The
Genesis series from
Chinon helped define the the late 1980s and early 1990s category of 35mm "
bridge cameras." These were models offering more advanced features associated with
SLRs (
parallax-free framing and a well-specified zoom lens), but with "point & shoot" ease of use (autofocus,
DX-code film-speed setting; motorized film transport). In attempting to launch a distinct market niche, the styling of the Genesis series might charitably be called "non-traditional"—an aspect shared by many of its peers such as the
Yashica Samurai, the
Ricoh Mirai,
Canon Photura, etc.