Hi there

I’m looking at getting either the Everio GZ MG57 or the MG77.

I am especially interested in recording in widescreen and plan to record ONLY in widescreen.

I have searched the forums and JVC UK websites and have a few questions before I buy:

1. Which will give me the best widescreen image? The MG77 or the MG57?

Both say they have full 16:9 recording but is it just the MG77 that has a ‘real’ wide CCD? The price difference is quite big between these two and I wonder if anyone would like to comment on whether or not the extra price for the 77 is worth it?


2. This is about the aspect ration and resolution….

Even though the MG77 says it uses 1440x810 pixels to capture the moving 16:9 image and this resolution is 16:9, it says the effective pixels for capture are 720x576 which is a 4:3 resolution.

How do these camcorders then record 16:9 if they use a 4:3 resolution to record?

I only ask because my experience with a DVD ‘widescreen’ camcorder has been that the 16:9 is a squeeze mode and then cannot be played back properly on a widescreen laptop (it looks squashed and you get the black letterboxes to the left and right of the image)

I have read the Everio Utility 1.5 for instance fixes aspect ration issues when transferring the footage to the PC for watching or editing – would this mean my 16:9 footage from the Everio would fit the 16:9 laptop and would not look squashed? Does the utility somehow change the resolution of the video?

If anyone has either of these models it would be good to hear or see some screenshots of the video properties and any experiences regarding the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Many thank

Username12345

I think I may have almost answered my own question by searching the forum again - a discussion of the MC500 says that whilst a 16:9 ratio of pixels is used to capture the video it will be recorded in the PAL standard of 720x576 to actually record it. This is all welll and good but it says that the MC500 didn't set a flag that the video is to be played back in 16:9 which is why you get the squashed look.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t125070.html

This post is from well before SDcopy and the Everio Utility 'fixed' the aspect ratio problem so I presume that the aspect ratio issue for playing back on a PC and for editing in programs that support 16:9 and mpeg files.

Would the properties of one of these 'fixed' videos say '4:3 actual, 16:9 displayed' in the video properties?

I suppose what I want to just confirm is that the GZ MG77 will produce 16:9 video that I can playback on my widescreen laptop as well as the TV?

Thanks again

12345

hi again..

I have just used the SDcopy tool on some .VOB files from the DVD camcorder that I used.

I converted them into .mpg and then converted the .mpg into .mpg but flagged the widescreen 16:9 box - and guess what!!!???

The widescreen files that previously played in a squashed 4:3 window played in 16:9 widescreen! (but i think you could have guessed that would have happened anyway!)

The new file properties say that the video size is 720x576 but the aspect ratio is 16:9 and it plays in 16:9 full screen which is all i wanted to see.

I am now much happier about buying my Everio!!

Cheers

12345

What a pleasure to read your fortunes and answer your own enquiries! Well done, it is a good forum here, cheers and good luck with your everio!

Hi
In europe(PAL world) a DVD compatible mpeg2 file always(with some exceptions) has the resolution of 720X576 regardless whether the aspect ratio is 16:9 or 4:3.
In the mpeg2 files(VOB and MOD files are also mpeg2 format) there exist a header that includes the information whether 16:9 or 4:3 should be used(like a flag).
The reason why I wrote the tool SDcopy.exe was because most camcorder that record to memory cards do not set the 16:9 flag although the clip was recorded in 16:9. Later I found out that this is not a fault of the camcorder manufacturers, instead the specification of the file system of SD cards specify to do so.
From my experience all camcorder that generate MOD files(Panasonic SDR-Sxxx and JVC Everios) do not set the flag correct, JVC also generate MOD files with their HDD camcorders although most of their everios don't use SD cards.

__________________
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Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

2nutz – I agree this forum is a good place – I had been trying to find out this information about aspect ratio’s for weeks now and I found everything I needed here.

Sektionschef – I have got say well done for making the Sdcopy tool – I’m sure it has saved lots of people a lot of hassle. Its cool it works on VOB DVD files as well for those people who have DVD camcorders – perhaps a post should make its way into the forums for people with DVD camcorders??

