GE A830

The GE A830 is one of two digital cameras in the manufacturer’s A-series and one of a small handful of premiere models from GE. Yes, the company that makes refrigerators and washing machines now makes digital cameras. The A830, which retails for less than $150, is the company’s budget model with 8 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens.

Front (6.5)
The front of the GE A830 has a rounded left edge with a protruding chrome wrist strap eyelet. Near the center of the camera’s left side is a GE logo. A few words grace the bottom: "8.0 megapixel A830." The right side of the camera has a labeled "Auto Focus Zoom Lens, 3x 36-108mm 1:2.8-4.8." The actual glass is covered by thin plastic panels that snap together in the middle. There is a bright chrome rim around the outer edge of the lens barrel and an autofocus assist lamp to the lower left of the lens. In the lower right corner are three holes for the microphone. To the upper left of the lens is the built-in flash unit.

Back (7.0)
The 2.5-inch LCD screen takes up the entire left side of the camera’s back. The screen is framed in a glass-like black frame that makes the LCD look even bigger when the camera is turned off. The right side is slightly rounded and has a neat vertical stack of buttons. In the upper right corner sits a zoom lever. The zoom is a single panel that rocks right and left to zoom out and in, respectively. Directly below the zoom lever is a round face detection button with a menu button just below it. Below the buttons is the multi-selector, which has a central Func/OK button surrounded by a single ring. The ring doesn’t have any dips or grooves to help users feel which direction they are pushing, although there are icons that serve as visual cues to help determine the proper directions. From the top and moving clockwise, the multi-functions are exposure compensation, macro, self-timer, and flash. Below the multi-selector is a delete button labeled with a trash can icon.

Left Side (3.5)
The camera’s thickness is evident from this view. It isn’t going to easily slip into a pants pocket. It will fit in a baggy coat pocket just fine, though. The GE A830 has a central chrome band running down the center with a few grooves and labels engraved in it. At the top are four holes that make a grill for the speaker. In the middle is a tiny bolt that holds the camera body together. Near the bottom are icons and text labels for the USB, AV-out, and DC-in ports, which are open ports placed toward the back side of the camera. Open ports aren’t a good idea, especially if you have gum-chewing children. Get the picture?

Right Side (5.5)
The right side is rounded instead of the boxy left side’s look. The right side is where the hand grips the camera, so the rounded shape makes it a little more comfortable. It also makes it hard for the fingers to hang onto the slippery surface on front, however. There are no divots, finger grips, or textured logos to keep fingers from sliding to the back and the camera diving to the pavement. The rounded right side has a chrome wrist strap eyelet in its center. At the top of this side, the grooved edge of the mode dial can be seen.

Top (6.75)
The chrome band from the left side runs over the edge and across the top of the camera. Its end surrounds the mode dial on the top’s right edge. The mode dial is almost the size of a penny and frames the domed shutter release button in the center. There are several positions on the mode dial: Auto, Manual, Panorama, Portrait, Scene, Image Stabilization, Movie, and Playback. The only other feature on top of the camera is the power button, which is almost in the center of the top.

Bottom (4.5)
The bottom of the GE A830 has a plastic tripod socket in its center that is sure to be stripped with just a few uses. Below the rounded side where the hand grips the camera is the battery and memory card compartment. The plastic door is labeled and has a friction lock that simply slides outward to open. This can easily be jolted open, causing the two AA batteries to spill to the floor. The plastic door has a flimsy hinge, too; this will likely be the first thing to break on this camera.