Kodak's 2004 style compact — 4MP, Schneider-Kreuznach 2.8x zoom, KLIC-5000 Li-ion power
The EasyShare LS743 was a 4-megapixel compact announced by Kodak in February 2004 and released that April at US$349, one of the first EasyShare models to carry a Schneider-Kreuznach branded lens. It sat in the style-led LS series above the plastic C and CX lines, with a more compact, pocketable metal-bodied design.
It combines a 4-megapixel sensor with a Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon 2.8x optical zoom and Kodak's then-new Color Science image processing chip. Features include extensive scene and colour modes, VGA-resolution movie capture and playback, automatic picture rotation, a 2:3 print-ratio mode for 6x4 prints, 16MB of internal memory and an SD/MMC card slot. Power comes from a proprietary Kodak KLIC-5000 rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The LS743 suits collectors of mid-2000s compacts who want a step above the bargain-basement EasyShares — the Schneider lens and Color Science processing give punchy, pleasant JPEGs in good light. It remains a simple auto-exposure camera, so the appeal is nostalgia and CCD-era colour rather than photographic control.
Battery is the main buying question: the KLIC-5000 lithium-ion cell is long out of production, so a working example needs a healthy original or third-party replacement plus a charger or dock — check what is included in the listing. Also confirm the lens extends cleanly, the screen is unmarked, and it writes to an SD/MMC card; larger SDHC cards are likely unsupported.