JVC GZ-MG37 Camcorder Review

Audio (4.0)
Audio on the JVC GZ-MG37 is limited, which is unfortunate considering that it has an MSRP of $800. This should ideally warrant a mic jack or other audio in option, but there is nonr. Instead users will have to rely on the stereo microphone beneath the lens. The GZ-MG37 does come with a wind cut option, listed in the hazy administrative menu. The wind cut feature will filter out low tones that are caused when wind hits the face of the microphone during recording. There is also no manual audio levels, which would be good to include on a camcorder at this price.

VCR Mode (5.0)
The VCR or playback mode is entered by moving the power switch on the top of the camcorder to the playback mode icon. Switching between video and still image playback is accomplished by moving the mode switch in the LCD cavity to the appropriate mode icon. Moving back and forth between review modes will take a few seconds. Users can view images in both single and 9-image thumbnail multi-up format when in review mode. The user can also press the index button directly beneath the joystick for two other additional playback interfaces. The JVC GZ-MG37 also allows users to view images in a three image up date index screen or an even screen that allows users to personalize their video storage to reflect shooting periods of importance. The still image review mode only allows users to choose between the nine-image multi-up index screen and the date index screen.

When viewing single video clips in playback, the joystick on the frame of the LCD doubles as the control for navigating individual clips. The joystick is unlabeled and undersized for this task and it tended to frustrate instead of navigate. Pressing the joystick inwards will play/pause the footage, while the left and right control scans playback footage, while the up and down arrows skip to the beginning and ends of footage. If the footage is paused, the left and right arrows engage frame-by-frame or slow motion playback. With the joystick controls displayed in the center of the LCD for only two seconds when switched into playback mode, convenient use of these options seems unlikely. There was also a considerable amount of delay experienced when switching between VCR actions but it is certainly faster than scanning MiniDV tape for desired footage. The slow response time and poor external control design makes this camcorder less successful in playback when compared to DVD camcorders by Sony like the DCR-DVD405.

When playback is paused or when viewing still images, the user can engage up to 5x of digital zoom.

When viewing still images in playback mode the user can rotate images via the up and down arrows on the joystick. The up arrow will rotate images counterclockwise while the down arrow will rotate images clockwise.

Ports (4.0)
There are four locations for ports on the body of the JVC GZ-MG37. On the bottom of the camcorder on the right side is the SD memory card slot, covered by a stiff rubber port cover that snaps cleanly closed and displays a well designed hinge. A second port cover on the back of the camcorder directly above the battery is opened via a tab on its right side, and it is tenuously connected via some rather flimsy rubber hinges. This port cover when opened will reveal a USB 2.0 port and an A/V out port. A third port is located on the left side of the camcorder body at the base of the LCD cavity in the center of the camcorder. This S-Video out port does not have a cover, although this isn’t a huge concern since the closed LCD will protect this port from damage during travel. And finally, on the right side of the camcorder in the upper back corner is a DC-in port for connection to wall power.

The A/V and USB ports on the rear of the GZ-MG37, and the DC power jack on the right.