Samsung L73 First Impressions Review

Model Design/Appearance
The L73 takes some obvious cues from Samsung’s high end NV cameras, with a similar matte black finish and blue highlights. That’s a good thing, because the design works well. It has a clean, stylish look that would go well with most of your outfits. The case is metal and feels well constructed; it should stand up to the knocks and whacks of everyday life without problems.

Size/Portability
At just over 5 ounces and 0.8 inches thick, the L73 is a portable camera that would slide easily into a coat pocket. The lens protrudes very slightly from the front but not enough that it would get caught on anything.

Handling
Like most compact cameras, the L73 is a mixed bag. Although the raised grip on the front of the camera provides plenty of grip for the fingers of the right hand, I found that my fingertips sometimes slipped in front of the flash, that is located right next to and above the grip. Although apart from this, the camera handles well and generally feels comfortable in the hand.

Control Button/ Dial Positioning/ Size
The L73 takes a different approach to controls than most. Rather than dedicated buttons for controlling features like focus mode and ISO, it’s all done through the on-screen menu and the Smart Touch system. This does take a bit of getting used to. Instead of using buttons and control dials, you press the buttons to select an option and slide your fingers over the buttons to move sliders and scroll through menus. It’s a different approach to most, but it works well.

In the easy mode, you only get the following options from the on-screen menu: 

Color	Changes White balance, from cool to warm
Brightness	Controls brightness
Auto Focus	Normal, Auto Macro
Flash	Red Eye Fix, Red Eye Off,
Image Size	Sets image size