manual Focus
*The user of the HP Photosmart M425 will need to rely solely upon the Auto Focus controls for the camera, since this model, expectedly, does not contain a manual focus setting. But seeing as how the R927, HP’s top-end model featured in the R-series, was equipped with a less than functional manual focus mode; the lack of this feature on the M425 isn’t a real loss.

**Metering
**The M-series does away with the manual control over metering modes that was available within the R-series, forcing users into relying entirely upon center-weighted auto exposure metering. This will be fine for evenly lit situations with proper light sources, but any situation with multiple light sources, backlighting, or other complicated lighting scenes will find this setting insufficient. The M425 is also missing the Adaptive Lighting feature that was found within the R-series.

**Exposure
**The Exposure Compensation settings for the M425 are located within the main Capture menu on the HP Photosmart M425. Once this setting is selected, a live view window is displayed with a horizontal EV Compensation scale in the center of the LCD screen. This scale has a range of +/-2 EV with 0.5 stop increments throughout the scale. This setting is controlled via the left and right arrows on the camera’s four-way controller. The shutter speeds and aperture settings for the M425 are controlled automatically and will provide users with a shutter speed range of 2 seconds to 1/1000 and aperture settings of f/2.8 to f/8 in wide and f/4.7 to f/7.6 in telephoto.

**White Balance
**White Balance settings for the HP Photosmart M425 are entirely composed of preset and auto shooting modes, which manage to cover basic situations. The lack of a manual white balance could be seen as detrimental, but for the point-and-shoot camera market, it may not be so important. The M425 has an auto mode and the following presets: Sun, Shade, Tungsten and Fluorescent. To access these settings the user must enter the Capture menu screen and select the White Balance setting. Once this setting has been selected, the White Balance submenu will appear on the LCD screen. This opaque screen provides each setting with a thumbnail image example and a text description of when this setting would be appropriate to select. The Help setting provides an overarching explanation of when manipulating White Balance settings would be feasible.

**ISO
**The ISO settings are one of the few controls that may be manually adjusted. The ISO range on the M425 is the same as that on all the cameras listed within the M and R-series released by HP this year. The ISO settings are located within the Capture menu and are placed within a submenu that offers an explanation and image examples of when this setting can be used. The ISO scale for the M425 allows users to select between Auto, 100, 200 and 400 ISO, which is a truncated scale within this price range when compared to other manufacturers’ offerings. An additional lower setting, like ISO 50 or 64, is common.

**Shutter Speed
**The shutter speed range on the M425 is identical to that found on the M527, though small when compared to the R-series. The M425’s shutter range is fully automatic and will produce images with shutter speeds varying from 1/1000 to 2 seconds. This range will cover well-lit situations, although darker scenes such as night shots may be underexposed. Users will need to manually adjust ISO levels or engage the flash.

**Aperture
**The aperture range, like the shutter speed, is fully automatic when shooting with both the M425 and the M527, another unsurprising decision considering the intended automatic market this is aimed toward. The aperture range for the M425 allows for settings of f/2.8 to f/8 in Wide, and f/4.7 to f7.6 when in Telephoto.

Image Parameters

**Picture Quality / Size Options
**The Image Quality settings for the HP Photosmart M425 are located within the main screen of the Capture menu which is opened by pressing the Menu/OK button on the back of the camera. The user can select among the following image quality settings: 5 MP Best, 5 MP Normal, 3 MP, 1 MP, and VGA. There is no 16:9 or 3:2 option, though the VGA size is small enough to email. Since it’s a basic point-and-shoot, it cannot capture RAW files, favors JPEGs instead, and offers no JPEG compression options.

**Picture Effects Mode
**The Picture Effects settings for the HP Photosmart M425 may be located within the Design Gallery submenu via the Menu/OK button on the back of the camera. Once this menu has been entered, users are able to select from a list of offerings that are far more extensive on the R-series released by HP this week at CES 2006. The M425 provides users with several color effects options as well as the new Add Borders feature.

The Color Effects menu allows users to process images with digital effects prior to uploading, sharing or printing images with settings for Black and White, Sepia, and Black and White Tints. Also available within the Design Gallery menu is the Add Borders submenu, which is fairly self-explanatory. The Add Borders feature allows users to view a thumbnail of their image while they scroll thru a list of options, each being displayed on the image as it is highlighted. When the proper border has been selected, users press OK and the border is set. The Add Borders menu for the M425 allows users to select between the following border formats: Soft Edge, Inset Border, Oval, Circle, Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle and Square. However, users are unable to control the border size and often this setting cropped far too much of the image. There is also a bizarre system in which a border color is automatically chosen by the camera, instead of allowing users to choose for themselves. Users may find the camera’s ineffable color palette to stray from the flattering and appealing qualities they perhaps hoped for. While an interesting idea, this feature still seems to be in an early stage, and performs adequately at best.

Connectivity / Extras

Connectivity
*Software
*The HP Photosmart M425 is intended, like all the cameras being released at CES 2006 within the R and M-series, to be able to function autonomously from PC editing software. This means that many of the features once found only within editing software programs are now finding their way into the menu interfaces of the latest HP releases. That being said, the M425 is by far the least equipped of any of the cameras released, with no Artistic Effects settings found in full on the R-series and in partial form on the M527. There is still slight manipulation of color settings like black and white, black and white tint, and sepia settings. The Add Borders menu is still there, although this feature tended to produce results that were below par.

