GE unveils the geotagging 10 megapixel E1050, eight other new cams

We've harshed on GE's cameras before, but the company showed up at PMA with a new model called the E1050 (pictured) that's actually pretty slick. The 10 megapixel shooter features a 5x optical zoom, HD-res video mode, HDMI out, a 3-inch touchscreen, and an integrated GPS radio that syncs up with your computer to automatically geotag your shots. All for just $249 -- even if thing takes just average pictures, that's quite a bargain. We'll have a hands-on soon, and read on for specs on the rest of GE's 2008 lineup, all of which include face and blink detection.

• A735, A835
  
• 7 megapixel (A735)
• 8 megapixel (A835)
• 3x optical
• 2.5-inch LCD
• AA batteries
• G2
• 8 megapixels
• 4x optical zoom
• 2.7-inch LCD
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• G3
• 10 megapixels
• 4x optical zoom
• 2.7-inch LCD
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• A840s
• 8 megapixel
• 4x optical zoom
• 2.7-inch LCD
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• E1035
• 10 megapixel
• 3x optical zoom
• 2.7-inch LCD
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• E1235
• 12 megapixel
• 3x optical zoom
• 2.7-inch LCD
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• X3
• 10.7 megapixel
• 12x optical zoom
• image stabilization
• 2.7-inch LCD
• AA batteries

[fabiang18 @ Jan 31st 2008 6:50PM]

too many camera posts, steven kim especially.

[Mikey-D @ Jan 31st 2008 7:04PM]

Not to nitpick but isn't the camera pictured the A835? :)

[david_topping @ Jan 31st 2008 7:18PM]

Do you huys actually take any photos?

I only ask because not once in the (too many) posts we've had over the past few days do you mention much about the lenses on these cameras. Yes, we get the f-stop, yes we get the zoom "power" but not the most important thing which is the 35mm lens equivalent.

A 5x zoom is pretty useless if it's from 90-450mm on a general purpose camera. 28-140mm would be interesting and a 24-120mm lens would be something I start to pay real attention to. As it is I'm just pressing page down a lot.

I know the vendors don't alwasy mention this info but a little digging to find out wouldn't go amiss and next time they'll include it in the release.

[Matt @ Jan 31st 2008 7:22PM]

Did I miss IS? This is a must have for my shaky hands!

[ScOObyDoo @ Jan 31st 2008 7:23PM]

Uh... The PDF on the GE site does NOT mention integrated GPS. It does mention an OPTIONAL GPS receiver.

Kind of makes it less impressive than the article makes it sound.

[Peter @ Jan 31st 2008 7:28PM]

Well, and that oh-so-great E1050 - did anyone read the specs of that 10.1MPixel sensor? Size of that thing is 1/2.33" which means just slightly larger than your average mobile phone camera.
Guess what: Dividing that small chip into 10.1 million pixels doesn't leave much space for a pixel to catch light anymore.

So this will not so much be a camera but rather a JPEG noise generator.
At 100 ISO it will probably just take bad pictures. But I really want to be far away if anyone ever tries to crank that thing up to the 3200 ISO sensitivity they claim.

[Crayola @ Jan 31st 2008 7:29PM]

Still wondering why GE is getting into this digital camera business, it's like buying Microsoft branded tires, betcha those will come with great service pack

[Mark Kane @ Jan 31st 2008 8:27PM]

There's something disturbing about having the same logo on my blender and my digital camera... that just doesn't make a lot of sense in our world of specialization.

[aoi tsuki @ Jan 31st 2008 9:43PM]

i especially like the line "even if thing takes just average pictures, that's quite a bargain."

i guess i'm thinking too much like a techie and not as a general consumer, because first and foremost, a digital camera should be capable of taking excellent shots in my capable hands. These cameras will probably sell to the Kodak crowd that buys based on price, and will wonder why Canon can't put a touch screen or HD resolution (lol) in their cameras and yet they're so expensive.

[Jeff @ Jan 31st 2008 11:22PM]

aoi tsuki:

(the reply button doesn't seem to be working for me)

I was thinking the exact same thing - even copied that line to paste in my own response.

No camera is a bargain at any price if it just takes average pictures, especially when there are so many cameras out there that take excellent pictures for not much money. This is just piling on features to make up for the camera's core shortcomings.

I mean, it's like a company making a television that also happens to make toast, and then saying "who cares if the picture quality sucks - it makes toast!" That really doesn't matter if it doesn't do the one thing you're actually buying it for well.

Find a camera that takes excellent photos at a reasonable price and that is your bargain, regardless of what extra junk it does or doesn't have tacked on.