JVC GZ-MC200 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Matt Culler
Published on Oct 4, 2004 5:00 AM



In September 2004, JVC announced the GZ-MC200 and GZ-MC100 as its new Everio line. Both camcorders stand as a relative breakthrough in recording media for consumer video, and shine the proverbial flashlight into the future of convenience and compatibility for digital camera/camcorder hybrids. A closer look into both camcorders may illuminate the subtleties wherein they differ. Now, the GZ-MC200….

Video Performance
The video quality of both the GZ-MC200 and the GZ-MC100 is a matter of speculation. Within the realm of tiny non-tape-media camcorders, video performance, and the factors that affect it, can be perplexing.

For instance, the Fisher FVDC1 has a 1/2.7-inch CCD, which one would expect should produce excellent video quality. After all, broadcast camcorders usually have CCDs almost as big. However, the Fisher’s video quality is horrible, mainly because it does not record to MiniDV tape or another medium. The camcorder’s bitrate is 2Mbps (640x480/30p), which could also be a problem, and there was horrible grain. So, the fact that the JVC GZ-MC200 (as well as GZ-MC100) has a 1/3.6-inch, 2.12 megapixel CCD (1.23MP effective video, 2MP effective still) could be inconsequential when it comes to video performance, although it may look pretty big in the face of camcorders like PV-GS200. We can say that, at the press event, JVC presented the GZ-MC200 side-by-side with its competition, namely the Fisher cited above and the Panasonic SV-AV100, and the camcorder performed noticeably better during playback of prerecorded footage. (This was not unexpected, as JVC produced the footage.)

If one assumes an unbiased presentation of the products, the renewed clarity and outstanding performance of these camcorders might be attributed to JVC’s Megabrid technology, which processes video and still signals separately, or the Super Hi-Resolution Lens that's been specifically designed for the camcorder’s 2.12 megapixel CCD performance. And while it is surprising that the GZ-MC100 and GZ-MC200 perform better than the Fisher FVDC1, as the Fisher has 1/2.7 inch CCD, with approximately 3.2 MP, this performance can provide a rational example to militate the irrational evidence of horrible, non-tape-medium camcorder video performance. But, ultimately, any judgment of the GZ-MC200's video performance remains speculation.

Another positive aspect of the JVC GZ-MC100 is found in its recording medium: a 4GB Microdrive card, similar to the hard disks found on iPods, that's the size of a Compact Flashcard. The Microdrive enables both the GZ-MC100 and GZ-MC200 to take up to 60 minutes of Ultra-fine video at a bit rate of 8.5 Mbps (720x480/60i). Fisher’s FVDC1 only records at a bitrate of 2Mbps (640x480/30P). Panasonic’s SV-AV100 records video at 704x480. The GZ-MC100 and GZ-MC200 can also take a remarkable amount of stills to the Microdrive, approximately 5,500 at 1600x1200. These camcorders also include SD card ports, similar to the Fisher FVDC1 and SV-AV100, so your old media won’t go to waste.

The Front
The front of the GZ-MC200 is divided into two halves, similar to Sony’s new DCR-HC1000 (Review, Specs, $1199.89). The right side consists of the front of the lens barrel, and the left side holds the front of the recording mechanism. On the front of the left side is a port cover that lifts up to reveal the DC-in, A/V/S-Video, and headphone ports. Above the glass on the right side is the camcorder’s built-in flash.

The Right Side
The right side of the GZ-MC200 is dominated by absolutely nothing, or everything, depending upon your interpretation of a big handgrip. And it’s not really a handgrip at all, but rather a large expanse of black, bumpy material surrounded by the silver material that makes up the body of the camcorder. All in all, very attractive, austere and simple; a black oval circumscribed in silver.

The Left Side
The left side of the GZ-MC200 is black and glossy, with a huge JVC logo and the camcorder’s mode dial that switches between playback, record, and off. Above the mode dial are three LEDs that indicate whether the camcorder is in photo, movie, or audio recording mode; this is selected by the mode button in the center of the mode dial.

The Top
The top of the GZ-MC200 can be divided, like the front and the back of the camcorder, into two distinct halves. The right is the top of the lens barrel and contains the camcorder’s stereo microphone; the left is the top of the recording mechanism, containing the hinge to access the recording media (Microdrive and SD card) and the battery. Also, towards the back right of the recording mechanism side, is the camcorder’s small zoom toggle, within finger’s reach.

The Back
The back of the GZ-MC200 is where most of the controls and buttons are located. While nearly all of the manual controls are located in the menu system, buttons on the back include the record button, the menu button, a delete/trash button, and an info button. Also on the back of the camcorder is the 1.8” LCD screen and the navigational four-way selector.



