Samsung Digimax L85 review

Performance
The Samsung Digimax L85 is a solid performer, despite disappointing continuous-shooting speed. After a speedy 2.2-second start-up, we recorded a pretty standard shot-to-shot rate of 2.2 seconds. With the onboard flash enabled, we could still shoot once every 3 seconds. Recording to TIFF, the camera took 7 seconds to cycle between shots, one of the quickest among point-and-shoot cameras with TIFF support. Its 0.6-second shutter lag in good light is pretty middle-of-the-road and rises to a more mediocre 1.3 seconds with flash. The real disappointment was burst mode, shooting 25 full-resolution shots in slightly less than 33 seconds for a sluggish 0.8 shots per second. In addition, the flash is pretty weak for such as large camera, extending out to only 2.7 m in Auto ISO.

Shooting speed
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Typical shot-to-shot time

Time to first shot

Shutter lag (typical)

Casio Exilim EX-Z850

2.7 

2.1 

0.5 

Samsung Digimax L85

2.2 

2.2 

0.6 

Canon PowerShot S80

0.7 

2.8 

0.7 

The lens, however, suffers from chronic and pervasive chromatic aberration -- high-contrast edges, whether in the centre or at the edges of the frame, frequently exhibited a noticeable coloured fringe. So if you plan on shooting trees against a clear blue sky, expect a purplish aura to appear.

Edited by Lori Grunin
Additional editing by Kate Macefield