JVC GZ-MG750

So many manufacturers are competing heavily in the digital camera industry because different consumers need different features which are why electronic and online stores are filled with so many models to choose from. The latest cameras are even capable of recording high-definition video. Digital camcorders are evolving as well with budget and enthusiast models all over the place. Some manufacturers focus on their best strengths and cover certain markets while other companies like JVC try to cover all audiences. Famous for their pocket-sized Picsio cameras, the recent release of the JVC GZ-MG750 is proof that JVC is still polishing their non-HD budget models.

JVC Everio GZ-MG750 Camcorder

JVC Everio GZ-MG750 Camcorder

Design & Interface

The JVC GZ-MG750 is specially designed for people that easily want to record in any location. It is compact and easy to handle thanks to the new 2-way grip belt which adds stability to recording. The 2-way aspect of the grip allows people to detach the grip belt so it becomes and hand strap. The design has been slightly altered to look better when device is stood up vertically. This makes them more ideal to carry around even during special events.

Another key feature lies on its 2.7-inch LCD display which utilizes laser touch technology for navigating through the interface. A touch-sensitive scroll bar is found on the left of the display. This scroll-bar serves multiple purposes depending on the active screen. For instance, it can be used for zooming or can act as a scene selector in “Video Playback” mode. There are also five touch-sensitive buttons on the bottom for activating indicated icons above.

Main Features

Because this is a budget camcorder, the JVC GZ-MG750 does not introduce any high-definition recording support. However, the specs are still impressive for an entry-level camcorder featuring an 800k pixel CCD sensor along with a massive 45x dynamic zoom and 800x digital zoom to allow all kinds of creative action. The Konica Minolta lens is paired nicely with the HD Gigabrid Premium II Engine for decent standard-definition quality. The 80 GB hard disk allows the MG750 to record up to 100 hours of video and the added SDHC card support expands these possibilities even further. For more important videos, the “Ultra Fine” setting can be used to record up to 19 hours of video if the entire 80 GB drive is to be consumed.

Some of the new features further boost the image quality like the Super LoLux which is extremely useful in low-light environments where colors need to be preserved. The Advanced Image Stabilizer feature keeps up with the competition in keeping the images steady while walking. Those that enjoy zooming in can finally shoot stable video.

Actual user review:
“This is a very nice camera. It was easy to begin using and very logical in it’s design. As others have mentioned, you should use a tripod when using a higher zoom. The image stabilization works well at wider fields. I like the tilting video door to be able to see what I am filming when the camera is not at eye level. I have wished for the ability to open the viewing door past 90 degrees, however.

What I appreciate most is the ability to take still pictures even while taking a video. This allowed me to capture a wonderful still picture at my daughter’s graduation in the middle of filming her entire walk. It takes better still pictures than my older Cannon digital camera (and has a higher zoom).

The biggest surprise is that every time I hit stop it ends the video file, even if the camera remains in the “on” mode. The next time I hit start, even if it is 30 seconds later, it is a different file. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the first time I used the camera I took about 30 short shots and I ended up with 30 different very short clips that I had to merge later. This was not made as clear in the instruction as I would have liked.

The battery life with the standard battery has worked ok for me so far. I was able to film an hour-long concert with no problem. However, it seems to be critical to charge the battery immediately before using the camera, or the charge seems to fade faster. Charging it on one night and using it the next night yielded an unhappy surprise for me (and an incomplete video of a recital).” – K. Thompson(Louisville,CO,USA)

 

Other Features

“Time Lapse REC” is a unique addition to the 2010 Everio series adding more creative ways to use the camcorder. This feature lets the user set an interval prior to recording. When the feature is activated, the camcorder follows the set interval shooting a frame each time. The end result is a slideshow style presentation that shows what changed in the set period of time. This is best used for monitoring changes in scenery by keeping the camera still for hours.

Another new recording option featured is the “Auto REC” mode which is a great way to save recording time to only get the most interesting parts of a video. It works by setting a detection area which is constantly monitored for activity. The JVC GZ-MG750 only starts recording when there is a change of luminance or if motion activity takes place in the area. Once the subject leaves the detection area, the recording stops after five seconds.

Videos can then be transferred to the PC via USB cable. The “One Touch Export” button simplifies the process by exporting the file to iTunes so any of the latest Apple portable devices can play back the file in the proper format. The “One Touch Upload” button can be used to upload videos directly to YouTube instead.

Bottom Line

What is great about the JVC GZ-MG750 is that many of the features found in the HD camcorders are present in this model. While playback may not look the best on HDTVs, The low $400 price tag is attractive for people who want a feature-rich digital camcorder with enough space to record hours of video.

Average User Rating:
More user reviews:
• “This is a wonderful compact camcorder for filming family and sporting events. I prevously had a Sony handcam which uses DV tapes, but it finally broke down after 10+ years. This JVC camcorder is about 1/4 the size and weight of my previous one, so it’s handy to put into my purse. I also looked at the new Sony handycams, but I was not impressed by their image stabilization. The JVC camcorders were much better. The controls are pretty easy to operate. I read the manual front to back, but I was able to show my husband how to use the basic controls in 5 minutes. He probably could have figured it out himself, since it’s fairly intuitive. I like how the camcorder turns on automatically when you open the screen. We tape our daughter’s gymnastic competitions, so the 45X zoom is fantastic since the equipment is usually far from the spectators. The zoom button is a little hard to operate with your right finger since it’s also holding the camcorder, but you can also zoom using the screen. The picture quality is fine, if you want better, you might want to get the HD version. For the price, it’s definitely a good buy.

The only disappointment for me is that JVC camcorders output in their proprietary .MOD format, which is not readable on my old MAC 10.4x Tiger OS. I found a s/w program that supposedly converts various formats that the MAC can read, but the output resolution was awful. I ended up using the JVC supplied Pixela s/w to create a DVD that I can play on the TV. The Pixela s/w is OK, and you have to do some reading in order to figure out what you want to do, but it does the job. I wish I can use iMovie on the MAC since it has more features and is easier to use.” – G. Hu(Huntington Beach,CA,USA)

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• “We have 2 small children and this new camcorder allows us to record all those firsts. The camera is easy to use and has the features we were looking for. The zoom is great and the 80GB hard drive allows us to keep recording without worrying about filling up memory cards. The battery that comes with the camera doesn’t last long (45min to an hour), but extended use batteries are available for purchase.” – Thomas M. Mcdonnell(Olivia,MN,USA)

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