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Details at a glance
Megapixels: 6
Zoom: 3x (opt), 5x (dig)
LCD screen: 2.4 inch
Storage: SD/MMC (23mb int)
Size: 96.9 x 56.8 x 20.5mm
Weight: 129.5g
(full details at bottom of the page)
We clicked with
Depth of features, fun extras, superb software
Shots in the dark
Fiddly buttons, occasionally lacklustre prints, menu system
Links
More Samsung information
www.samsung.co.uk
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The Samsung L60 offers a neat, no-nonsense design. However, underneath the plain façade and interface, there are a whole raft of additional features one doesn't expect to find in the depths of the menu. This is a next generation offering which is quick and feature packed.
Appearance and controls
The L60 comes in a small aluminium case. It has a conventional button layout: shutter and power buttons live on the top of the camera. On the back and to the right of the 2.4 inch screen are 7 other controls. Starting at the top, the L60 has a zoom in / out switch, the still / movie mode selector, the effects button, edit / erase button, the multifunction compass (4 way rocker switch), menu / approve button and finally image review. Beware, because the buttons are very small and almost flush with the case of the camera. The compass button is especially fiddly, and owners of large thumbs might find this a handful. Operating it can also be confusing because the up/down control operates more than 3 different sets of features - accessing the screen menu, audio clips and macro mode. Expert pianists will find this a doddle, the rest of us mere mortals will take longer to acclimatise. Equally, the movie / camera mode switch is a convenient idea. Also the image recall button, which powers up the screen without extending the lens is sensible and a power-saver.
Other complications with the interface can occur when it's not very clear which mode the camera is in - enter movie mode by pressing the movie button at the top of the camera and then press the menu button and you will see what I mean: the user is offered an array of features related to still photography. However, generally the Samsung L60 makes good use of the big screen and manages to navigate the user through a sophisticated set of features. Audio capture and movie mode were seamless. It is a quick camera too- fast to take pictures, review and power up.
One note on display. The 2.4 inch screen can produce an orange cast with indoor lighting and is difficult to view in strong sunlight.
The tabbed menu compliments the large screen. However, with mode set, mode, size, quality, on-screen display, “mycam”, and set-up tabs all in the same tabbed menu view, it is difficult to distinguish between camera features and setup features. There are definitely easier cameras to learn.
Advanced features
The special effects - found in program mode - are another reason this camera will take you a while to master- there's plenty to choose from. The effects include tint, highlight, composite and frames. The frames option features some playful cartoon-type surrounds and the composite feature enables the user to put several shots onto the same photo. Continuous shooting mode benefits from the fast processing speed of this camera, with a zippy turnaround for great action shots. Lastly, the Samsung L60 comes with an advanced movie mode 640 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second, with video output from the camera. (Remember this feature only really comes in to its own with a 512 MB or larger secure digital card.) Overall, Samsung's L60 successfully packs a lot of features into a small package, weighing only 129g- the only disadvantage being that there are cameras which will take visibly better pictures.
Software/ Documentation
This software loaded without any trouble and proved unexpectedly capable. It automatically found the images on my hard drive. The menu system didn't clutter up the screen, allowing me to easily view the pictures at full
size. It's excellent software with a full feature set; yet not too intrusive or full of added extras. Digimax Master has a drawing tab like Adobe Photoshop Elements plus a really good selection of Adjust and Retouch tools. You also get a full printed instruction manual with the L60; something we wish all manufacturers did.
Who will buy…?
This camera suits a fun experimenter. The buttons are small and fidgety, so try the camera first and see if you are comfortable with it. The software is very good and the built-in montage features - such as the custom frames and composite offer great “scrap book” fun (ideal for kids).
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The range of built-in features and the fast processor in this camera also offer a talented photographer decent point-and-shoot opportunities. All in all, it also represents good value for money (PC World £149) But, the prints are not the best, although the colour and sharpness are decent. For the money, the Samsung L60 is, while not perfect, an amusing box of tricks.
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Samsung L60 specs
| Mega-pixels: | 6 |
Photo: | JPEG |
| Optical Zoom: | 5x |
RAW: | No |
| Digital Zoom: | 8x |
Aperture: | F/2.8-4.9 |
| LCD: | 2.5 inch |
Focal Length: | equiv. 35-105mm |
| Dimensions: | 96.9 x 56.8 x 20.5mm |
Shutter speed: | 2 sec to 1/2000 |
| Weight: | 129g |
Exposure: | ISO 50 to 400 |
| Storage: | SD/MMC (32mb int) |
Movie: | MPEG (640x480@30fps) |
| Battery: | Li-Ion SLB-0837 |
Microphone: | Yes |
| Interface: | USB 2.0, AV |
PictBridge: | Yes |