My MG77 is on its way now…

Cheers

12345

Hi
To be honest I haven't known that also miniDVD camcorders do not set the 16:9 flag inside their vob files.
Congratulations for you MG77 purchase.
Would be great if you can let us know how you like it.

__________________
Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

Hi,

Yes I used a Samsung DVD camcorder and had aspect ratio problems with that - Using SDcopy I had to convert the VOB to MPG and then MPG > MPG with the 16:9 box ticked and it worked a treat.

I heard that the Canon DC100 has the aspect ratio issue to - but your tool can be used to help people with Samsung miniDVD camcorders at least!

>>Congratulations for you MG77 purchase. Would be great if you can let us know how you like it.<<

I decided to spend the extra over the MG57 because it has a higher resolution capture than the 57 - and seeing as a camcorder like this is a once in a 5 year+ buy (for me anyway) I thought it was worth it.

Anyway I will let you all know how I like it!


Which Everio do you use?

CHeers

12345

Hi there

well my Everio MG77 arrived today with the model number GZ MG77AH

The settings were in Japanese and I had to change the language - but it seems to stay in English even if you remove the battery.

There is one dead pixel on the LCD...but I am aware that that is normal for LCDs.

I am thrilled with the video quality and the widescreen footage and it plays back fine on the TV and laptop....

Does it matter that it is an 'AH' model? I would have expected it to be 'EK' but t seems to work ok on the face of it.

Any comments on the model number would be welcome - Im in the UK with PAL video by the way.

Anyway I will write back when I have had a chance to use the camera and tell you all what I think of it.

Cheers

12345

Is the MG77AH a PAL model?

__________________
Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

Yes the GZ MG77AH is PAL and it says in the manual that it is a PAL standard and on the box. On the PC the video properties say MPEG-2 PAL, 720x576...

Im a bit worried that I should buy a camcorder in the UK that is set to default language in Japanese - if i reset the camcorder it goes back into what i assume is Japanese, but otherwise it operates in English just fine.

I am really impressed with the MG77 - perhaps not so impressed with the AH suffix - but the build quality, picture quality and how easy it is to use the menus is amazing.

I emailed JVC UK support to ask their opinion on the model number - if they say it is OK then I wont mind.

WHat do you think?

Cheers

12345

yes, if it is a PAL model then it is OK. Usually you don't need to reset the cam so you shouldn't get the jap language. Is there anything printed in jap language on the cam?

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Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus

Yeah in everyday running if the camera i wont need to reset it so it would be fine - I just wondered what would happen if i restored the factory settings - just in case it may have been set to Japenese by somone at the factory for some reason...no such luck!

As for writing on the camcorder - it is all in English - apart from a few Japanese translations where the model number is printed on the bottom sticker, and next to the Dolby sign on the LCD cavity, but it is still written in English as well.

Most of the writing on the box has English underneath it, but the box does look like you might pick it up in Japan.

Despite this the manual is in full English (there is no Japanese section at all) and has the GZ MG77AH model number on it (as well as A/AH ect) and the mains adaptor is a UK type.

I do think this is a little odd - especially as I cant find any information on any JVC website about the AH suffix.

Anyone else had this????

sektionschef - any thoughts?

Cheers - and thanks again

12345

Hey I found this on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Used-JVC-EVERIO...4QQcmdZViewItem

Looks like the same box as mine - but i would think that one is NTSC seeing at its in America...

Here we have the JVC Hong Kong page

http://www.jvc.com.hk/cgi-bin/jvc_p...gi?model_id=731

The PDF document for this is in Japanese - but its a generic leaflet for the whole Everio series.

I don't know what to think - looks like I got a Japanese import! (like Hondas perhaps)

Maybe the company who I got it from (who I see have today reduced the price by £15!!) got a load imported or something?

ANy thoughts??

I will have to wait and see what JVC UK have to say and update you when I ihave news!

thanks

12345

sorry, I have no idea what the AH model is.
But JVC should be able to answer this. You can also ask the company where you have bought the cam.

__________________
Regards
Sektionschef

Panasonic SDR-S100
Sandisk Ultra II 2GB SD Card
Raynox QC-505 0.5 WA
IBS 5X Tele
Velbon Ultra Maxi F Tripod
Magix Video deluxe 2008plus