| JVC Everio GZMC100 2MP 4 GB Microdrive Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom | 
 enlarge | Brand: JVC
Category: Photography
List Price: $1,199.99
Buy New: $469.99
You Save: $730.00 (61%)
Buy New
Avg. Customer Rating:   (9 reviews)
Sales Rank: 36192
Media: Electronics
Special Features: Digital audio player
Optical Zoom: 10
Display Size: 1.8
Maximum Focal Length: 45
Minimum Focal Length: 4.5
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 14.6 x 14.6 x 7.3
MPN: GZMC100U
Model: GZMC100U
UPC: 046838016332
EAN: 0046838016332
ASIN: B0002X7V4I
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | The first camera to use Microdrive technology | | • | Includes a 4GB Microdrive card that can hold 60 minutes of DVD-quality video or more than 5000 high resolution still images | | • | Completely tapeless format for a ultra-compact, lightweight body | | • | Includes software for easy video editing and DVD creation | | • | Also supports CompactFlash and SD Memory Cards, USB2.0, DV-AVI,Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, Windows Media Video, and RealVideo |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
JVC's cutting edge digital media camera is a totally new way to shoot and enjoy digital video. The Everio records 60 minutes of MiniDV quality MPEG-2 video or over 5,500 1600x1200 UXGA high resolution stills on the included high capacity 4GB Microdrive card. Thanks to its 2.12M CCD imager, Super Hi-Rez Lens and JVC's exclusive Megabrid engine you're getting the latest technology for superior video and digital still performance. Make digital-to-digital transfers using the USB 2.0 interface for quick downloading to a PC. Print directly from the USB to any PictBridge compatible printer. Stylishly compact. Casually active. The Everio for everyone who wants quality with the emphasis on mobility.
Amazon.com Product Description
Still images or video--capture either 60 minutes of DVD-quality MPEG-2 movies or thousands of super-high resolution UXGA-size JPEG pictures with the Everio--the first camera to use Microdrive technology. The included 4GB Microdrive card, though it is the same size as Compact Flash card, has such unprecedented capacity because it is has its own built-in HDD (hard disk drive).  | | The completely tapeless Microdrive format lets you choose higher video quality or longer shooting times. |  | | Store more photos than you ever thought possible on the included 4GB Microdrive card. | Until now, tapeless formats have been severely limited in the length and quality of video capacity, but the Everio's Microdrive lets you shoot up to 60 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 video--and even more in lower resolution modes. A selection of recording modes lets you choose more quality or more shooting time. The highest quality ULTRA mode records at a constant bit rate of 8.88 Mbps with AC 3 audio -- comparable to the DVD data rate (average 4 Mbps video/9.8 Mbps maximum). Essentially what you get is DVD quality, with the same video and audio format as a movie DVD. And the number of still photos that will fit on the Microdrive card is nothing less than awe-inspiring: More than 5000 of the highest resolution images (1600x1200 fine). 2.12 Megapixel CCD
This 1/3.6" CCD with a total of 2.12 million pixels (effective: 1.23 million for moving pictures, 2 million for still pictures) offers the high resolution capabilities needed for high quality digital videography and photography. And the Megabrid Engine applies separate, optimized processing to moving and still images, for videos with a high signal-to-noise ratio, and high-resolution still pictures. Versatile, Lossless Data
Store what you've shot on the provided Microdrive card, optional CompactFlash or SD Memory Cards. size as a CompactFlash card, but with many Gigabytes of capacity. You can eject the Microdrive card, just as you would a CompactFlash or SD Memory Card, and load data into your PC via optional card adapter. Or simply connect the camera via its USB2.0 interface for quick downloading to a PC. All transfer is digital-to-digital, so you won't lose any quality in the process. DVD Creation & Sharing
Three advanced applications are provided: - Power Producer offers easy saving (authoring) of your video clips in any order to DVD, even right from a USB-connected camera, so you can share your original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player.
- Power Director offers feature-rich non-linear editing so you can flex your creative muscle with titles, effects, and even mix still with videos.