Picture and Manual Control
Automatic Control
Similar to its sibling, the GZ-MC100, the GZ-MC200 is very small and portable. Slightly more bulky than the GZ-MC100, the GZ-MC200 can still fit into a pocket, and like most portable camcorders is designed for point-and-shoot use. Even the menu systems are designed for user-friendly convenience. Automatic controls are therefore of utmost importance, especially because nearly all of the manual controls are buried in the camcorder’s menu system. Automatic settings exist for focus, exposure, shutter speed, and white balance. Preset exposure and shutter speed settings, or Program AE (Sports, Snow, Spotlight), and White balance options of Fine, Cloud, and Halogen also exist.

Overall Manual Control
For a camera the size and scope of the GZ-MC200, the manual controls meet, and perhaps even exceed, expectations. There are decent exposure options, and while shutter speed options could be better, the ISO options and white balance options are up to standard and pretty nice considering the hybrid nature of the camcorder. This is enough to give the Panasonic SV-AV100 and the Fisher FVDC1 a run for their money. (The Fisher includes no manual white balance; the Panasonic, no manual shutter speed.)


Zoom
The GZ-MC200 features the same optical zoom of 10x and digital zoom of 220x that are seen on the GZ-MC100. This is a step above the zooms offered on the Fisher FVDC1 and Panasonic SV-AV100. As far as zoom motor noise is concerned, the GZ-MC200 doesn’t exhibit any of the annoying hissing, churning sounds found on the Fisher FVDC1. The zoom is also relatively quicker than the FVDC1’s.

Focus
Manual and automatic focal adjustments are available on the GZ-MC200. The GZ-MC200 is free of the “thinking” problem evident on the Fisher FVDC, which is the inability to decide on a proper focus length, especially in low light situation, as the camcorder struggles to adjust.

Exposure
Exposure can be adjusted manually on the GZ-MC200 for video capture and still capture. Adjustments can be made within the window of -6 and +6 for video, and -2 and +2 for stills.

Shutter Speed
Manual shutter speeds are available between the window of ½ - 1/4000 for video and ½ - 1/500 for still photographs.

White Balance
On the GZ-MC200, the user can set the white balance manually or use one of the preset values for Fine, Cloudy, or Halogen environments. While standard, these white balance options are a step up from the Fisher FVDC1 which, while including more preset white balances options, does not have manual set white balance.

Gain
While there is no manual gain control on the GZ-MC200, there is a Gain up Video sensitivity setting.

ISO Control
The ISO, or sensitivity, of the still camera function on the GZ-MC200 can be manually set at either the 80 or 160 level.

Still Performance
The GZ-MC200 takes digital stills at a maximum resolution of 1600x1200, which isn’t all that impressive when you consider that the Fisher FVDC1 takes stills at 2048x1536. What is amazing is that, on the GZ-MC100’s 4GB Microdrive, 5.5 thousand still photos can be stored. Perhaps these camcorders’ new Super Hi-Resolution Lens aids in resolution. It should be noted that, if you’re not looking for a hybrid, this camcorder is not for you. It offers, as all hybrids, mediocre still performance in the face of pure digital cameras, while offering better MPEG, and while JVC claims that these camcorders are comparable to MiniDV camcorders in video quality, that has yet to be seen. As far as manual camera controls go, still shutter speed options include adjustments from ½ - 1/500 with ISO settings of 80 and 160. There is a self-timer for two and ten-second intervals.

Low Light Performance
As with video performance, speaking of the camcorder's low-light performance and quality is entirely speculative. The camcorder’s CCD is only 1/3.6 inches, while the Fisher FVDC1’s is 1/2.6 inches. As stated earlier, this difference may not mean a drastic difference in low light performance, inasmuch as it did not ensure stunning video performance on the Fisher. JVC’s noise reduction technology and Megabrid technology, included on the Everio line, may improve its low light performance, especially in the area of noise reduction, which the FVDC1 so desperately needed. Also, the Everio line’s improved bitrate may help things run a little better.

LCD/Viewfinder
The JVC GZ-MC200, like the GZ-MC100, includes a 1.8-inch LCD screen but lacks a viewfinder.

Audio
The stereo microphone on the GZ-MC200 is located on top of the lens barrel. As on the GZ-MC100, an audio-focused Voice Recording mode is available on the GZ-MC200 to complement the movie and photo modes. In this mode, .wav files can be recorded with 16-bit 48kHz PCM sampling at up to 1.5 Mbps, and at three different quality settings (Fine, Standard, Eco) — 5hrs. 47 mins in Fine mode, 34hrs. 43min in Eco mode (8kHz sampling, 256kbps).

