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GE A1050-BK 10MP Digital Camera with 5X Optical Zoom and 2.5 Inch LCD with Auto Brightness- Black
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| List Price: | $89.99 |
| Price: | $66.48 |
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by ApexSuppliers
13 new or used available from $49.95
Average customer review:
(31 customer reviews)
Product Description
Dynamic-performance features are packed inside the all new GE A1050 digital camera. Its 25mm compact body features 10.1-megapixel resolution and 5X optical zoom lens along with Image Stabilization for high quality and vivid images at the tip of your finger. With the latest Pan-Capture Panorama feature, seamless wide-view photos can be captured without the need for stitching. Its clear 2.5-inch LCD is equipped with the Auto Adjust Brightness technology for perfect screen visibility both indoors and outdoors. The A1050 contains a host of advanced features to deliver stunning images such as: pan capture panorama produced by panning the camera across to create a seamless panoramic picture, auto scene detection, blink detection, smile detection, face detection, in-camera red-eye removal, electronic image stabilization and Quick Time Motion JPEG movie recording. Box contents include: AA Batteries, USB Cable, AV Cable, Wrist Strap, Arcsoft Photo Impression 6 editing software, CD-ROM, Manual, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card.Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2600 in Camera & Photo
- Color: Black
- Brand: GE
- Model: A1050-BK
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 2.40" h x 3.60" w x 1.00" l, .40 pounds
Features
- 10MP Digital Camera with 5x optical zoom and 5.7x digital zoom
- 2.5 Inch vibrant LCD with auto brightness
- 24 MB internal memory with SD/SDHC card support up to an additional 8 GB
- Auto scene, blink, smile and face detection
- Uses 2 AA batteries so you'll never be stranded waiting for your camera battery to charge
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews56 of 57 people found the following review helpful.
Easy P&S camera to useBy The WB
I happened across this camera while searching for a small P&S camera that I could take anywhere. There are times a cell phone camera cannot do the job properly. Having used this camera for 4 months and taken several thousand pictures, here is what I have experienced:
Good:
* 2 AA battery power -- if they die, obtaining suitable replacements is very easy.
* Using AA NiMH batteries -- I get about 300 pictures per set of 2,300 mAh batteries.
* 10.1 MP sensor - 4:3 is default resolution ratio, but it has the capability of shooting 3:2 (at 9 MP size).
* 1/2.33" CCD sensor - quite standard
* 5X optical zoom - Equivalent to 35 MM to 175 MM.
* Macro mode with focus down to 3"
* Live histogram, but has to be turned on each time the camera is powered up
* SD and SDHC card capacity - I've used up to a 4 GB SDHC card with no problems.
* Mini-USB cable (nonstandard) connection for picture transfer.
* Three light meter modes -- Spot, center weighted and AiAE (a complex full frame evaluation mode).
The Bad:
* Close distance flash shots wash out the subject -- in camera metering of the flash is bad.
* Transferring more than 50 pictures at a time via USB cable will cause the camera to crash.
* A rectangular shutter button that is a bit stiff to operate at times.
* Spot metering tends to wash out pictures. The best mode is AiAE (complex metering)
* The histogram cannot be programed to remain on all the time
* EV setting is a bit tedious -- the effect takes once the EV choice has turned off. It must be restarted each time you want to make an exposure adjustment
* The LCD lighting on auto mode tends to show the preview exposure too dark, when, in fact, the exposure is quite good.
* Awkward placement of the zoom rocker switch
* Framing grid lines are a mid-gray color and are hard to see in sunny conditions. No provision to change the color.
I wrote Customer Service regarding the histogram and grid line issues. Within 24 hours, they responded. There is no provision to change the default programing of features on this camera. They suggested a firmware update, but for this model, GE posted Version 1.10 on the support website. I have Version 1.11 on my camera.
My real test was on a cross-country trip this past April, where I took this camera, a Canon A590 and a Fujifilm S100FS. The pictures taken with the GE were sharp and clear, when they were outside and in AiAE metering mode. Taking pictures in landscape mode was a mixed bag - greens were overblown and reds were suppressed.
Also, this is an economical P&S camera. Don't expect perfect live action shots, unless you crank up the ISO speed to the point the pictures are all grainy. I learned to keep this camera at ISO 100 for the vast majority of my pictures. There is an automatic scene detection mode that works, but it too is a mixed bag. I've shot outdoor pictures of plants in bright sunlight and had the camera turn on the flash as if it was in Sunset mode and backlit subject. Go figure.
Facial recognition works good for this price camera. Two faces are easily recognized. When taking flash pictures of people, be careful. If you are too close, the flash will wash out the persons face. The metering system and the flash output appear to be separate, so there is no TTL metering of the flash to limit the flash output. Also. red eye reduction shooting fires 4 times before the image is captured. The subjects (especially small children) close their eyes and you get a blink picture. Children mode completely suppresses the flash altogether.
The long and the short of it, I found the best mode to shoot in was pure manual mode, where I can set everything (with the aid of the histogram) in AiAE metering mode to capture the correct exposure. It worked just fine with good tonal reproduction in the final product. I'm posting some sample pictures with this review. They represent a cross section of my experiences.
CS is responsive, unlike other companies out there. Build quality is good, but don't expect it to hold up to pure torture. Overall, for the price I paid, the features and the picture quality, I happened upon a good camera.
