JVC GZ-MG555 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Jun 11, 2007 9:00 AM
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Comparison
JVC GZ-MG505
Last year’s top of the line Everio, the GZ-MG505 ($1300 MSRP) was a respectable model, sporting three 1/4.5” CCDs and a lens hood. This year’s GZ-MG555 changed strategies, opting for a single, massive 1/2.5” sensor spouting a gross pixel count of 5,370,000. So what’s the diagnosis? The GZ-MG555 produces a more natural image, as opposed to the GZ-MG505’s neon color palette. It churns a stronger low light performance, too. This can be attributed to JVC’s decision to whittle down three subpar imagers into one mega chip. The GZ-MG555 also includes a video light, mic jack, docking station with Firewire terminal, and a killer old-school program AE dial. The best part: The GZ-MG555 is 400 smackers less than the GZ-MG505. The choice should be clear.
Sony DCR-SR200
Sony needs some type of camcorder intervention program—perhaps HDD-aholics Anonymous. They keep cranking out standard definition HDD camcorders at an alarming rate. The bogus news is that most of them are essentially the same, aside from minor alterations. The 40GB Sony DCR-SR200 ($850 MSRP) is basically the same camcorder as the DCR-SR300, only it has a slightly smaller 1/3” imager and a lower maximum resolution for digital stills. Last year’s DCR-SR100 produced a stellar image, and this year’s DCR-SR300 displayed a healthy, balanced image. The DCR-SR200 should yield the same. Comparatively, the GZ-MG555 has a larger 1/2.5” chip, larger maximum stills, a video light, LCD-mounted joystick, and a much better suite of manual controls. The SR200 gives you a hot shoe—though it’s Sony proprietary—and a that cool smooth slow record feature which lets you record true slow motion by quadrupling the frame rate. Overall, you’re likely to see better image quality from the Sony, but better handling and manual controls from the JVC. Perhaps Sony is the better value, but JVC will have its followers in this contest.
Panasonic SDR-H200
We’re jumping back in price here, but the Panasonic SDR-H200 ($699.95 MSRP) shows some potential…at least we hope so. This little 30GB HDD number packs in three CCDs—each 1/6” with a gross pixel count of 800,000, which is nothing special. Panasonic’s 3-chip camcorder performances from the last couple of years have offered tremendously color reproduction and decent sharpness. The SDR-H200 is also equipped with a manual focus ring, which is a true rarity on a camcorder within this price range. On the downside, it doesn’t have a video light, flash, FireWire, mic jack, headphone jack, or accessory shoe, which will hamper shooting flexibility. The SDR-H200 is considered a hybrid camcorder for its ability to record video to an SD card when the HDD is maxed out. Based on its entry level-grade features, the SDR-H200 just doesn’t hold a candle to the GZ-MG555.
Hitachi DZ-HS500A
Oh man. This is going to be brutal. The Hitachi DZ-HS500A ($799 MSRP) is a challenged camcorder. With a single 1/6” CCD misting out 680,000 gross pixels, electronic image stabilization, 2 channel audio, and an atrocious menu button panel, the DZ-HS500A is indeed a special breed. It wields a maximum still resolution of 640 x 480. The only truly compelling features is that it’s a hybrid and can record video to a 30GB HDD or DVD. This alone has made it a tremendously popular model in certain markets. The SD card comes into play for stills, but, as mentioned before, there’s no need. Don’t expect high video quality, great handling, stellar ease of use, or anything else you’d want in a camcorder from the Hitachi DZ-HS500A.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
Based on the colossal imager, old-school Program AE dial, and decent manual control set, the GZ-MG555 is for the point-and-shooter who has graduated beyond Bar Mitzvahs and county hoedowns.
Budget Consumers
At $899, the wallet will wince, but the GZ-MG555 offers enough to justify its hefty price tag—just not enough to make a budget consumer squeal with delight.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
This little brick monster can take up to 2592 x 1944 (5MP) stills stored to its 30GB HDD or SD/SDHC card. Stills are accompanied by a histogram and up to 9999 stills in the highest quality can be stored to the hard drive. If you are a photographer at heart, the GZ-MG555 will float your boat.
Gadget Freaks
Nerds from all four corners of the AV storage room will slither out and revel over the GZ-MG555’s ferocious 1/2.5” imager, data battery, and old-school program AE dial. They will then hold a Quake II tournament, film it with the GZ-MG555, dump the footage onto the nearest gaming PC, and upload it to YouTube for a total of six views—one for each person in the room (including the janitor).
Manual Control Freaks
That old-school Program AE dial will make manual control freaks weak in the knees. In addition, the GZ-MG555 boasts a respectable array of manual controls, operated jointly by the LCD-mounted joystick and the dial of awesomeness.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists
Pros will pick up the GZ-MG555, notice its mammoth lens barrel, Program AE dial, and all black design. They will then smirk with slight appreciation, but then place the GZ-MG555 back on the shelf and grab their JVC GY-HD110U.
Conclusion
The HDD camcorder market has two prominent players, JVC and Sony. For a time, JVC had the space all to themselves, but failed to create the ideal Everio model that found that magic point where performance, price, and features all meet. Before they knew it, Sony stepped in and, as they tend to do, flooded the market with HDD camcorder at multiple price points. Now, with Sony’s name recognition, JVC needs to innovate quickly or expect to be washed away. According to the most recent news, they’re doing just that, and have big plans for the Everio series. We can only wait to see where that leads them.
The simple breakdown is this: Sony’s top HDD camcorders have better picture quality and is easier to use, while the JVC GZ-MG555 has better manual control, handling, and flexibility. It’s rare that we see such a simple divide, and requires only that you ask yourself what kind of user you are. Do you want the simple path, with a guarantee (more or less) of a great-looking video ? Sony has got the answer for you. Are you eager to learn what a camcorder can do, and at the same time, discover what kind of videographer you could be? JVC is the wiser investment.
The feature set of the GZ-MG555 is very good: shutter and aperture control, a non-proprietary mic jack, a neutral density filter button, an easy-access mode dial for several AE modes, and more. Video performance, however, did not live up to the promising specs. The resolution was even worse. We’re not sure what happened, but we weren’t pleased.
Overall, yes the GZ-MG555 is a good value, but it’s not right for everyone. If you’re content with a no-thinking-required operation, Sony has what you’re looking for, with a better picture to boot. More ambitious users will have to maximize of the MG555’s flexibility to get what they want.
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