General Electric wasn’t exactly greeted with open arms when it suddenly entered the digital camera business last year under the name General Imaging. But the company—and its Olympus veterans—is sticking with its business plan, rolling out nine new digital cameras it hopes will capture the hearts (and wallets) of consumers everywhere.
“We have said from the beginning that we would be a nimble company that responds to consumer needs, and our new cameras reflect that philosophy,” said General Imaging senior VP Rene Buhay, in a statement. “We think people are going to like what they see.”
First and foremost among the new offerings is the E1050, which combines a 10 megapixel camera, a 5× optical zoom, and 3-inch touchscreen LCD with HDMI output for high-def displays, a 28mm equivalent wide-angle lens, a GPS receiver that enables photographers to automatically geocode their photos, and a high-resolution video more. Perhaps even more impressive is the E1050’s $249.99 price tag.
General Imaging’s new entry-level A735 and A835 will offer 7 and 8 megapixel resolutions, respectively, with a 3× optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD display; the units will also run off AA batteries, which is handy when users are away from their chargers.
Meanwhile, the mid-level E-series will add four cameras (including the E1050, above). The E840s will offer an 8 megapixel resolution with a 4× optical zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD; the E1035 moves to a 10 megapixel resolution with a 3× optical zoom; and the E1235 goes all the way up to 12 megapixels with a 3&imes; optical zoom.
The slim G-series feature a 27-inch LCD with folded optics to offer a non-protruding lens. The New G2 sports an 8 megapixel resolution with a 4× optical zoom, while the G3 bumps the resolution up to 10 megapixels.
Finally, General Imaging also teased the X3 a 10.7 megapixel shooter with a 12× optical zoom and a DSLR-like profile, optical image stabilization technology, ISO sensitivity down to 3,200, face detection, in-camera panorama stitching, and the capability to run on AA batteries
General Imaging hasn’t given specific release dates for its new cameras, save to say they many will begin reaching retailers in “early spring.”
