LG KC780 camera samples

The LG KC780 is among the first wave of 8-megapixel cameraphones arriving in the UK market, and is pitched as a more affordable alternative to higher-end models such as LG's own Renoir KC910, Samsung's Pixon M8800 and i8510, and Sony Ericsson's C905.

The camera is capable of shooting images in maximum resolution of 3264x2448 pixels, so you can get detailed, good quality regular prints of images should you want to, or get finely detailed photos when blown up on a PC screen.

Unlike the Renoir and Pixon, the KC780 doesn't have a touchscreen-based user interface, relying on its more modestly-sized 2.4-inch display to frame and view images. Its camera user interface is operated more conventionally, using a combination of the phone's D-pad and softkey buttons to negotiate the clear onscreen menu options.

The KC780 has a more extensive set of camera features than most mobile phones, however, including some of the gadgetry found on the flagship Renoir. It has an autofocus system, but additional focusing options including a Macro mode for close-up shooting, Face recognition mode for automatically detecting and focusing on faces in shots, and a Smile shot option - when you press the shutter button, the camera will only take a pic when it detects the subject in a shot smiling.

The KC780 does have a flash built in for low light illumination, though it's an LED flash rather than the more powerful and precise xenon flash you get on standalone cameras and a few higher-end cameraphones.

A typical side-mounted camera button on the KC780 fires up the shooter, which takes around 3 seconds to come on. The easy-to-follow user interface includes a column of five shortcut icons ranged down the right hand side of the screen (Album, Video, Capture, Flash (on/off/auto), Macro (on/off)) which you can use or select with the D-pad controls. A softkey Settings options pulls up a more detailed selection of options for aiding or fine-tuning your camerawork. These are arranged in two large, straightforward to use lists, which you can tab between or scroll down using the D-pad.

Settings options
Among these, you can change the resolution, with 7 options ranging from the 8-megapixel max to low res QVGA (320z240 pixels), enabling you to save phone memory or capture smaller-sized image files when the highest resolution settings isn't necessary (such as for picture messages or snaps you want to email).

Several Shot modes are available, including Smile shot, a continuous shot multi-burst option, and panorama, though the latter are automatically shot in low resolution settings. Users should be aware that the camera may stay on a lower resolution setting even after a shot has been taken in one of these modes and the camera has been switched off and on again. It's worth checking so you don't end up accidentally shooting in low res.

Exposure value can be tweaked up and down too, while standard White balance settings are included for basic indoors and outdoors lighting conditions (auto, daylight, incandescent, cloudy, fluorescent). ISO settings for light sensitivity can be changed from the auto setting, with five options ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 1600.

Normal self-timer options (3, 5 or 10 seconds), colour effects (sepia, mono, negative), and Quality levels (super fine, fine and normal) are offered too.

Additional options include an Image stabiliser, to reduce hand-shake blur, Face recognition, and Smart lighting - a way of improving lighting and exposure of shots in difficult high contrast lighting conditions. Unfortunately, this automatically changes resolution down to 1mp and can't be used with  a higher resolution setting.

Other regular camera options allow for such things as memory location (phone or card), shutter sounds and hiding onscreen icons.

Performance
The LG KC780 is able to produce some excellent pictures that are very impressive for a cameraphone. In daylight conditions, the camera can achieve detailed images that are sharp and clear, with good automatic exposure control and fine handling of high contrast lighting conditions. Macro shooting is very good indeed, and you can get a pleasing amount of detail in close up shots.

Colour handling is generally very good too. In bright conditions, colours are vibrant and punchy, but the camera is also able to handle subtle changes of tone - for example in cloudy skies - very well. In duller conditions, colour performance was less punchy, but overall it does well in decent light.

In lower light indoors, the flash doesn't offer the same high quality you get from the bet xenon flash-equipped cameraphones; it doesn't fill in with enough subtlety close up or fill rooms with enough natural looking light. Images tend to be more grainy indoors and more susceptible to movement blur.

The 2-step autofocus system works well, enabling you to compose shots with the subject you want in focus. But the camera does normally take between 1-2 seconds to capture an image after the camera button has been pressed, so isn't that responsive for quick snaps or moving subjects.

Overall, though, in the right condition the KC780 is capable of producing some high class cameraphone shots.