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"Small harddisk consumer video camera." on by popmondo
Pros: Compact size, long record times, good quality picture and sound.
Cons: In manual mode, small menu based push button controls for focus and exposer.
Summary: Thankyou JVC for setting the bar at such a relatively high level with what I think is your first venture into this soon to be hot direct to harddisk video camera market.
I bought my GZ-MG50u just before Christmas and I have been very plesantly surprised with it's performance.
During the past few weeks my family has kept me busy recording 3 dance recitals, a small piano concert, a school Christmas concert, a 2 hour musical celebration honouring a friend who had sadly passed away and all of the holiday family stuff in between.
All of this video was captured at the camera's highest 'Ultra Fine' video standard. A setting which is described as being superior to that achieved by both Mini DV and Mini DVD camcorders.
All of that video was easily and rapidly backed up to an external harddisk via the camera's built in USB 2.0 port through my computer. Due to the storage capacity of the camera itself I have not yet deleted any of the significant video data from the camera because it is an excellent playback platform for showing the video to others(The camera comes with a remote control). In fact the camera's ability to upload and play mpeg video you have edited on the computer is another serious plus. My wife already has me editing excerpts of our kids activities in the past month to be loaded back onto the camera so that she can show her parents, who don't own a dvd player, when we go to visit them.
The camera's F1.2 lense is definitly a plus for indoor video recording, allowing for a bright picture with warm colors. I do wish however that the camera had some sort of scrolling/wheel based controls for both focus and exposer when in manual shooting mode.
The stereo audio capture using the 'auto gain' function was acceptable considering the type of small electret condenser mics used in all of these small cameras. It would have been nice if the camera's design had allowed for external stereo audio input.
I would not use this camera's still picture functions seeing as how my digital camera is far better suited to these operations.
I was plesantly suprised to find that this camcorder with all of its accessories fit perfectly into my digital camera's case without removing any of the camera's stuff! Now that's what I like to see!
The CyberLink video production software that came with camera was a plesant surprise as well because it really did provide me with a good deal of post production capabilities while remaining easy to learn and use.
BRAVO! JVC It's nice to see that your R&D department is on the ball! This is a well executed consumer product. -
"It is ideal." on by lordjedijoe
Pros: The transfer to my computer's hard drive is very simple and quick. Outside pictures are good for viewing on monitors. The size is so small.
Cons: not very good for indoor pictures, video quality is on par with a $600 to $700 DV camara
Summary: First off, I have played with video cameras for a very long time, as far back as VHS without a viewfinder. I purchased the first DV camcorder made by Sony back in 1997.
Second, this camera is perfect for anyone who wants all video on a home computer. It is quick and simple. The software that comes with it makes it very easy to take it off the camera and put it on the computer. Using the USB wire it transfers an hour of video in 12 minutes. Also, I film video in 16:9 aspect ratio to fit my HDTV perfectly. If you use 4:3 than you just need to drag, drop and than switch the .mod to .mpg. It's so easy it is crazy.
Third, the video quality is equivalent to a $600-$700 dollar camera. The indoor video makes up for it. I am very impressed with the low light capability. The size just makes it worth it.
Fourth, I also use Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 on my computer. I use a video card that gives me the ability to have two monitors. I can shut off monitor 2 and turn on my 65" HDTV using component outs in 1080i. Then I can use the remote control that came with the computer, and watch all my videos from my JVC camcorder, and all photos that I moved over to the hard drive as simple as my PVR. It is so easy. I no longer have to make DVDs in the computer room and bring them into my family room. I can access the entire hard drive with this program. And they look good too.
Lastly, if you are looking for good quality video, good outdoor pictures, watching videos from a hard drive and making your own Hollywood style DVDs this is the product for you. -
"raster44 right on!" on by JoeApache
Pros: Yes, carry an extra battery, no tapes, who would store hours of footage on their HD? Extra internal and external HDs are cheap. By golly CNET, just what should the resolution be??? At 60x it wobbles?
Cons: None as of yet.
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"Just what I was looking For!" on by raster44
Pros: 10 hours of video, WOW!
Cons: Hopefully none that I see
Summary: I love this concept! No more tapes to carry! I have 500+ tapes (SVHS, SVHSc, & Mini-DV) that I finally retired last year after putting it all on DVD. Ten+ hours of video at DVD quality that I can dump to a hard drive and burn on cheap DVD disks with no loss in that quality. With my Panasonic DVD recorder I can do it unattended while I sleep. Can't wait till August.
I wonder what the reviewer's talking about? Video quality, it's JVC and that's pretty good already. The only problem might be the reliability of the hard drive. Why worry about batteries when I already saw them on Ebay for $10. With computer DVD burners at $40 and DVD recorders/players at $100, and blank DVD disks at $0.30, everyone can have the ability to put video on DVDs. Twenty years ago, Camcorders cost $2500, tapes $8, and VCRs $1000. That's like $7000 in todays deflated dollar. His cons don't fly with me. I'm buying one and we'll check it out. -
"the best for the money" on by oonal13
Pros: quality, easy use, compact, no cost on media
Cons: it could have a better picture resolution
JVC Everio GZ-MG50 user reviews
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