There is also a Wind Cut function to minimize wind noise in the stereo microphone, but no manual audio level control.

Handling
As far as operability goes, the GZ-MC200 is geared towards two-handed use, while the GZ-MC100 is more for one-handed use. That said, the GZ-MC200 is still very small, approximately pocket-size, and the selling point of the Everio line in general (aside from the Microdrive feature) is the size of these camcorders, and the amount of data captured in such a small space is impressive. As impressive as the iPod, one might say. So, as far as handling goes, just think small. The manual controls on the camcorder are, needless to say, not very accessible. This is a point-and-shoot camcorder. The battery/media bay is conveniently located atop the handgrip side of the camcorder (right side), as is the zoom toggle, which is miniscule.

The main difference in handling between the GZ-MC100 and the GZ-MC200 is the rotating body found on the GZ-MC200. The GZ-MC200’s body is divided similar to Sony’s new DCR-HC1000, with two separate hulls, if you will, one holding the lens barrel and other holding the recording mechanism. The case of the GZ-MC200, the recording mechanism side, the right side, also stretches around the back of the lens barrel, with the LCD screen on the back of the this extension. The lens barrel then rotates within to the two-sided cavity created by the right side’s L-shaped form.

Ports
The battery/media port is located on top of the camcorder’s handgrip. The DC-in, headphone jack, and A/V/S-video port are located on the front of the handgrip, underneath a port cover. The USB is underneath a black glossy port cover on the lower left of the left side of the camcorder.

Other features
CyberLink DVD Software is used to make and watch full-length DVD movies.

PowerProducer used to save and author video clips in any order to DVD.

PowerDVD This progam plays back video clips and DVDs with AC 3 audio.

Digital Effects of Sepia and Black and White are available when recording, and Strobe is included with the others during playback.

Playback Scene Transitions of White Fader, Black Fader, Black & White Fader, Corner Wipe, Window Wipe, Slide Wipe, Door Wipe, Scroll Wipe, and Shutter Wipe are available.

Comparisons
Fisher FVDC1
One of the other smaller, non-tape media hybrid camcorders on the market, the Fisher FVDC1 also goes under the Sanyo moniker in Japan. The Fisher FVDC1 includes a bigger CCD and a better still resolution than the GZ-MC200, at 1/2.7 inch and 2,048x1536 respectively. The Fisher's video performance is lacking in quality, and it will be interesting to see how these two camcorders compare to one another. The Fisher also does not include manual shutter speed or white balance of all things (though many white balance options are available), which is of utmost importance. The Fisher records to SD card. The GZ-MC200 has nearly double the optical zoom and ten times the digital zoom power of the Fisher and without all the motor noise. Also, the GZ-MC200 is more of a horizontal camcorder, as opposed to the Fisher’s more taser-like, one-handed design. Body-wise, the FVDC1 has a lot more in common with the GZ-MC100. The GZ-MC200 is nearly $400 more expensive than this Fisher.

Panasonic SV-AV100
This camcorder almost bridges the gap between the Fisher and the new JVCs. It includes the white balance and shutter options that the Fisher lacks, while it records to SD card and has an optical zoom of 10x, as the GZ-MC200 does. Its 1/6-inch CCD produces better video than the Fisher, which is a good sign for the GZ-MC200 in its hope of competing with the Sanyo/Fisher. The SV-AV100 is less sleek than the Fisher, and probably less portable than either of the new JVCs. This Panasonic also doesn’t include manual shutter speed, like the Everio line. The GZ-MC100 is nearly $500 more expensive than this Panasonic.

JVC GZ-MC100
The GZ-MC100 and the GZ-MC200 share tons in common. Nearly all of their specifications are identical except for weight and dimensions, which is no surprise as their body designs are completely different. The GZ-MC200 is around 40g heavier than the GZ-MC100, which is a nominal difference when it comes down to it. The biggest difference in body design is the fact that the GZ-MC200 has a rotating body and is more of a two-handed camcorder design. It also costs $100 more than the GZ-MC100.

Conclusion
A breakthrough camcorder when it comes to recording media, the GZ-MC200 includes the same Microdrive found on the GZ-MC100. It is slightly bigger in size, and is generally geared towards two-handed use. In many ways, when you’re shelling out the $100 more for the GZ-MC200, you’re paying solely for the rotating body.

Both camcorders in the Everio line represent the newest, and best, in non-tape-media camcorders, as well as hybrid camcorders. Indeed these camcorders exist in a liminal category we can only cursorily define as “secret-agent camcorders”. What separates these Everios from other secret-agent-cams of yore, namely the Fisher FVDC1 and Panasonic SV-AV100, is an improved bit rate, smaller package, better manual controls, and, above all, a new recording format.