The LS743 (4 megapixels) and LS753 (5 megapixels) are lookalikes designed to appeal to women. They are small, look like fashion accessories and are as simple to operate as a box camera. Working on the assumption that manual control of aperture or shutter speed is secret boys’ business Kodak have reduced manual over ride to selecting from preset modes for close-up, portrait, sport, landscape, children or movie.

These cameras match with Kodak’s printer dock and produce 10 by 15cm prints without having to futz around in Photoshop on a computer. Kodak assume that women prefer it this way.

The LS743/753 are ideal for the photographer in charge of the family record. If kids, barbies, parties and the annual sojourn at the beach are the intended subject matter then the Kodaks will do the job, but if you see yourself as the next Ansel Adams then you had best look elsewhere. (Although Ansel Adams did once say that the photographer has not yet been born who has fully exploited the Box Brownie.)

Like this: The essentials of white balance, focus and exposure are almost always spot on. Flash is excellent.

Dislike that: The only true manual selection on the cameras is for ISO speed and once you select it it doesn’t stay selected. When the camera is turned off and on again it reverts to the “auto” default.

Parting shot: Small may be beautiful, but there is a point at which miniaturisation starts to defeat useability. These two cameras are on the borderline. The optical viewfinder is too small and awkwardly placed on the very end of the camera body.

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