GE J1470S Compact Camera Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification

GE J1470S Features

GE J1470s side

The camera is surprisingly compact considering it packs a 3 inch screen, 14 megapixel sensor and 7x optical zoom lens, as well as a built in USB plug letting you plug it into any computer (or device) with built in USB socket, enabling you to transfer photos, as well as charge the battery.

Key Features

• 14.1 megapixel CCD sensor
• 7x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 33-230mm
• 3inch screen
• 720p video
• ISO64 - ISO1600
• Lithium Ion battery
• USB plug built in
• USB extension cable provided

GE J1470S Handling

GE J1470s USB back

Handling - The camera features a plastic body with the tripod socket placed to the far left. There is a good amount of buttons although the camera does lack grip. If you're not too keen on hanging a whole camera from your USB ports, then they do provide a USB extension cable in the box.


GE J1470s top

Menus - Quick access to main controls is provided using the function button and short-cuts on the 4-way controller on the back. The menus are basic but easy to navigate and have a reasonable amount of options and controls for a point and shoot camera, including a timelapse mode which is unexpected on an entry level camera.


GE J1470s bottom

Battery Life - There aren't any details on the GE website for expected battery life, although the built in USB plug means it will be charged every time you transfer photos from it. We managed to take 250 photos before the battery went flat.

Speed - Below we have measured shutter response and focusing speed at both wide angle and telephoto settings. We took 6 shots and calculated the average speed of the camera. The results can be seen below.

		Ricoh CX5		GE J1470s
Shutter Response Average		0.05 seconds		0.05 seconds
Wide - Focus and Shutter Response Average		0.15 - 0.2 seconds		0.25 seconds
Full zoom - Focus and Shutter Response Average		0.35 - 0.4 seconds		1.3 seconds
Switch on time		2 seconds		2.1 seconds
Shot-to-shot		1.2 - 1.5 seconds		2 seconds
Continuous Shooting		5 fps		0.8 seconds (3 shots)

High speed continuous shooting is available at 3mp, where the camera shoots at roughly 3fps. The camera has surprisingly slow focus at the telephoto end under our testing, although was quicker in other shooting conditions. The camera also takes a long time to stitch panoramic shots together in the camera. Continuous shooting with flash not available.

GE J1470S Performance

Click to view larger or click "Hi-Res" to view full size sample photos. Additional photos and product shots can be found in the Equipment Database for the GE J1470s - where you can add your own review and photos.

GE J1470s Sample Photos

1/219 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 400 High-Res	1/159 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res

Sample photos - The portrait shot shows some red-eye although detail is good if the ISO setting is kept low and colour is quite good.

GE J1470s Lens test images

Wide 1/181 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	Full Zoom 1/192 sec | f/5.7 | 41.3 mm | ISO 64 High-Res
1/157 sec | f/3.4 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	Macro 1/4 sec | f/3.4 | 5.9 mm | ISO 100 High-Res

Lens test images - Purple fringing can be seen, particularly in the corners. Vignetting can be seen at both wide and telephoto ends of the zoom. Barrel distortion is visible at the wide end, but there is little pincushion distortion at the telephoto end. Macro performance is quite good and you can get closer to the subject by using some optical zoom.

GE J1470s ISO test images

1/7 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	1/11 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	1/22 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/43 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 400 High-Res	1/90 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	1/175 sec | f/4.2 | 15.6 mm | ISO 1600 High-Res

ISO Noise Performance - ISO64 shows some noise and it's a shame that this low ISO setting doesn't produce cleaner images with less noise. ISO100 shows some more noise. ISO100 to ISO200 shows more noise than expected, as as the ISO setting increases, so too does noise. At ISO1600 noise is the highest and colour isn't great and is best avoided.

GE J1470s White-balance test images

AWB Tungsten Light 1/13 sec | f/3.7 | 8.3 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Tungsten Preset 1/12 sec | f/3.7 | 8.3 mm | ISO 100 High-Res
AWB Fluorescent Light 1/5 sec | f/3.7 | 8.3 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Fluorescent Preset 1/5 sec | f/3.7 | 8.3 mm | ISO 100 High-Res

White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) performs quite poorly under tungsten and fluorescent lighting, with strong colour casts. Using the presets provides much better results.

