JVC Everio GZ-MG70 camcorder review

New JVC GZ-MG70 features internal 30GB hard drive – records seven hours of DVD movie-quality video

JVC today announced the addition of a two-megapixel model to its Everio G series line of hard disk camcorders. The new GZ-MG70 features a built-in 30 gigabyte (GB) hard disk drive and a sensor that uses 1.2 megapixels to capture full 16:9 or 4:3 video with digital stabilization, as well as two megapixels for up to 1600 x 1200 pixel digital stills.

JVC’s Everio G Series camcorders eliminate the need to carry tapes, discs or any media at all, yet can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video or more than 10 hours at DVD camcorder-quality. To put this storage capacity in context, it would take 22 single sided DVD camcorder discs (8 cm/20-minute discs) to hold just seven hours of video at camcorder quality.

In addition to native 16:9 and 4:3 DVD movie quality video, the new JVC camcorder’s 2.12 megapixel CCD enables shooting of detailed JPEG photos of up to 1600 x 1200 pixels. The hard disk’s high capacity means that nearly 10,000 photos can be shot and still have room for hours of video, even at the highest quality settings.

Despite the enormous storage capacity this JVC camcorder weighs-in at just a pound with included battery, and is small enough to easily take anywhere. Its design is similar to a MiniDV camcorder’s, which means that it’s comfortable to hold and operate, and includes a large, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD monitor for easy recording. And with multiple interfaces and supplied software (Windows® and Macintosh), it’s easy to view and share what’s shot.

MPEG-2 Video Recording for DVD-Movie Quality Footage

The Everio G series GZ-MG70 from JVC offers seven hours storage at 9 Mbps, which is close to the maximum bit rate for DVD movie quality recording, or 10.5 hours at 6 Mbps, comparable to DVD Cam recordings. Two more modes are available for even more recording time. The high quality MPEG-2 recordings are in the same format used in DVD so there is no quality loss when burning them to DVD, and no time and quality wasting conversion.

Shooting time (normal use)

*Combined A/V rates, Video Bit rate is fixed for Ultra and Fine modes, variable for Norm and Eco modes.

2.12 Megapixel CCD for nearly 10,000 High Quality Still Images

The GZ-MG70 is equipped with a 2.12 Megapixel CCD image sensor that enables capture of high quality video and stills. And for the best possible video and still image quality, JVC’s Megabrid Imaging Engine separately processes video and still signals, providing optimal processing for each and assuring high sensitivity and a high signal-to-noise ratio for moving pictures, as well as clear, high resolution still images.

There are four JPEG still image sizes to choose from: 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. At each size, two resolution modes are available: STD and FINE. No matter which size is selected, nearly 10,000 still pictures can be stored on the internal hard disk drive. The camcorder can also store or copy JPEG stills on an optional removable SD Memory Card. Also, it is PictBridge-ready for printing directly to compatible printers.

Random Access to Recordings

The benefits of recording digital video to a hard disk are the same benefits that have made hard disk-based audio players so popular — random access to quickly locate desired material, the ability to effortlessly delete unwanted material, and to easily rearrange the playback sequence. What’s more, there’s no danger of mistakenly recording over something that’s to be saved.

Scene selection is made easy thanks to on-screen index images, so the large amount recorded won’t become a hindrance to quick accessibility. And with remote control operation, it is possible to connect the GZ-MG70 to a TV and operate it from a distance, just like a DVD deck. Playlist operation allows recording of desired clips directly to DVD with an available DVD burner, or directly to VHS or other analog input devices with the S-Video or composite video output for perfect copies every time.

Hard Disk Protection and Stability

A challenge in designing and building a hard disk camcorder is protecting the disk from shocks and vibrations. One way this is done in the Everio G camcorders is through a unique floating suspension system that effectively dampens vibrations through advanced polymer shock absorbers. Another security measure familiar to notebook PC users is its gravity-like force sensor system that automatically senses sudden acceleration such as in a free fall situation, and turns off the power to defend the hard disk so that a head crash can be avoided even when the unit is dropped.

Assurance of High Video Quality

Encoding of moving digital images to MPEG-2 data is handled by the world’s smallest MPEG-2 codec chips, developed by JVC based on extensive experience in professional MPEG-2 applications. Also present is JVC’s 3D NR (3-Dimension Noise Reduction). Conventional 3D noise reduction offers limited accuracy since it compares field A and field B that make up a frame with different sets of odd and even scanning lines to compensate for noise. JVC’s 3D NR technology compares field A to field A, and field B to field B across two frames so that the scanning lines are identical and noise can be reduced more accurately. As a result, signal-to-noise ratio is improved by 2 dB and noise reduced by about 30 percent. Flicker is eliminated and color reproduction is improved, enhancing overall picture quality.

Advanced Interfaces

For quick downloading to a PC, simply connect the camera via its USB 2.0 interface. The transfer is digital-to-digital (approx 4x or better real time speed depending on the PC), so there is no quality lost in the process. And since the camera supports PictBridge, it can be connected via the USB terminal to a compatible printer to easily print stills directly from the camera.

Everio G models also have an SD Memory Card slot for direct transfer of digital still image data. DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) support allows the menus on the camera screen to be used to conveniently select images and quantity before giving removable media to a printing service. The JPEG images themselves conform to DCF, PIM 3 and Exif 2.2 for optimised print quality.

Make Full-length DVDs Easily, With or Without a computer

In a unique collaboration with Apacer Technology Inc., JVC and Apacer developed a new separately-available Apacer DVD video burner that connects directly from the Everio G. Just select the playlist or file, or simply copy it all – one touch gets you a full length video DVD or compilation of DVDs without a personal computer, to watch on a DVD player.

For users who want to edit with a computer, JVC includes software for use with both the Windows® and Macintosh platforms. Provided Pixela Capty MPEG Edit EX, and optional Capty DVD for making DVD Video software provide seamless integration into the Apple Macintosh computer world. Of course Everio G is compatible with iPhoto for still pictures.

For Windows PCs, the CyberLink DVD Solution bundled with Everio G models comprises three applications that make it easy to make full-length DVD movies. A standard 4.7GB single-layer DVD-R/RW disc holds over one hour of an Ultra mode movie, and over 90 minutes of a Fine mode movie.

• PowerProducer™ offers easy saving and authoring of video clips in any order to DVD, even directly from a USB-connected camera, so users can share original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player. The software makes it easy to locate and transfer video files residing on the camera’s hard drive. Saving to DVD requires only a PC with 256 MB RAM, 700MHz or above Pentium III, USB 2.0 terminal and a DVD burner.
• PowerDirector™ Express offers feature-rich non-linear editing so users can flex their creative muscle with titles and even mix stills with videos. PowerDirector Express also converts movies to a variety of file formats to send via the Web or 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 uploaded or streamed over the Internet.
• PowerDVD™ conveniently plays back video clips and DVDs with Dolby Digital audio.

The JVC Everio GZ-MG70 will be available next month and will sell for about $1,000.

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