The PhotoSmart R817 is equipped with a Pentax 5x optical zoom lens, 5.8 - 29 mm (equivalent to 36-180mm on 35mm camera). Its aperture range is f2.4 - f8 in wide angle, f4.7 - f7.6 in telephoto, and the auto focus range is from 0.5m to infinity (wide angle) and 0.6m to infinity (telephoto). Macro mode covers from 0.12m to 1m (wide) and Super Macro covers from 0.03m to 0.2m (wide). There is also a 8x digital zoom feature.

The lens extends when powered up and when powered down it is retracted back flush to the body and protected by a built-in lens cap. There are no filter threads or any other visible means of attaching anything to the lens.

The Built-in auto-adjusting flash has modes for Auto, Forced Off, Auto w/Red-Eye, Forced On, and Night.

Flash working distance: Wide - ISO Speed set to Auto: 3.8 meters (12.5 feet)
Telephoto - ISO Speed set to Auto: 2.1 meters (6.9 feet)

Controls on the back: At the top is the ON/OFF switch, the LED to the left indicates camera ready and image processing. To the right is the Zoom control, which in playback mode it brings up the thumbnail index and magnifies an image. The Menu/OK button calls up the onscreen menu system and accepts selections. The 4-way selector is for navigating menus and selecting pictures for playback.

Buttons below the LCD: The Flash button changes the flash mode. The Macro/MF (Flower/Manual Focus) button selects between different focus settings. The Selftimer/Burst button allows you to select between Normal, Self-timer, Self-timer - 2 shots, and burst modes. The Camera button is Record mode, the blue Arrow button is for Playback mode.

Controls on the top: the Mode button changes between Auto, Action, Landscape, Portrait, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Aperture Priority, Shutter priority, Panorama, Document, Theatre and My Mode. A handy feature that we've seen on other PhotoSmart cameras, a separate shutter release for capturing still images and movie clips. No need to bring up a menu or flip a mode dial when you want to capture a movie, just press the small shutter button.

The PhotoSmart R817 comes with 32MB of internal memory and is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) cards up to 2GB. It's also compatible with MMC (MultiMedia) type cards.

The only I/O port is the docking connector on the bottom. The R817 comes with this small docking cradle that has a jack for the AC adapter/battery charger and the USB 1.1 connector. The USB cable can also be directly connected to any PictBridge printer for computerless-printing.

The PhotoSmart R817 is powered by the proprietary HP R07 Li-ion rechargeable battery. Battery life is 100 shots minimum, 190 shots maximum but was rated at 250 shots by CIPA standards.

Maximum recharging time is 4-6 hours via the supplied docking cradle.

The optional HP R-series Camera Dock includes a R07 rechargeable Li-ion battery and can charge both the in-camera and another battery simultaneously. It comes with an AC adapter, which allows you to leave one at home and take the other one along with you into the field.

The buttons on the front of the dock let you quickly download images to the computer or display a slide show on your TV set. The dock can be placed on top of your TV set and you can control playback with the included remote control.

The HP R-series Dock has I/O connectors for DC in from the AC adapter, video/audio out to television, and a USB port to connect to a computer or printer (cables included.)

Take your R817 or R818 safely out into any weather condition, to the beach, the ski slopes or under water to a depth of up to 30M with the optional Photosmart Underwater Case.