A Super-Easy Digital Camera - Movie Recorder for Novices
When it comes to being a “NOT Guru,” I take my role seriously! Photography is perhaps my worst skill area and because of that, I needed a camera that was so user friendly that an 8-year-old could operate it. Part of my web development business involves visiting and reporting on rural areas and businesses, so I needed something that would take clear photos and videos.
For less than $100 (through Tiger) GE has the perfect solution for novices like me: The A830 digital camera.
For an entry-level camera, GE’s A830 comes with some great features:
- 8.0 Megapixels
- 3x Optical Zoom
- 2.5″ LCD Screen
- Electronic Image Stabilization
- Face Detection Technology
- 1600 ISO
- Easy to use shooting modes, including auto or manual selections and special movie, landscape, sunset, night, portrait, indoor, snow, beach, sport and more.
- Super-easy file transfer options
GE A830 Photo Samples
Here’s a picture I took of a moving automobile, using the “sports” option on the camera at a recent old car show I watched. As you can see, the moving image did not blur. I did have to reduce the file size for publishing on the web, so some of the detail is not as clear as the original version:
Pinetop-Lakeside Car Show: No blurring of moving objects
The camera is so easy to use, a friend took a picture of me at the White Sands National Monument this past weekend. Coupled with bright sunlight and blazing white sand, I wasn’t sure that anything would turn out because of the intense light.
White Sands National Monument - Intense Light
Finally, I put the camera to test by taking a video at a friend’s wedding. Here are some gals at “the wild table” who are laughing and carrying on. Since this was the third video I ever took, it wasn’t too bad:
What You Get
The camera is packaged with a USB cable, two AA batteries, a user manual, an AV cable, a wrist strap and a CD rom containing editing software. You also get a warranty card.
The upgraded package with accessories that’s available from TigerDirect has some extra goodies, including a lens cleaning kit, an AA-AAA battery charger with 2 rechargeable AA batteries, an SD memory card, a mini tripod, a camera case and an SD memory card reader for your computer. I saved money by purchasing the camera, with accessories, as one “package” instead of buying accessories separately.
For a few extra dollars, GE also has some newer camera models such as the E850.
Why Bother?
As a mom and pop business owner who is trying to get traffic to your website, you really need to consider adding video to your site. By posting to YouTube and other services, you will get a lot of traffic but most importantly, you can give your visitors something engaging to watch. If you have a brick and mortar store, take a video! Take snapshots of your product line. Make movies of your satisfied customers, or film some “how to” videos. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating helpful and entertaining media for your web visitors.
In today’s Internet climate, it’s essential to add videos, social networking services and other media to your webpage. The GE camera in this post is an example of how you don’t have to spend a fortune to transform your stale, brochure-like website into something more engaging.
Saving Money
Until I learn more photography skills, the GE A830 is an excellent camera for me. Transferring videos to the computer and YouTube has been a snap and despite my skill level, the photos turned out pretty good. The best prices that I was able to find were with TigerDirect. I love TigerDirect — I’ve used them for years because they ship promptly, give you shipping information by email, and stand by their warranties and customer service.
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