The M425 luckily comes with HP Photosmart software, which enables the user to go beyond the limited in-camera options. In case uploading to Snapfish, printing, or sharing images to up to 34 destinations is needed, the camera is able to perform these functions without using a software program. The Photo Express button located on the back of the camera is able to immediately select, share and print images as requested by the user. This feature should greatly expedite the process of sharing images from point-and-shoot digital cameras.
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*Jacks, Ports, Plugs
*The HP Photosmart M425 features two ports behind a port cover on the left side of the camera body. This gray rubber port cover isn’t made of the sturdiest material, and the hinge point between its top edge seems to separate easily. Underneath it users will find access to the DC in port and the USB port for the camera. On the bottom of the camera, users will find a plastic tripod mount and another port cover. This one is constructed out of the same plastic as the camera body and is both durable and lockable. When this port cover is popped open, users will be able to replace the AA batteries and insert, or remove, the SD memory card.

Direct Print Options

Printing control options are located via the Photo Express button positioned on the back of the M425. This button allows immediate access to an in-camera menu which enables the user to engage in direct printing, connection to the Internet for the sharing of images online via Snapfish, or connection to televisions, personal computers or printers via optional wireless or cabled docking devices which may be purchased separately from the camera. There is a rotation function available while images are still in-camera, a feature accessed by entering the Design Gallery menu.

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Battery
**The HP Photosmart M425 is powered by AA batteries positioned underneath a port cover on the bottom of the camera. These batteries add to the overall weight, especially when contrasted with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The use of quick-dying AA batteries will also mean that backups should be carried at all times. The camera does have a DC in port on its left side underneath a light gray rubber port cover, a place it shares with the USB port.

*Memory
*The M425 comes with 16 MB of internal memory, which will store a reported maximum of 8 shots. This is hardly enough space to be functional for most users. With this in mind, consumers will need to purchase an optional SD memory card. The SD memory card slot is located beneath the same port cover which protects and stores the AA batteries, on the M425’s bottom side. The port cover door appears to be well built with a sturdy hinge, and should be able to handle being opened and closed on a constant basis.

Other Features
*Help Features *-There are Help features all over this camera, a great advantage to the unsure point-and-shoot user who doesn’t want to carry a user manual everywhere they go. The help menus are concise, with well laid out explanations of features and settings found in just about every area of the camera. Adding to these help submenus, users will also find an extensive Help menu located when the user scrolls over from the main Capture menu.

Snapfish - This website, run by HP, allows users to upload, select, print and share images with approved members and friends, all for a nominal monthly or annual fee. This site offers the opportunity for users to upload both still and digital video clips to the Internet, all through the Photo Express menu located externally on the back of the camera.

Overall Impressions

 
Value

The M425 by HP comes with a 5 MP CCD, a small 1.7-inch LCD, and stripped down controls primarily intended to satisfy users who don’t want to deviate far from pure point-and-shoot use. The M425 has a logical menu structure, expansive help menus and a few in-camera digital effects, although not nearly the number found on HP's R-series. Additional resources such as wireless docks make this camera more desirable, however they are not included and it raises the price beyond its very reasonable $149 price range. For a straightforward point-and-shoot camera, the HP M425 doesn’t disappoint on first glance, although both visually and in terms of controls, it doesn’t set itself apart. However, that help menu really is very comprehensive. Check back for the full review to see how this inexpensive camera stands up to a price point already chock full of similar controls and system options.

**Who It’s For
***Point-and-Shooters* - This camera is definitely intended for the point-and-shoot crowd, offering simple menus, full auto modes, and great help menus.

Budget Consumers -The M425 has a proposed retail price of around $149 and should fall nicely into the budget market.

Gadget Freaks - There isn’t really a feature on here that would compel the gadget freak to take a closer look; unassuming design and lack of controls or add-ons make this a stripped down auto camera for the lower-end point-and-shoot or budget markets. The help menus are a bit unusual, but gadget freaks are not the Help menu type.

Manual Control Freaks - Like the gadget freak, the manual control enthusiast will not find a satisfying option in this camera.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists - The pro and serious hobbyist will not need to turn to the M425 for their photography needs. That consumer base and this camera are not meant to be aligned.

Conclusion

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Conclusion**

With an understated and standard design, HP's M425 is a basic point-and-shoot 5 MP digital camera that will provide its users with an opportunity to shoot, alter, and share images, all while never moving outside the camera. The intensive Help menus will provide unsure or beginning users with a myriad of opportunities to learn and advance as camera users, even if the camera doesn’t have a large number of manual controls. The 1.7-inch LCD is undersized, even for this price range, and some control buttons are awkwardly placed, making continuous operation a hassle in the long run.

That being said, the menu structure is well designed and easy to navigate, with lists of options labeled with clear headings. With an ability to load images onto Snapfish, a website hosted and run by HP, users are able to immediately transfer images from camera to the web, allowing friends and approved members to view photos and digital video clips.

The Design Gallery features on this camera are just like the color modification settings found on most digital cameras within this price range, and the border feature isn’t adept enough to truly stand out as a marketable feature. The lack of manual controls beyond Exposure Compensation and ISO creates clear limitations on the camera, but the inclusion of a well-rounded preset Shooting Mode menu helps provide snapshooters with some shooting flexibility. 

With a price of around $149, consumers looking for an unassuming, standard, straightforward point-and-shoot camera could certainly do worse, and the HP Photosmart M425 manages to hold its own within this reasonably saturated entry price level. It will be interesting to see if HP can do better than merely hold its own when given a full review with testing of speed, color, noise and resolution. Check back in the near future to see how this model and HP's R-series cameras perform when placed under rigorous image testing.