*****
11/19/2010 - Update
I have used this camera now for just over 7 months and have taken about 3,000 pictures. If you work with this camera in manual mode with white balance and the histogram to set the exposure, you get some really good results.
Battery life is great, even when using the flash. The NiMH "AA" batteries I have nets me about 300 pictures per set of two, more than enough for a decent day's shoot.
The only real complaint I have is with the Auto Focus -- if you push this camera, especially when it is really bright outside, the AF will not set properly. You have to wait for the on-screen focus indicator to turn green before you take the picture, or it will be blurred. This camera fires as soon as the shutter is fully depressed regardless of focus.
*****
7/7/2011 - Update
7(+) more months have passed and this camera is still going strong. I have lost count as to how many pictures have been taken, but I can say "a whole lot." I don't take this camera with me to as many places as I use to in the past since I purchased an iPhone 4. For a cell phone with a fixed focal length lens, it takes some real good quality pictures, in the right lighting conditions.
In other reviews of this camera, people have complained about this camera being 1) a battery eater and 2) blurry images. Let me try to help clarify these two criticisms with possible solutions.
1) Having two A1050 GE cameras (one for me and the other for my son's girlfriend) we have not experienced this issue. On average, with mixed flash and non-flash pictures, we get about 300 pictures per charged set of two AA batteries. Why do we have get so many pictures out of a set of batteries? We exclusively use rechargeable Energizer (the old Everyready Battery Co) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) 2,300 or 2,450 mAh "AA" batteries. I have used Duracell NiMH and cheaper, no name NiMH batteries with horrible results in this and other digital camera's. Through trial and error over the years using and owning several different "AA" powered digital camera's, I can only recommend Energizer's with any confidence. I sound like a crummy commercial, but this continues to be my experience. Energizer's will perform for the long haul and recharge quickly with a good quality rapid battery charger.
One more point, I use "AA" alkaline batteries only in a pinch when I absolutely need to keep shooting and fresh rechargeable's are not with me. This camera and other "AA" cameras (like my wife's Canon Powershot A590) will eat alkaline batteries right up -- with or without the flash being used. Using alkaline batteries exclusively will give you horrible battery performance that is unfairly reflected in this and any other "AA" battery powered camera.
2) Blurry pictures. Image stabilization in digital cameras is accomplished by two different methods. The first method uses a motor/gyroscope setup that either shifts the lens or light sensor element or both to reduce shake/blur. Whereas the second method automatically increases the ISO (film speed) of the camera to a faster shutter time and thereby reducing the chance of shake/blur. This camera uses the second method -- Auto ISO increasing for stabilization. While the ISO increase method sounds good, it is far from perfect. Higher ISO settings produce an unwanted grain effect, especially when it is dark, sometimes to the point that the picture looks absolutely horrible, even when the camera is in perfect focus. Classic case is an outdoor concert at night. At full size on a computer, the picture is blotchy and unclear.
I also do not like the GE's slow flash sync (1/30th of a second sync). Pictures with motion using flash are often times blurry. My Fujifilm S100FS stock flash syncs at a minimum of 1/60th and most times at 1/128th of a second. At 1/128th of a second sync, this is truly stop motion with almost no blur. Long flash sync time is a weakness in this camera.
Also, as I commented earlier regarding the auto focus of this camera, you have to wait until this camera signals the subject is in focus. Green brackets will appear either in the center of the picture, if face detection is turned off or around the faces of your subjects, if face detection is turned on. It may take several half depressions of the shutter button to get the camera to properly focus and signal that the focus is correct, especially when it is really bright outside. This GE camera will take the picture if you fully depress the shutter button regardless of focus. You cannot push this camera to instantly focus on a subject and expect it to take a tack sharp picture each and every time. Again, this is another limitation of this camera.
*****
12/21/2011 - Update
Still going strong. Took over 200 pictures this past November during hunting season in NW Michigan -- all came out great. What can I say, for a small P&S camera, you cannot beat it.
Amazon now has a second supplier for this model camera found as GE A Series 10.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black/Silver A1050BK-CP. This is the very same camera as described above. Check it out.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent pocket shooterBy T. McAtee
Great zoom capacity, Excellent photo quality, Huge storage capability, Easy operation, Great price and warranty.
What else needs to be said. This is an excellent point and shoot camera for any user.
I had some misgivings when ordering, thinking "How good can it be? It's nearest feature competitor is priced well over $150". No regrets, and that doesn't happen very often in my experience.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Decent camera to carry aroundBy violinsolo
I was looking for a small camera that would be easy to carry around on short trips. But I also had some basic requirements: decent resolution and optical zoom (at least 5x), the use of AA batteries, and a price within $100. Most of the latest thin cameras use proprietary lithium-ion batteries, but these need re-charging and if you run out of power on the go, you are stuck. It is easier to simply pop into any local store in the world and buy a few AA batteries.
The GE A1050 is great for me, as it fits the above bill very nicely. Granted it is not as thin as other models, but this unit still fits easily in my shirt pocket and does not weigh it down. The picture quality is great and the video mode is also handy when I do not have my more bulky camcorder with me. Photos are sharp and print very well. Nice LCD screen size too.
I am yet to explore any settings beyond the typical ones accessed via the external buttons. Overall, a very good general-purpose point-and-shoot device. I was slightly skeptical about the GE brand for cameras, but I believe they have done well with this model.
See all 31 customer reviews...
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