GE J1470s Digital filters

Black and White 1/198 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	Sepia 1/180 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	Fisheye 1/198 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res	Sketch 1/181 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 High-Res

Digital filters - the camera has a number of scene modes, as well as colour modes including Vivid, Black and White and Sepia. The effects shown, such as fisheye and sketch mode are selectable in the scenes menu. The HDR mode is found in playback and can be applied to an existing photo.


1/120 sec | f/6.5 | 5.9 mm | ISO 64 - Panoramic mode: This lets you take three photos whereby you are shown an overlay of the last image and must try and match it up on screen. After taking the three photos the camera will automatically stitch them together in camera, although this does take a while.

Video - Video is recorded at 720p, with optical zoom available. Using digital image stabilisation can make panning look jerky, so it's best switched off and a tripod used instead. Using the optical zoom isn't very smooth.

Value For Money

Available for around £79, this is good value for money for a camera with a 7x optical zoom lens and even rarer a built in USB port, alternatives with built in USB include the GE Create and the Samsung PL90. Alternatives with a 7x optical zoom lens include the Nikon Coolpix S6150 and with 8x optical zoom lens the Canon IXUS 230 HS and Panasonic Lumix FS37.

GE J1470S Verdict

The GEJ1470s has a number of appealing features for the price, with a 7x optical zoom lens, 14 megapixel sensor, 3inch screen and built in USB plug. However, it would be good if the camera included a wider lens and optical image stabilisation, as the camera struggles at the telephoto end to take a sharp shot. Noise is higher than from competitors and to get the best detail from images using a low ISO setting is recommended. If you are forever loosing the cable that comes with your camera and want a low cost camera then the GE J1470s could be for you, however if you can live without a USB plug built in, then there are better compact cameras out there.

GE J1470S Pros

Built in USB plug
7x optical zoom lens
Compact body
Good colour
Very good value for money

GE J1470S Cons

HDR mode is in playback
Video or HDMI out missing (USB plug instead)
Poor tripod position
Noise in images

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

GE J1470s Specifications

Lens
	Max Aperture	f/3.4 - f/5.7
	35mm equivalent	32.9mm - 230.3mm
	Optical Zoom	7x
Image Sensor
	CCD pixels	14.1Mp (Megapixels)
	Pixels (W)	4320
	Pixels (H)	3240
	Sensor Type	CCD
	Sensor Size	1/2.33 inch
	Sensor Size (width)	6.08mm
	Sensor Size (height)	4.56mm
	Aspect Ratio	4:3 3:2 16:9
LCD Monitor
	LCD Monitor	3in
	Screen resolution	No Data
	Touch Screen	No
Focusing
	Min Focus	5cm
	Focusing modes	Autofocus
Exposure Control
	Shutter speeds shortest	No Data
	Shutter speeds longest	No Data
	Exp modes	Program Scene modes
	Metering	Centre-weighted Multi Pattern Spot
	ISO sensitivity	64 - 1600
	White balance	Auto Manual Outdoors/Daylight Cloudy Incandescent Fluorescent
	Exposure Comp	+/-2
Shooting Options
	Continuous shooting	No Data
Video
	Movie mode	Yes
	Video Resolution	1280x720 720p 640x480 VGA 320x240 QVGA
	Video FPS	30
	Stereo Sound	No
	Optical Zoom with Video	Yes
Other Features
	Image Stabilisation	No
Interface
	HDMI	No
	USB	USB 2
	Wi-Fi	No
Storage
	Card Type	SD SDHC
	File Type	JPG
Power Source
	Battery Type	Lithium Ion
	CIPA Rating	0
Box Contents
	Box Contents	Camera, Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery, Power Adapter, USB Cable, Wrist Strap, CD ROM Manual, Quick Start Guide, Feature Guide, Warranty Card
Dimensions
	Weight	130g
	Width	98.5mm
	Height	56.9mm
	Depth	20.43mm

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