I Got a New Toy!

This is a repeat of a FaceBook post from earlier...

I got a new toy!

Here in Vancouver I had encountered a second-hand electronics store, it looked pretty interesting, although on my one "serious" visit they didn't have what I wanted...
Then, one day I swung by their old location and they were gone! Well, Dang!
But then I heard that they had moved, so today as I was bouncing around doing "stuff" I stopped in...

Like I said, they are second-hand and really didn't have much that really interested me. So I started to head out and glanced down at a box on their counter, and saw in the pile of stuff in there a little pocket camera, not a tiny "Point and Shoot", but a compact camera that had been put out by my former employer Hewlett Packard (HP)!

I asked a few questions, it seemed to be in pretty good shape, the manager guy said "ten dollars", I said hmm...and then he said "I'll give it to you for five dollars!" So, money exchanged hands and I left with a new toy!

I've played with it a bit, the good news is I don't need new "stuff" to use it and though it's old (2005) and only 5 MegaPixels, well, still it's my new toy!

I haven't gotten to take any "serious" photos, just a few of the household dog and cats, I'm not up to posting them yet, but it's been fun!

I used to work for HP as well (HP Canada head office) and my dad had an old HP camera. Similar to yours, I think it was around 5MP, maybe even less (3.5 maybe?).

Weird how HP got into different markets like TV, camera, tablets etc. then quickly got out of them. Are they still making money or are they hurting these days?

I had an HP camera that wasnt even a full megapixel.

Kind of a cool story Tony. I like finding random stuff as well and especially as in your case at a place you once had a working relationship with.
Hopefully you will post of of the photos you end up taking. Knowing your abilities, I am sure even at 5 MP, the photos will look superb.

JoseCanseco wrote in post #16793197
I used to work for HP as well (HP Canada head office) and my dad had an old HP camera. Similar to yours, I think it was around 5MP, maybe even less (3.5 maybe?).

Weird how HP got into different markets like TV, camera, tablets etc. then quickly got out of them. Are they still making money or are they hurting these days?

The funny thing is, I've had HP compact cameras that were more "advanced" than this one, (such as having IS and more manual controls). I just saw some photos of mine from '03 shot with the HP photosmart C850 which was only about 4MP, but like I said it had IS and more manual controls. In that sense it was a lot like using the Canon SxIS compact cameras I used to shoot with, although mine eventually reached 6MP!

Awesome find!

I just recently found my first digital camera after losing it for years.

It's an RCA 1.5 MP. and it's about the size of a brick, can't help but laugh as i look at it.

Sadly, i actually stopped using my 35mm EOS G film camera after i got this thing, not sure what i was thinking back then.

Nice post! I actually worked for HP down in San Diego while they were still developing these cameras. As another poster stated, they actually started out under 1MP - if you can believe that. Pretty amazing how technology has advanced. It's great to see a post about 'my new toy' that isn't someone bragging about an 8K lens they just purchased. Goes to show you can still enjoy the little things in life

As far as HP goes, as a company they are doing much better with stock prices rising quite a bit recently. They've gone back to their roots of focusing on printers and computers - both of which have some of the top reliability scores.

My first digital camera was an HP. I think it was 3MP or so. I got some nice shots with it for 3-4 years before my XTI replaced it.

bberg wrote in post #16797502
Nice post! I actually worked for HP down in San Diego while they were still developing these cameras. As another poster stated, they actually started out under 1MP - if you can believe that. Pretty amazing how technology has advanced. It's great to see a post about 'my new toy' that isn't someone bragging about an 8K lens they just purchased. Goes to show you can still enjoy the little things in life

As far as HP goes, as a company they are doing much better with stock prices rising quite a bit recently. They've gone back to their roots of focusing on printers and computers - both of which have some of the top reliability scores.

I haven't kept track of HP in recent years, but the high-level printers look good. And then, I've used HP laptops over the years...they are fine until something bad happens and they die...

And then I don't know how the HP intranet is going...I remember back in the "old days" when we "lived" in Unix and our corporate network was globally connected before the "Cloud" was a term!

Cool to see some fellow ex-HP-ites! I started with Compaq and kept my job through the merger when HP took over. I use an HP laptop for my current job and aside from the battery only lasting about 40 mins, it's held up pretty well.

Have you had a chance to take any pics with it Tony?

I've only gotten a handful of shots, the weather hasn't been very cooperative any time I've had the motivation...

Today sucked, though, the weather had cleared this afternoon, and I decided to get out on my bicycle, and got out to a little old local cemetery, I stopped and enjoyed a bit of the sunshine, then realized I had neglected to bring the camera!

I will say that when the camera is focused properly the results can be pretty pleasing! My "subjects" for the handful of shots I've done have been the household dog and cats, and it does have a working Macro mode which seems to do well, but hey, my play has barely begun!

5MP...5MP...Tony, you really need to get back on your meds.

chauncey wrote in post #16806512
5MP...5MP...Tony, you really need to get back on your meds.

Tony lives in Washington state, so we know what "meds" he's on. That same with Colorado, as you well know.

Is it weird that I came into this thread expecting to see an 800mm or ferrari?

chauncey wrote in post #16806512
5MP...5MP...Tony, you really need to get back on your meds.

20droger wrote in post #16807372
Tony lives in Washington state, so we know what "meds" he's on. That same with Colorado, as you well know.

You guys are so funny I forgot to, umm, what is it I forgot to do??...

Jarvis Creative Studios wrote in post #16807381
Is it weird that I came into this thread expecting to see an 800mm or ferrari?

Hey, those things aren't toys, they're SERIOUS, just give me one and I'll show you!

Now as to pictures with the toy, well, my first two shots were with "Light Challenges":

The dog indoors using the little flash: