EXCLUSIVE: JVC GZ-MG555 Review
Quick rundown:
Pros: Great manual controls and versatile featureset.
Cons: Some focusing problems. It’s not high definition.
The JVC GZ-MG555 is the top standard definition Everio model this year. It features some great manual controls for the control freak, a 30GB hard drive, and a huge 1/2.5″ CCD. JVC was the first to market with HDD camcorders, but can the GZ-MG555 hold its own?
On the back of the JVC GZ-MG555 you will find the slightly recessed battery compartment, which almost fully encloses the supplied battery. High-capacity batteries will jut out a bit more, but not as much as they could if JVC had decided to make the battery slot flush with the back of the camcorder. Also on the back are the A/V and power jack as well as the record and power/mode switches.
On the bottom left of the front of the camcorder you can pull back a small flap to reveal the USB 2.0 port and the external microphone jack. Just above this is the flash for the still mode, and right above that is the LED video light. On the bottom right is the built-in microphone, and just above that the 10x optical zoom lens.
I applaud JVC for building the lens cap right into the camcorder. Now you don’t have to worry about the lens cap flapping around and clanking against the side of the camcorder when in use. There is a switch right next to the lens that opens and closes the cover.
The right side of the GZ-MG555 is sparse, with only the handstrap being of interest. The strap was comfortable and did not seem like it would fall apart any time soon.
On the bottom of the camcorder is the docking port, tripod mount, and the ill-placed SD card slot. If you have the camcorder on a tripod you will not be able to access the memory card slot.
On the top of the JVC GZ-MG555 you will see the zoom rocker, snapshot button, accessory shoe, and the control dial. The control dial is reminiscent of digital cameras and some older camcorders. This is where you can quickly switch to manual mode or a number of AE modes like sports, snow, and portrait. Manual control fans will really like this feature.
Finally, the left side of the camcorder is where most of the action is at. Underneath the LCD screen you will find the menu, play, telemacro/info, direct DVD, and direct backup/event buttons.
The main controls are located to the left of the LCD screen. where you will find instantaneous access to functions like back light, LED light, night mode, focus, and battery/HDD info.
The video from the JVC GZ-MG555 actually looked pretty good on a standard definition television. It appeared sharp and detailed for the most part, with low-light being the exception. There was a definite lack of sharpness when I watched footage on a 32″ HDTV via the composite cables. However, the footage on the same TV looked much better when played over component cables from my Media Center PC. If you are still working with a standard definition television, you will like what you see, but if you have upgraded, or are going to upgrade, to a high-definition TV, consider stepping up to a HD camcorder to get the full benefit of the increased resolution.
Like most other consumer camcorders, JVC pumps up the saturation on the MG555 to make the colors pop more. This is quite common and most point-and-shoot users seem to like it better this way. However, the MG555 seems to go just a tad past the sweet spot of saturation, and I found it to be a little much at times, especially with colors in bright light.
Low-light capabilities on the JVC GZ-MG555 are not stellar by any means, although the large 1/2.5″ CCD retained a decent amount of detail. The video aficionado will find it lacking, but respectable. However, the average user who doesn’t know any better will not be disappointed.
The built-in video light does help a little, but I found its bluish color tone annoying and just opted for shooting with available light. The light is only good for up to a few feet away anyway, useful for when you are talking to someone conversationally, but not much else.
The JVC GZ-MG555 is pretty light camcorder. It has a somewhat plastic feel to it but otherwise has a good balance to it when being held. Small camcorders can sometimes be awkward to hold, but I found I was able to access all the controls I was supposed to and still felt quite natural holding it.
Autoexposure on the camcorder was exemplary. Moving quickly from a very dark area to a decently lit room to bright sunlight or anywhere in between proved to be no problem for the GZ-MG555. It kept up with any dramatic exposure changes perfectly.
The JVC GZ-MG555 also features a neutral density filter, which is something you won’t find in very many camcorders. It can be switched on or off by pressing the button in the middle of the manual control dial. A neutral density filter reduces the amount of light that passes through the lens. This is useful in very bright environments where you need more control of your image.
The digital image stabilizer built into the JVC GZ-MG555 was not as effective as I could have hoped. Even with very steady hands I experienced camera shake at the long end of the zoom.
Focusing was a also a minor problem. The GZ-MG555 was a little slow on the uptake whenever the plane of focus changed dramatically. It would eventually find its focus point, but it did take longer than expected. We are only talking a couple seconds longer, but sometimes that really counts.
The built-in microphone picked up audio as well as you would expect, which is to say it worked well up to about ten feet away in a small room, as long as that person was talking directly at the camcorder. If you need the best quality you will want to invest in an external microphone and utilize the accessory shoe and external microphone jack.
JVC definitely gives you plenty of manual controls to work with, and a lot of menu options, as well. This can be a little overwhelming for the straight point-and-shoot user, but if you like having some extra options available, the JVC GZ-MG555 delivers. For myself, having the added controls allowed me to execute complete control over the way my image looked in different situations rather than relying on full Auto mode.
Playback can be done directly from the JVC GZ-MG555 or via the included dock. I set the dock next to the TV and connected it for easy access. The average point-and-shoot user should find this a very useful feature in that you can just pop the GZ-MG555 right onto the dock and it is immediately ready to play. When the camcorder is connected to the TV and is in Play mode, it shows exactly what you see on the camcorder screen. This makes it very easy to navigate the thumbnails and select the scene you wish to play back. Using the remote you can do this from the comfort of your couch.
Another cool feature on the JVC GZ-MG555 is the ability to categorize clips. You have your choice of a number of different “events” to categorize your clips into including: vacation, sports, birthday, graduation, etc. Later, you can search for scenes by event during playback or when you copy the files to DVD.
The JVC GZ-MG555 can also be used to dub video and audio from an external source such as a VCR or another camcorder. This is perfect for anyone who wants to back up old home movies to a digital format.
Still images from the camcorder were frequently out of focus and nowhere near the quality you will get from a standalone digital camera. They were, however, pretty good quality for a camcorder. Don’t use the MG555 as a replacement for a digital camera, but it will do in a pinch.
In conclusion, I can definitely recommend the JVC GZ-MG555 for anyone in search of a decent hard-disk based, standard definition camcorder. However, if you are going to be viewing it on anything high-definition, you won’t like the quality you get from using the composite or S-Video cables. If you already own a HDTV, and absolutely must have a JVC camcorder, take a good look at the HD Everio line: the JVC GZ-HD3 and GZ-HD7 models.
My final note would be this: if you are scared off by lots of buttons and menu options, this is probably not the camcorder for you. Sure, all you have to do is turn it on and press record, but there are those who just can’t handle the added flexibility. On the other hand, if you want a camcorder that gives you that flexibility in a small, versatile package, the JVC GZ-MG555 might be just right for you.
