It offers the advantages of a camera with built-in normal and tele lenses, plus it lets you set the lens to any point in between. Virtually all LS cameras have programmed automatic exposure, meaning the camera sets both lens aperture and shutter speed for proper exposure. A built-in electronic flash provides sufficient light when the ambient lighting is dim. Some cameras display a 'flash needed' warning in the viewfinder and require you to move a switch to turn on the flash. Others automatically fire the flash whenever it's needed.
Most LS cameras adjust the film speed automatically and have motorized film advance and rewind.
Other popular features include a self-timer that delays the shutter about 10 seconds and a backlight compensation button that increases the exposure for backlit subjects. Most lens shutter cameras have autofocusing, but a few do not. Some have manual rangefinder focusing, which shows a double image in the viewfinder when the lens is out of focus. A few cameras have zone focusing, with click settings on the focusing ring for setting the focus at three or four distances. The distances are usually represented as simple figures, such as a mountain for the infinity setting, silhouette of a human head for the closest distances, etc.