Apart from the Dashboard, it's a fairly straightforward, standard-issue LG mid-tier user interface. The D-pad offers typical shortcut options, while the main menu is a grid-based set-up (though you can swap for lists if you prefer). Sub-menu options are mostly in list format, with numbered options for quick selection via the numberpad rather than scrolling.

Camera focus

With a limited set-of marquee features, the 8-megapixel camera's performance is the focus of this handset.

The good news is that it's well capable of taking high quality images, with the 8-megapixel shooter producing sharply detailed shots that offer good tonal reproduction. Its auto system adapts responsively to changing lighting conditions, and the autofocus appeared reliably precise and efficient, with an impressive macro shooting close-up mode.

Utilising a normal two-step autofocus set up, there's a momentary 1 - 2 second lag as you press the shutter button for a quick shot, so watch out when snapping moving subjects.

Speedy snaps

From standby the camera takes around 3 seconds to start up after pressing the side camera key.

Among the camera features, a face tracking option helps out the autofocus system, locking on to faces it detects as you're composing shots, to get people in focus. A Smile shot option can be selected too for ensuring the camera only shoots when it detects a subject is smiling, even after you've pressed the shutter button.

A good selection of camera gadgetry includes an image stabiliser option, a variety of settings adjustments (white balance, ISO, exposure, colourisation effects), and a Smart lighting setting for tricky lighting conditions - though this, like multi-shot and panorama modes, automatically switches shooting to a lower resolution setting.

Lacklustre flash

Image results can be impressive for a mobile. In good light conditions, images come out particularly well and colours are vibrant, though in murkier conditions, colours do appear softer.

Low light shooting, despite the LED flash, isn't brilliant. A xenon flash, such as that used on the Sony Ericsson C905, would've improved illumination, as an LED flash isn't as powerful or precise enough for snapping in darker conditions over more than a few feet away. Dim-light shots indoors tended to be gloomy and grainy.

Post-shooting, there's a standard-issue set of LG in-phone editing options – a good variety for an average phone, but nothing exceptional for a mid-level LG handset.

Decent video quality

The KC780 puts in a better effort than most for video shooting, capturing footage at 30 frames per second in the highest quality 640x480 pixels (VGA) or 720x480 pixels resolutions.

It produces smooth, reasonable quality video clips for a mobile phone. A slow-motion shooting mode provides another better-than-most playback option, though it does record in lower QVGA resolution.

Playing back video on the 2.4-inch display is decent enough. You can copy over video from a PC or watch content on a MicroSD card, or download clips over the leisurely GPRS/EDGE data connection, with the KC780 supporting DivX video playback. A TV-out option is available in the features, though no cable is boxed with the phone.

Minimalist music player

The KC780 has 140MB of internal memory, so if you have ambitions to listen to tunes on the phone's music player,it would be wise to splash a few quid on a MicroSD card.

The music player software here is again standard LG stuff. It's functional and unspectacular looking but does the job effectively enough. Tracks are organised in conventional lists of categories – all songs, artists, albums, playlists, and genres – and when the player's rolling, the D-pad takes care of control business.

Average quality earphones are supplied in-box, producing a decent sort of performance without being exceptional. Shame there's no 3.5mm socket on the phone or a headphone adapter to upgrade your earwear. Bluetooth stereo headphones are another option, however.

An FM radio is onboard is an alternative music source; the headset has to be plugged in, but you can play through the loudspeaker, should you wish to enjoy that tinny tiny sound system.