- Power DVD for easy video clip and DVD playback with AC 3 audio.
|  | Multi-Format Support
In addition to making it easy to create DVDs, the supplied software converts to a variety of file formats for distribution via the Web or by e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed over the Internet.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Convenient, but with a major sacrifice May 28, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've had this unit for about 2 weeks now, and I really like the convenience of its size and digital file transfer, but I'm very disappointed with its color performance. In less-than-ideal lighting conditions, the image is dark and the color is very washed out. With bright ambient lighting, it's acceptable, though not nearly as vivid as my old Sony Digital 8mm. I concur with most of the cons already mentioned here, including the slow boot-up time and mode switching between video, photo, and voice recorder.
I've also had numerous instances when it has trouble locking focus on a subject. This is annoying, and from my experience so far, I don't feel that the manual focus options are easy enough to make an override effective in these cases.
Battery life is short. With my limited use so far, I do not feel that it would last an entire hour under normal use. In three days, I got about three 10-minute sessions on a single charge. Sure, it may have lost a little charge over the course of a few days, but under the circumstances, I consider this very short battery life. However, I did notice that there are eBay sellers selling knock-off batteries and chargers for very attractive prices.
The included software, though extremely basic, makes it easy to quickly create a DVD. Using the provided templates, you can make a DVD with a simple menu, chapters, photo slideshow, and transitions in just (10) minutes (not including recording time).
Overall, I would have no MAJOR complaints with this cam if it weren't for the low light/color problem. I consider the other issues to be relatively minor. Personally, I wouldn't value this unit over $300, considering the quality of most cams out there these days. But, for the price I paid ($240 special at ABC Wharehouse), I may keep it just because its small size gives me no excuse for not taking a camcorder everywhere I go with my young son. Elusive memories captured in sub-par color are better than missed memories any day!
 My low down on this camcorder April 14, 2006
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Pros:
Its really small. I mean small. It will fit in most medium size camera cases.
The still pics are acceptable. I have a sony p41 4.1MP and it comes close. With the 10x zoom I dare say it's more usefull than no zoom and more than makes up for pixels.
It is extremely simple to use and to figure out.
The .mod files really are simple to use and transfer. I bought a card reader and can burn dvd straight from the microdrive. The dvd does not have to be 'rendered' unless you add effect or modify the files. This saves sooooo much time! There is some processing time in making the menu but way faster than time for time because it records in the actual format that ends up on the DVD.
There is a shutter setting for low light condition that saves this camera from being useless in many indoor conditions. The draw back is slightly less accuracy in movement. Movement will blur past 1/30 shutter speed but its better than looking at black and 1/30 is actually a pretty darn good compromise between light and action.
Microdrive/ compact flash and Secure digital formats are getting cheaper and cheaper so you can expect to achieve great recording times. There is an economy setting that does 5 hours on 4G, that's better than mpeg 4 at 30 fps! And the quality is only slightly worse than the highest setting!! I can't see needing more memory than 4GB.
The 10x Zoom is good and is touch sensitive so you can zoom really slow or fast. I bought a .45 wide lens and a 2x zoom lens that will expand its capabilies. Both lenses were $50 on ebay. I got the Camera for $375 on ebay and there don't seem to be many around.
In my opinion the 4GB microdrive is a way better medium than the mini DVD format because there are no recurring costs and the full size dvds that you end up burning are cheaper and you won't have one event spread out on three mini dvds. I'm also guessing that there is a much lower error rate on the flash memory than a spinning disk. It was tuff to pass on all the new mini dvd cams comming out but I'm really glad I did because of the 1hour limit. Of course with the 1 hour battery limit your still changing something out in the middle of taping. Still better than minidvd though.
Cons:
In medium light conditions the auto focus is kind of slow. It can 'hunt' or lose focus for up to a few seconds. Kind of lame but it doesn't happen all the time and it can be manually focused in challenging environments. I'm sure other cameras do a lot better than this in autofocus.
Don't expect good low light results on automatic settings, you won't like it.
There is definately a heat issue with this unit. I have not recorded long time periods but the manual says it shuts down if it gets too hot. I kept it on for an hour goofing around and heat was definately concerning. I think the source is the battery but as long is it stays on and records I'll forgive it.
Battery life is not impressive. Youll get 50minutes to over an hour on a battery so if you want to fill the memory in one outing buy two extra batteries. The battery life is actually the average among camcorders but the draw back on this unit is you can't buy a buff aftermarket battery because of the size restraint. You have to expect some comprimise because of the size though.
The screen size is also kind of small as far as camcorders go but I'm okay with that as I get no enjoyment out of even the biggest screens, I just want to get it to DVD and sit on the couch. I do wish you could close the screen and maybe save battey life while recording, but that turns the unit off. I put it on a small tripod and record a live performance so I don't need to monitor anything.
