The interface of the L700 is much
like the camera itself: easy to figure out, with information
clearly presented on the periphery of the screen so that it
does not obstruct the view of the subject. Worth noting, once
the shutter release is pressed halfway, the interface always
shows the selected aperture and shutter speed, irrespective
of the mode in use. The Program mode, the most advanced and
the most flexible mode, further adds a quick access menu that
allows changing the way colour is recorded, the ISO sensitivity,
the white balance and the exposure compensation without having
to enter the menu.
The menu system is coloured and bright, using uniform colour
backgrounds to the options that offer a good contrast and
improves legibility. Options are presented at the top of the
screen, and each of their settings appear below the currently
highlighted option. The system is simple, quick, and almost
error-proof. The Setup menu — the access to which is
always present in all modes — offers a slightly different
presentation since its options are presented on the left and
their current setting on the right, but remains just as legible.
The Setup menu contains the basic settings for the L700:
File: serves to decide if the file names
assigned to photos, movies and sound recordings are numbered
in series, or restart at 1 when the memory or a memory card
is formatted.
Power Off: selects the automatic shut down delay
of the L700 when the camera is inactive (1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes).
Format: to format the internal memory, or a memory
card.
Date & Time: to set the internal clock and
calendar of the L700 and select the date format (DD/MM/YY,
MM/DD/YY, YY/MM/DD).
World Time: to set the time zone in which the camera
is currently located.
Imprint: to select whether or not the
time and date are permanently superimposed on the images
or not.
AF Lamp: decides whether or not the
AF Assist lamp comes on automatically when the ambient light
is insufficient for the auto focus to operate reliably.
Sound: to set the operation volume of the camera
(Off, Low, Medium, High).
USB: serves to select the USB protocol
of the L700:
Computer: allows connecting the camera
to a computer and having its memory recognized as a
removable hard disk.
Printer: to connect the L700 to a
PictBridge compatible printer so photos
can be printed directly from the camera, by-passing
the need for a computer.
LCD: to adjust the LCD monitor's brightness (Dark,
Normal, Bright).
Video Out: NTSC or PAL.
Quick Review: decides how long the image is shown
on the monitor immediately post-capture (0.5, 1, 3 seconds
or Off)
Reset: returns all settings to their
factory defaults with the exception of the interface language,
date and time, and video out.
In North America the L700 is retailed with a short printed manual
in English and in Spanish, as well as a fold-out intended to
allow using the camera quickly. While the manual is well-written,
it contains only basic information and occasionally could be
more in-depth and better organized.
Software
Thee Samsung L700 is supplied with
a single CD that contains the following programs:
Digimax Master for Microsoft Windows (only for 98, 98
SE, 2000, ME and XP)
USB driver
Xvid codec to view movies captured in MPEG-4.
Digimax Master is an image
browser that opens a window with tools at the top, the computer's
folder in a window below, and presents the contents of the
currently selected folder on the right, using thumbnails whose
sizes can be increased or decreased at will.
Moreover, with an image selected from the thumbnails, its
shooting date can be displayed in an area below the folders.
The tools offered at the top of
the screen allow changing the orientation of an image or a
group of images, deleting images, sending them by e-mail, printing
a selected photo, or viewing them as a slide show.
Digimax Master also offers
some advanced image editing tools, but to access these tools,
the image must first be opened in a new window.
The window pane on the left offers a great number of advanced
tools to edit photos, including options to add text, make
geometric selections or use a lasso to freely select areas
to correct. Tools are offered to resize images, trim them,
rotate or invert, straighten the horizon, or even use them
as wallpapers or calendars.
Furthermore, images can be
corrected for noise, scratches, and dust. Brightness can also
be adjusted, as well as tone, saturation, exposure, tint, sharpness,
and red-eye. In addition, the program supports cloning, a powerful
correction tool.
Beyond these, tools are provided to deform images, add artistic
effects or textures, and what is remarkable is that all these
corrections can be limited to areas defined by the geometric
or lasso selection tools.
This is an excellent program and it deserves to be fully
explored.
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Interface & Software
