Product Face-Offs
Samsung L74 WIDE
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| Sensor | CCD 7.2 mégapixels (1/2.5) | ||
| Zoom | 3x (28 - 100mm / F2.8 - F5.6) | ||
| Optical stabilization | non | ||
| Internal/external memory | 19 Mo / SD/ MMC | ||
| Sensitivity | ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800,1600, auto | ||
 See all specifications | |||
| Video mode | 800 x 592, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels / 30 fps |
| Power source | batterie rechargeable ion-lithium |
| Dimensions/Weight | 10.5 x 2.2 x 6.2 cm / 174 g |
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A compact that responds to your every touch
Samsung already offers a tactile interface on some products, notably on its NV line. The L74 has a real tactile screen and this means control is simply via touch sensitive buttons. The idea may sound attractive on paper; however putting it into practice and its actual use is a little more difficult. In the end, it was too slow for us to be truly enjoyable.
Renaud Labracherie
Test date: January 16, 2008
Test date: January 16, 2008
The Samsung L74W’s technical sheet is impressive: 3 inch tactile screen, 3.6x wide angle zoom (28-100 mm), 1600 ISO, face detection, video in 16/9 format... Only stabilization is missing. So does this new compact a have what it takes to set a new standard in its category?
Handling
The Samsung L74W has a design that is sober, clean and relatively attractive. Construction is very serious. Also, we can see the effort to make this an aesthetically pleasing camera with its black matte coating and blue ring around the lens. This pleasant aspect is reinforced by an interface that is reduced to a strict minimum (a few buttons and a zoom control). But most of all Samsung’s biggest innovation is the 3 inch tactile screen through which you can set the camera’s parameters. The manufacturer thus offers a new way to navigate through menus after having presented touch sensitive controls on the NV10 and NV15. The only problem is that this original tactile screen quickly shows its limits in practice with a lack of reactivity.
As for speed, although focus is fast (0.75 seconds), you will have to wait almost 1.9 seconds for startup. For an equivalent price, the Casio EX S880 is at 1.05 seconds. To compensate for this is a 3.6x optical zoom and very practical 28 mm wide angle.
Quality of images
We might as well tell you right off: while we were seduced by this camera’s look, image quality was not up to Samsung’s claims. The L74 Wide disappointed us by a lack of precision when the Canon Ixus 70 or even Olympus Mju 790 SW (also with 7 megapixels) do better. In addition, the macro mode was limited. As for noise control, sensitivity varies between 80 and 1600 and smoothing is already visible at 200 ISO and very apparent at 400 ISO. Finally, the video mode is good in 640 x 480; however, fluidity suffers in 800 x 592 pixels (20 i/s).
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Handling
The Samsung L74W has a design that is sober, clean and relatively attractive. Construction is very serious. Also, we can see the effort to make this an aesthetically pleasing camera with its black matte coating and blue ring around the lens. This pleasant aspect is reinforced by an interface that is reduced to a strict minimum (a few buttons and a zoom control). But most of all Samsung’s biggest innovation is the 3 inch tactile screen through which you can set the camera’s parameters. The manufacturer thus offers a new way to navigate through menus after having presented touch sensitive controls on the NV10 and NV15. The only problem is that this original tactile screen quickly shows its limits in practice with a lack of reactivity.
As for speed, although focus is fast (0.75 seconds), you will have to wait almost 1.9 seconds for startup. For an equivalent price, the Casio EX S880 is at 1.05 seconds. To compensate for this is a 3.6x optical zoom and very practical 28 mm wide angle.
Quality of images
We might as well tell you right off: while we were seduced by this camera’s look, image quality was not up to Samsung’s claims. The L74 Wide disappointed us by a lack of precision when the Canon Ixus 70 or even Olympus Mju 790 SW (also with 7 megapixels) do better. In addition, the macro mode was limited. As for noise control, sensitivity varies between 80 and 1600 and smoothing is already visible at 200 ISO and very apparent at 400 ISO. Finally, the video mode is good in 640 x 480; however, fluidity suffers in 800 x 592 pixels (20 i/s).
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Tactile 3 inch screen
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28 mm wide angle
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Simple navigation and creative modes
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Very nice construction and 450 MB of internal memory
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Recharging possible through USB
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Images are too soft
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No optical stabilization
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Noise control needs improvement
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Tactile screen lacks reactivity
Very well constructed and stylized, it was ‘’love at first sight’’ with the Samsung L74W; however, we were later disappointed by its image quality. In the end, we prefer the Canon A570 IS which is much less classy but is more precise and stabilized.
