Samsung L73 First Impressions Review

by Richard Baguley
Published on January 08, 2007

Navigation
Intro	Physical Tour
Components	Design / Layout
Modes	Control Options
Image Parameters	Connectivity / Extras
Overall Impressions	Conclusion

 

Auto Mode
The auto mode of the L73 automates most of the features of the camera. In auto mode, the only user-controllable options are the color mode, brightness, the auto focus mode, flash and the image size.

Movie Mode
Movie clips can be recorded in a number of resolutions: 800 x 592, 720 x 480, 640 x 480 and 320 x 240. The frame rate ranges from 30 to 15 frames per second, but the two largest resolutions restricts the frame rate to 15 frames per second and 20 frames per second. The files are stored as MPEG-4 files, and the maximum length of the movie clip is only restricted by the amount of storage space. We weren’t able to test the quality of the video or audio that the L73 captured.

Drive/Burst Mode
Samsung did not supply a figure for the number of frames per second that the L73 can capture, and the pre-production unit we tested couldn’t manage more than a frame a second. However, Samsung was quick to point out that it is a pre-production unit that wasn’t running the final software, so this figure could improve significantly on the final version. Modes for single image, continuous, auto bracketing and motion capture are offered. The latter will take an image when the camera detects motion in the frame. This is useful for capturing nocturnal animals or the midnight phantom cookie eater.

Playback Mode
The playback mode is relatively straightforward, offering a single image view, 9-image thumbnail view and a slideshow view. Some basic image editing tools are also offered. Images can be trimmed, resized, rotated or have basic color effects (such as converting to black and white) applied. There are no options for adding music to slideshows or other fancy features, but most people won’t use these, so they are no great loss.

Custom Image Presets
A basic, but adequate, selection of scene modes are offered, including the usual suspects: Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Text, Sunset , Dawn Backlight Fireworks and Beach and Snow are available from the scene setting of the mode dial. The Automatic Shock Reduction mode of the camera bumps up the ISO and shutter speed to try and minimize camera shake, but we weren’t able to test this feature at the CES show. The Wise Shot mode is also an interesting idea and much like Fuji's Available Light and With Flash mode. It takes one photo with ASR enabled, then another with the flash turned on, so you get both options with one press of the shutter. The user can then choose which image they want to keep.