Home > Consumer Reviews > GE A730 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

I bought the GE A730 because it has by far the best feature set of any camera in its class at an unbelievable price. It's pocket-sized, with image stabilization, manual controls, a useful 35-140mm lens (35mm equivalent), a one-thirds grid on the LCD to help with composition and keep horizons straight, and on and on. It also has the best user manual I've ever seen. When I got it home, however, I immediately discovered its Achilles heel. I could not use the LCD in full sunlight, even at its brightest setting, and the A730 does not have an optical viewfinder. Also, the LCD is so reflective that the reflection of your own image blurs the screen even further, even in less than full sunlight. Besides that, I found that the automatic focus tended to hunt in almost all lighting conditions--though, in fairness, that could be just a flaw in the particular camera I bought, or "pilot error" due to my lack of experience, and not a general flaw in all A730s. I returned the camera for a refund and called GE Customer Service. I had called them once before with questions about the camera and they were savvy, polite, patient, and eager to please. When I told the person who answered about the problems I had with the A730, I could hear him typing it into his computer. He thanked me, said GE's R&D department wanted as much feedback as possible, whether good or bad, and said he was forwarding my remarks to them "as we speak." Except for the LCD (and perhaps the hunting AF) the A730 is a landmark point-and-shoot with superb features, at an unbeatable price, supported by excellent customer service. Despite my disappointing experience, I'm not giving up on GE cameras. Almost all new products have "bugs" in them that have to be worked out. The company seems more than willing to correct flaws, and if it does, there won't be a camera in the A730's class that can touch it. I'll watch with great interest to see if GE follows through on the feedback, and am looking forward to the release of their E850, which has a 28-140mm equivalent lens, a bit more resolution and all the other fine features of the A730. I hope GE makes the necessary corrections. They are just "this close" to producing a camera, backed by a customer support system, that all others will be measured by.

I have had this camera for about 2 weeks and I LOVE IT!! I previously had a Nikon L11 and returned it due to the known issue of it just freezing up when it wants. I purchased this camera as a replacement for the Nikon. The Pros:
- It starts quickly
- Takes GREAT pictures
- It's small/lightweight
- Has great features that many other cameras in its price range can't touch (Stabilization Mode for one)
- It was priced about $60 - $70 less than comparable cameras (I bought mine for $99.00 - $60.00 less than the Nikon)
- It turns heads (It's finished in shiny black and chrome)
- It has a quicker regeneration time than the Nikon
- It fits into my wife's purse or my pocket easily
- It is 7MP as opposed to the Nikon's 6MP
- It has a Continuous Shot option
- Operates on 2 AA batteries
- 26 MB of internal memory

The Cons:
- It's physically a little larger than the Nikon, but lighter
- You can not turn off the Quick Review of your pics after you take a pic. Therefore the regeneration time is extended
- No flash while in Stabilization Mode
- LCD screen is a little difficult to see due to the shiny case that covers it. The Nikon won this battle as it was a matte finish and very easy to see in sunlight. A small price to pay for all the other features (hold your hand over the screen)
- A sometimes pixelated image while zoomed in close. No effect on the picture taken though.

If I could have given a 4.5, I would have. It is a great little camera and I can't wait to see what GE has in store for the future. A GREAT little camera from a company that make everything from Toasters to Jet Engines!!!

I bought this camera for my girlfriend for her birthday, and i must say i was quite impressed. The picture quality is exceptional, and the software it comes with is pretty simple to use. Screen is large, and the trash button allows for very easy picture erasing. The reason i gave this 3 stars is because it does not come with a AC adapter. so i am spending a fortune on double A batteries. I do plan on getting some rechargable ones with a charging station, but until then im having to replace the batteries every other day, And im not exagerating. also if you are not in "stabalization mode", you have to keep your hand very still or the picture will blure. All in all I am not dissapointed, it was a good camera for the price.

I bought this camera to replace a $350 first generation SONY digital camera that I've had for over 5 years. This camera works great. Large LCD screen and easy to use controls are a plus. The camera is very well put together - a quality product. Syncs effortlessly with my Macbook and my PC. Picture quality is very good. A great camera for anyone looking for a digital camera at a reasonable price.

I bought two of these after comparing it to quite a few other brand/models in the similar price range. They both work great, there are even more features than I expected. It takes quality shots, loaded with a 2 GB card it holds more than 400 shots, WOW. No regrets here.