Kodak divides its
digital camera line-up into 3 groups: the CX series, simple to
use point and shoot cameras; the DX series, also compact cameras
but which offer more advanced functions; and the LX series, cameras
with features like scene modes, and a high-end metal finish.
The Kodak LS743 is equipped with a 4 megapixel CCD and an optical
zoom embossed with the famous Schneider-Kreuznack name.
The LS743 is extremely elegant,
completely metal clad, and fitted with little LEDs that blink
while the camera is powered on and turn on during some operations.
The LS743 is a very compact and well-crafted camera that has few protuberances
aside from its 2.8X zoom that extends 2 cm (0.8 inch) when the camera is
powered on.
There are few external controls on
the LS743. The top of the camera supports, starting from the
left, the power switch which lights up blue when the camera
is turned on. To its left, two thin slits cover the LS743's speaker.
Next comes the button
which serves to control the Flash Modes: Auto, Forced Off, Fill-in
or Red-eye Reduction.
It is followed by a 2-stage
elongated shutter release that provides auto focus and
auto exposure lock when held at mid-course.
Last and closer to the front of the camera is a wheel control referred
to as a Jog Dial which serves to select the capture modes of the
LS743, and which can be clicked like a mouse wheel to confirm the selection
of one of the capture modes.
A total of 15 capture modes are available
to the user, of which 9 are Scene modes that can be accessed
when the camera is set to the SCN position.
Auto: turns the LS743
into an easy to use point and shoot. The camera handles everything,
but the user can change a number of settings (sensitivity,
metering, focus). However all changes are lost when the camera
is powered off.
Portrait: the camera uses
a wide aperture to blur the background (the effect is more
pronounced if the zoom is used), and fires the flash in Fill-in
mode and at low power to lessen shadows and make the subject
stand out.
Close-up: a Macro mode,
allows the LS743 to focus on a subject from 5cm to 1 m distant
(2 to 39 inches) when the zoom is at the wide angle end,
or 30cm to 1m (11.7 to 39 inches) when the lens is at the
telephoto end.
Once set to this mode, a specific
Scene mode can be chosen with the 4-direction control on
the back of the camera (see further):
Night: for
night time photos, or for use when the ambient
light is poor. The flash defaults to Auto mode,
but can be turned off.
Night Portrait:
uses flash with red-eye reduction to capture
the foreground, and a slow shutter speed to capture
the background.
Sport: gives
priority to a fast shutter speed to freeze action.
Landscape:
focus is set to infinity and the flash is turned
off as a default. It can however be turned on.
Snow: for
use with bright snow scenes. Exposure compensation
is set to prevent overexposure.
Beach: as
with the Snow scene mode, the LS743 sets exposure
compensation to avoid overexposure.
Party: starts
the flash in red-eye reduction mode.
Self portrait:
sets the camera to wide angle, macro mode and
sets the flash to red-eye reduction mode.
Manner/Museum:
disables flash and sounds so the camera can be
used in quiet surroundings.
Video: allows capturing
MPEG 4 video with sound at either a frame size of 320 x 240
pixel (QVGA) at 20 frames per second, or at a frame size
of 640 x 480 (VGA) at 13 frames per second. During video
recording, the optical zoom is deactivated but exposure and
white balance are dynamically adjusted. The length of video
recordings are determined by the capacity of the memory card
in use. It is however possible to pre select a maximum recording
length (5, 15 or 30 seconds).
Favourites: to view images
that have been tagged as Favourites(see the Characteristics section
of the review).
All the other controls of the
LS743 are on the back, arranged on either side of the 1.8 inch
134,000 pixel LCD monitor.
The 4-way controller is on the right of the monitor, and a water drop shaped
zoom control is fitted around it. And, unlike many other digital cameras,
the zoom control has no other function besides controlling the optical
zoom. The 4-way button serves to navigate menus and confirm selections
when pressed in at the centre.
The 4-way controller also has
some additional functions:
In the capture modes and in playback, the up arrow
controls the information superimposed on the screen
With Auto, Portrait and Macro modes, the down arrow
starts exposure compensation (±2 EV in 0.5 EV increments)
and the right/left arrows allow modifying the compensation.
With the Scene modes the right/left serve to select
the Scene program. In playback, pressing the down arrow
presents thumbnails of the images in memory (9 per screen).
In the capture mode, pressing the OK button (pressing
the 4-way controller straight in) turns On or Off the LCD
monitor. In playback that same button serves to magnify
an image shown on the monitor (2X the 4X).
Finally, on the left of the LCD monitor, a row of 4 buttons
complete the external controls:
The Delete button at the top can be used to erase
one or all images in memory.
Next, the Menu button serves to call up the menu
related to the mode in use.
Further down is the Review button which puts the
LS743 into Playback mode.
Last, the Share button, is the access to the EasyShare functions
of the camera. They are explained in the Characteristics section
of the review.
The LS743 is sleek, and obviously well-crafted. Its controls are simple
and easy to use, and even the small 4-way controller works reliably.
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Ergonomics
button
which serves to control the Flash Modes: Auto, Forced Off, Fill-in
or Red-eye Reduction. 
