GE G1

Auto Mode (7.0)
The GE G1 has a fully automatic shooting mode. It is represented by a red camera icon on the mode dial. This mode shortens menus so that the Func/OK menu is limited to size and quality options and the recording menu omits the Auto Focus mode, Continuous Auto Focus mode, and Slow Shutter options. Face priority Auto Focus is still an option with the designated button, and the functionality of the multi-selector can also be accessed (exposure compensation, for example). When the Auto mode is accessed, the camera returns to the default settings, so if an option was previously changed it will have to be changed again.

Movie Mode (5.25)
The GE G1 records MPEG-4 videos. These video files generally take up lots of memory space, but can be edited more easily. The G1 can record up to 30 minutes at a time, which isn’t much compared to other cameras, but when you see the quality you won’t want to record anything for even that long anyways.

The resolution is great. It looks good on a television with its 640 x 480-pixel resolution and top frame rate of 30 fps. There is also a smaller size of 320 x 240 pixels that can record at either 30 or 15 fps. The slower frame rate is also available at the top resolution but should be avoided because it makes everything look choppy.

The slow frame rate isn’t the only factor that degrades the quality. If users record to the slim amount of internal memory, then the video is "subject to degradation," according to the included user manual.

The GE G1 has a sub-par electronic image stabilization system that only works when the frame rate is set to 15 fps. That is unacceptable! Everything is choppy anyway, so what are a few more bumps in the video going to matter? It’s ridiculous.

To make matters worse, the optical zoom can’t be used while recording video. There is only 1.5x digital zoom available, which is just enough to make everything look a little fuzzy.

The resolution and frame rate options are located in the Func/OK menu, and the Standard menu only offers Continuous Auto Focus (it does actually work in this case; it doesn’t work with still images), Metering, and Stabilization.

The audio is terrible. Most digital cameras have monaural audio like the G1, but there aren’t many that sound worse than the G1. This digital camera’s microphone isn’t even visible; that might be part of the problem. I recorded a video of my son dancing to some music next to my computer. I was sitting about four feet from the computer’s speaker, which wasn’t blaring to the point that it hurt my ears but was definitely loud enough to feel comfortable dancing to in the living room. The camera hardly picked up the music at all. It picked up a few of my comments – although even my voice was muffled a bit.

In the Playback mode, movies can be played back with VCR-like control. They can be fast-forwarded and rewound, and the volume can be changed from 0-3 levels, although even the loudest volume isn’t sufficient. Movies can be played back in slow motion and users can adjust the speed. Editing is possible too - nothing fancy, but the typical file splitting is available. Users can cut the beginning or end of a clip and then save it.

Unless you like silent movies, avoid the Movie mode for anything that’s important.

Drive / Burst Mode (5.5)
If you can find it, the GE G1 has a Burst mode The Burst mode doesn’t automatically activate in the sports/action mode in the Scene menu. Users have to push the bottom of the multi-selector (which is labeled only with a Self-timer icon) and cycle through two and 10-second self-timer options to get to the continuous burst icon. Once this is in place, users then have to enter the menu and activate an option from the Continuous Shot option: five shots, five shots last, and time lapse. None of this is explained in the user manual.

Once the burst is actually functional, it automatically reduces the image quality to Fine rather than Best compression. Pictures are still 7 megapixels, but the compression is greatly compromised. This must reduce the file size significantly as it takes only about a second to write a five-shot burst to the memory. The specs indicate a 2.1 fps burst and this sounds about right. For more detailed and scientific inspection of the Burst mode, check out the Testing/Performance section of this review.

The GE G1’s time lapse function enables the camera to snap a picture every 30 seconds, 1, 5, or 10 minutes. For this to work properly, users need not only have that selection chosen in the Photo menu, but also on the bottom of the multi-selector. This mode takes a picture, sends the camera into Sleep mode that deactivates the LCD screen, and then wakes up to take another picture.

Overall, the Burst mode is a bit disappointing. The speed itself isn’t too bad: 2.1 fps is respectable, although not blazing fast. It's the inaccessibility that is disappointing. Having to activate the burst option through a separate control and menu is too confusing. The imposed compression is also a bit of a disappointment. It would have been nice if GE had included a slightly slower burst at the camera's maximum image quality as well.

Playback Mode (7.0)
This Playback mode is very similar to other cameras’ Playback modes. It is found on the mode dial, so there’s no quick access via a button. The setup is typical: the last image that was taken pops up first. Users can then scroll through images with the multi-selector. Images can be deleted one by one with the button on the back of the camera or deleted in batches or all at once in the Playback menu.

Images can also be viewed as index screens of four, nine, or 16 images per frame. The index screen is accessible by pushing the wide end of the Zoom control; pushing the other way magnifies images from 2-8x. Up to 60 seconds of audio can be added to each image file by pushing the shutter release button.

Many of the Playback mode’s features are described fairly well in the Playback menu.

The GE G1’s slide shows aren’t anything elaborate, although they do have two transition effects that look like horizontal blinds and vertical French doors. The Red-eye Removal option didn’t seem to work well. It eliminated only one red eye from a few pictures I had, which made the photos look quite odd.

Movies can be played back normally or in slow motion. They can also be edited by cutting the beginning or end and saving it. Audio playback is very disappointing. It can be adjusted to three levels but even the loudest isn’t loud enough – and everything sounds muffled because of the terrible recording.

Overall, the Playback mode is decent but nothing special; there are no special effects or music to jazz up the images. Still, it’s functional.

Custom Image Presets (7.5)
The GE G1 has a host of custom image presets scattered around the mode dial. Most of them are located in the "SCN" position: Sport, Children, Indoor, Leaf, Snow, Sunset, Fireworks, Glass, Museum, Landscape, Night Landscape, and Night Portrait. When users scroll through the Scene menu icons, explanations for each appear. For instance, the Children mode is described as "For kids and pets. Flash is disabled for eye protection." Portrait, Panorama, and Image Stabilization have their own real estate on the mode dial. The Panorama mode allows users to take three pictures either left to right or vice versa, and the camera automatically stitches them together. This isn’t very common; most cameras require external software to actually bind the pictures together. The Image Stabilization mode simply activates the digital image stabilization mode, which makes the preview on the screen look less jittery but doesn’t do much in the way of reducing blur. The Scene mode selection isn’t as elaborate as those included on a Casio, for example, but is certainly healthy enough to provide a specific exposure mode for most situations.