JVC GZ-MG130 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on May 4, 2007 12:00 PM
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Ease of Use (5.75)
For a camcorder that is geared toward point-and-shooters, the MG130 (Review, Specs, $467.95) has the potential to pollute its LCD display with unidentified looming icons. Yes, the MG130 is compact, easy to transport, and stripped of advanced ports. The LCD-mounted joystick is a joy to navigate with. The camcorder only has two modes: video and camera that are selected via the mode dial. In order to play back footage, you just press the select/play/record button in the LCD cavity. Yet it appears that JVC managed to make the MG130 a little too convenient.
Most point-and-shooters will be grasping the LCD panel while they are shooting, which means one inadvertent strike on the joystick could alter the backlight compensation, shutter speed, or activate the video light. The icons representing each action are so vague, including a daunting owl that stares ominously at you. This is in manual mode, though. The majority of MG130 owners will never even touch the auto/manual button and will run for the hills if it is accidentally shifted into manual mode. In that sense, yes the MG130 is a snap to use but only in full auto mode.
Handling (5.0)
The GZ-MG130 (Review, Specs, $467.95) handles quite well, despite a construction that feels a bit second-rate. Assuming you can put aesthetics aside, the controls are well-placed, easy to use, and logically designed to keep the time you spend making adjustments to a minimum. In addition, the camcorder rests comfortably in your hand. It’s not big enough to list to the side, and the wide hand strap keeps pressure dispersed. You should only have problems with the general layout of the GZ-MG130 if you’ve got large hands and/or meaty fingers, in which case your fingers could overshoot the zoom lever, while the miniaturized controls may feel too dainty.
Ever the innovator, JVC’s now widely emulated Data Battery feature is back, providing detailed information on battery life and HDD capacity at the touch of a button. The joystick on the LCD frame is another design innovation we like as it places the control and menu interface front and center, right next to the screen. The Function button just below the joystick keeps access to manual controls like white balance and shutter speed quicker than on most consumer camcorders, while more arcane options are left to the Admin menu. This arrangement compares favorably with Sony’s touch screen menus that are dauntingly deep and detailed, and Panasonic’s joystick-based system, which can be tough for newbies to master.
While we like the handling of this and other JVCs (the HD7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1529) is a much bigger version that handles even better), there is, of course video performance to consider. That is an area in which the GZ-MG130 struggles, so consider your options with care.
Menu (5.25)
The GZ-MG130 divides options between the main Admin menu, the Function menu, and an AE mode list. This divided menu strategy is shared by Panasonic and Canon, though each manufacturer takes a somewhat different approach. Sony is the lone company to stick with a single touch screen menu and control interface. JVC’s approach is a good one, in that it keeps those options most useful during a shoot quickly accessible, reserving the expansive Admin menu for setup options that you’ll use rarely if ever.
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| The Function Menu | The AE Mode Select Menu |
The manual control action takes place in the Function menu, accessed with ease by pressing the Func. button on the LCD frame. There, you’ll find Focus, Adjust Brightness (exposure compensation), Shutter Speed, WB (white balance), Effect (Sepia, Monotone, Classic Film, and Strobe), and Tele Macro. While we don’t love the joystick controller for all manual controls, especially focus, you can reach them all in a matter of seconds. That speed can make the difference between getting the shot and missing it as you fumble your way through a menu.
The Program AE list is even easier to access. Tapping the joystick right brings up a wheel where you’ll find a healthy selection of AE modes, including Twilight, Spotlight, Sports, and Snow. Several other options are available via the joystick when the camcorder is in manual mode: up engages backlight compensation, left engages Night Alive, and down turns on the video light.
The main Administrative menu is accessed via the Menu button in the LCD cavity. This menu has a significant learning curve for beginners, one that we’ll chalk up to poor design. Rather than having a simple, text-based list of sub-menus that goes from top to bottom, each item is represented by an icon. Also, the list is designed to loop, so that when you get to the last item and push down on the joystick one more time, you end up back at the top. But if you’re not paying attention, each item looks brand new, giving the appearance that the list goes on forever and ever. In reality, there are only a few sub-menus, but it tricks the beginners every time.
The Administrative menu includes submenus for video and still camera setup, and options for everything from menu language to DIS (electronic image stabilization) on/off.
Portability (7.0)
This is the kind of camcorder you’d find in Munchkin Land. It’s about as big as a fist, yet it fails to pack a potent punch. The MG130 measures 66mm x 71mm x 110mm (2 5/8” x 2 13/16” x 4 3/8”) and can fit in a small bag or large pocket. It’s also a paperweight, gingerly tipping the scale at 320g (.71 lbs.). The MG130 is guaranteed to be a hit amongst the most esoterically versed point-and-shooters with a battery endurance of 1 hour and 35 minutes in conjunction with 430 minutes of continuous hard drive capacity. Super! Now Dad can take the whole family to Collinsville, Illinois to record 7 hours of the world’s largest bottle of ketchup. There are no protruding parts on the MG130, as this camcorder is a cheap plastic brick of suburban temptation. Just make sure the lens cap is closed or you’ll see scratches over your treasured family moments of sharing and caring.
The LCD is the sole viewing device for the GZ-MG130. There is no viewfinder.
LCD and Viewfinder (3.0)
You won’t find a viewfinder on the puny MG130 because 9 out of 10 point-and-shooters will not know what a viewfinder is or how valuable it can be. LCD screens reign supreme in the land of home video, so JVC gave the MG130 a 2.7” 16:9 TFT active matrix system LCD (112,00 pixels) with a glossy screen. The LCD can rotate up to 270 degrees, but solarizes at the slightest angle. The hinge is also thin and flexible, but what would you expect on JVC’s cheapest Everio? To be honest, the LCD display looks better than the actual recorded footage – which 
may prove a rude awakening to owners. The LCD panel is stacked with three buttons running vertically along the left side of the LCD screen: the index/battery meter, joystick, and function controls. We have to give props to JVC for their multi-faceted joystick. You can instantly access program AEs, backlight compensation, night shutter speed, and the video light with just one click.
Battery Life (10.1)
For the battery test, we set the camcorder to manual mode and let it record until the battery runs out. The total recording time of the MG130’s BN-VF808U battery pack was 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 41 seconds (100 minutes and 41 seconds). This is an improvement over last year’s Everio line and will treat you well on the road.