While this unit is amazingly small and will most certainly make it to events that you might not want to look like a tourist at, it seems very dense. It's got some metal in there or something and I would be very scared to drop it unlike featherwieght digital cameras of the same size.
If your a video quality freak you might not want to get into this camera. The colors while acceptable are dull and I'm sure the cheapest miniDV cam looks better though you might end up a library of miniDVs that require too much labor to get to DVD.
Start up time is about 7 to 10 seconds from power off to record. That's really not that bad but not as good as many digital cameras, and if your johny on the spot looking to film the next rodney king video you might want to consider this.
Conclusion:
If size and convenience is what you want than this camera will fit the bill. If you want this to compete in low light and video quality with similiar priced miniDV camcorders, none of the mpeg2 cameras can come close in price/quality. I'm sure the technology has not matured yet so I wouldn't pay new full price for this, that would be crazy.
Overall I'm blown away by this thing because it does the job of a digital camera and a camcorder to a very acceptable degree and I'm more concerned with size portability and convenience than impressing Speilburg with video quality so it's a match made in heaven for me. Again I would not pay pay full new price for this 'about to mature' technology but if you can find one in good condition for close to 400 or less your in for a great experience!
Good quality for the small size September 18, 2005
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
I run trails. I need three features in a camcorder:
1. Shockproof and weatherproof. I've trashed two Mini DV camcorders, sending each back to the factory twice for repairs. Tape drives can't handle bouncing in a backpack. Also they can't handle rain.
2. Small and light.
3. Good picture quality. Mostly I pull still photos out of the video. For running, as with most sports, shooting 30 frames per second instead of 1 or 2 frames per second with a still camera is the difference between getting the right shot or getting almost the right shot. As Mark Twain wrote, the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. I'd rather have a 0.3-megapixel video still of the right shot than 8 megapixels of almost the right shot.
When MPEG camcorders (which record onto memory cards, not tape) came out I looked at three: the Panasonic SV-AV100, the Samsung SC-X105L, and the JVC Everio GZ-MC100U. I ruled out the Samsung because it records only low-quality MPEG4, not the better quality MPEG2. The Panasonic is smaller and lighter (6 ounces) than the JVC (11 ounces), but the JVC can also shoot 2 megapixel still photos. The Panasonic has a 1/6" CCD and a smaller lens. The JVC has a 1/3" CCD and a somewhat bigger lens. I presumed that the JVC would have better picture quality than the Panasonic. (Panasonic recently announced the better-quality SDR-S100.)
I've used the JVC for a month. In general it's pretty good. I have several video stills that are just the right moment. In one, a woman winks at a friend. In sports shots I captured the athletes at just the right times. The pictures are good enough to use for most anything. And the camcorder is small enough that I have no excuse not to bring it with me everywhere.
On the downside, the video colors are always somewhat weak, even in daylight.
In low light the colors desaturate to black and white. This is good because you can shoot video in quite low light. The 2-megapixel stills have better color but still look a bit "off." The lens is acceptable except for high-contrast subjects, such as branches against a bright sky, where it completely loses detail. No, this camcorder doesn't look as good as my big camcorder or my still camera, but it looks acceptable, and it's with me when the big camcorder and camera are left at home.
The biggest problem in my pictures is slow shutter speed. If I use the 10x zoom handheld I get motion blur. Sports subjects are often moving so fast that they blur. The shutter speed isn't adjustable but my guess is that it's always shooting at 1/30 of a second, to give the CCD enough light.
The JVC also works as a voice recorder. This feature works extremely well.
Downloading the video to a Macintosh requires the free application "MPEG Streamclip" plus Apple's $30 MPEG2-Quicktime coder. Importing to iMovie becomes a 2-step process. No big deal.
Good services August 5, 2005
1 out of 9 found this review helpful
I bought this camcorder at Bargain ultimate through Amazon. It was delivered to me as promised and I got everything as I expected. I realy like this camcorder. It's so convienent to carry and shoot.
Great product....but not perfect January 9, 2005
6 out of 16 found this review helpful
It has all the perfect features, but one down-site is Zoom noise. The noise appear when you recording at a quiet place and zoom in/out fast. I think the mic is too close to the lens motor.
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