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It is 9.5x6x3cm and weights only just over 200grams. It is surprisingly easy to use even for a novice, there are three buttons on the top, shutter, movie shutter and mode selector. The rear has a 3.5x3cm TFT display that can be used to frame images for shooting or you can use the conventional viewfinder.

A simple slider turns the unit on/off, a semi circular toggle moves from wide angle to telephoto and the now all but obligatory five position circular button controls most functions and settings. Around the right side and top right edge of the TFT are five buttons that give quick access to certain features like viewing stored images.

The base has a door that hides the lithium-ion battery and SD card (should you use one) input point for optional docking station and tripod screw point. The right side has an attachment point for the supplied wrist strap while the left side has a rubber bung to cover AC input and mini USB.

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I was rather surprised to find that the unit is only supplied with internal memory,  32MB stated to hold between 10 and 200 images dependant on size and compression, however it also accepts SD cards and a couple of simple clicks on the five position button allows you to transfer any stored images to an SD card.

The 3x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent 8-24mm) is well protected when the unit is turned off, this is essential as by default the unit is not supplied with a case and I think this is an own goal. I was sent both the optional cases and the simplest black fabric case should – as far as I am concerned – be supplied it has a belt loop and even a small zipped pocket for spare card etc. The front has a small magnet meaning that it just falls shut in use. However the R717 fits very snugly inside as it is only very slightly smaller than the fabric case.

I mentioned the camera dock, nice easy to use but again an extra, not that essential especially if you use an SD card as images can be quickly transferred by a card reader.

I tend to visit London around once a week and I always take my camera, while I was testing this HP offering I was quite happy to take that in the black fabric case. I take lots of images, most get examined at home and quietly dumped unless they are something different or unusual. Some of the images look quite good and these I tend to save and when reviewing printers blow parts of them up to larger sizes to check depth of field.

I took some images of Big Ben early one evening from Parliament Square getting most of one side in the image even from that distance was not easy. The sun glinted giving some nice effects so it was saved. During several recent printer reviews I have used a small portion of the image from the clock up and the images look great even when printed A4 borderless. Just to prove something I took this HP camera image and printed it on an Epson printer (reviewed 13/07/05) and printed it on Canon paper, truly excellent just the sort of cross manufacturer cooperation that would not be approved of. However the depth of field really shows up with close up's like this, excellent.

Now if HP provided say a 64MB SD card and the black fabric case this would get very high marks. The stated price is £163.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF06b/5043-5683-5887-5887-5751003-11601729-15499415.html