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Samsung SL420

First Impressions Review

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Components

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Modes

Model Design / Appearance
Nobody invested heavily in creating a distinctive design for this model, though the rounded edges and brushed metal body are pleasing to the eye.

Size and Handling
At 3.7 x 2.32 x 0.9 inches (94mm x 59mm x 23.7mm), the SL420 feels substantial in your hand, with enough depth to comfortably hold top and bottom between thumb and forefinger of each hand. It is simple enough to grasp the cmaera securely without obscuring any of the controls or the flash, so the basics are covered.


We found the SL420 simple enough to hold steadily.

Menu

The menu system looks great on-screen, very easy to read and navigate. A row of categories appears on the lefthand side, and after choosing the appropriate section by moving vertically, a horizontal press o n the four-way controller moves the user into that set of options.

Pressing the FN button brings up a separate sub-menu with the most frequently used controls within a particular camera mode. FN brings displays just two choices in Auto mode, and six in Program mode.

Another interesting menu choice is the Photo Help Guide. Ths is not a functional tool so much as a well-organized in-camera user manual. Common problems encountered by beginners are listed in a text menu - reducing camera shake, for example, or adjusting the brightness of a photo - and suggested tools and techniques are shown on-screen when a category is chosen.
 
Nobody reads manuals, but they just might read the camera itself.

Ease of Use
There are a few features that require a bit of thinking to grasp the concept and then use effectively, such as the Photo Style Selector (see below), but overall we found the menus straightforward, the controls well labeled and positioned, and the automation systems up to the task.

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Features

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Samsung SL420
First Impressions Review

Previous: Page 2

Components

Previous: Page 4

Modes