GE G1

The Early 2007 Rookie of the Year Contender

Can a conglomerate that sells everything from nuclear submarines to network sitcoms bring anything new to the point-and-shoot camera market? Apparently, yes. Say hello to G1, the low-end debut model from GE's new camera division, which manages to stand out in a crowded compact digicam market. Image quality is well above average for its class. The selection and arrangement of controls is smarter and cleaner than most, including a clever, multi functional zoom wheel. And while clearly geared to the "leave it on auto" crowd, the 7-megapixel G1 contains unexpected goodies such as a "bulb" setting for long exposures and a user-definable time-lapse option.

WIRED Sharp images. Smart exposure calculations. Pocket-friendly. Well-designed control layout. Effective automatic white balance. Handsome glossy black or steel grey case choices.

TIRED Flash is rather wimpy. Only 3x optical zoom. Black case is a real smudge magnet.

• Camera Resolution: 7 megapixels
• Optical Zoom: 3x
• Digital Zoom: 4.8x

• Style: Ultracompact
• Media Format: Flash, MultiMediaCard, SD Card
• Manufacturer: GE
• Price: $200
Release Date: June 08, 2007