JVC GZ-MG555 Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Jun 11, 2007 9:00 AM

Intro Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features
Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity Other Features
Comparisons / Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery
    		•
    Specs and Ratings  
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    News: JVC Adds to 1080/50i and 60i Output to GY-HD200 · Two New HD Everios from JVC GZ-HD5 and GZ-HD6 · JVC Shows Off New High Definition Everio GZ-HD3


    Ease of Use (5.75)
    JVC’s Everio line encompasses some of the most compact little HDD bricks on the market, and the higher you climb in price, the more you get. It just so happens that the GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626) is uniquely well-equipped to make life easier during a shoot. There’s an LCD-mounted joystick, mic jack, cold accessory shoe, and an old-school mode dial.

    Mounting the joystick on the LCD panel makes sense—most consumers brace a camcorder with two hands. The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626)’s joystick is small, but it’s more solid than most Canons and Panasonics. In addition, a host of instant functions are available right at your thumb, including backlight compensation, night mode, video light, and focus. The function menu button rests just below the joystick, enabling a quick shift into extended options. Although the menu button is located within the LCD cavity, all it takes is one push to bring up the administrative menu screen, fully controlled by the joystick. This is far superior to Hitachi’s jumbled mess of menu controls strewn throughout their hybrid line.

    JVC gives you a mic jack and cold accessory shoe, which is great, but it also limits your options. You’ll have to find a battery-powered external microphone, and without a headphone jack, you won’t be able to efficiently monitor recorded sound. Mic and headphone jacks go together like peanut butter and jelly, and the GZ-MG555 only serves you a jam sandwich. You can get your peanut buttery protein from the GZ-HD7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1529), which includes a both jacks and a hot accessory shoe.

    Now onto the retro wheel of fun—the old-school program AE dial. You used to see these on certain older MiniDV Canons and Sonys. We’re not sure if JVC is attempting to resurrect a classic design trait, but we dig the dial. It eliminates the need to quest through a menu and puts auto, manual, AE presets, aperture priority, and shutter priority right at your fingertips.

    Handling (7.0)
    The JVC GZ-MG555 is a somewhat unusual beast with a few attributes that make it unique on the market – and most of that uniqueness enhances the way it handles on a shoot. The manual control and menu interfaces are thoughtfully designed, and incorporate some revisions to JVC’s previous Everio layouts. One addition is an old-school Program AE Dial that sits right above the battery slot on top of the camcorder. In other Everios, such as the recently-reviewed GZ-MG130 (Review, Specs, $467.95), Program AE modes are accessed via the joystick. That model works well, in that it keeps these shooting modes close at hand – but the physical dial is even faster because each mode has its own position on the dial. This does away with having to cycle through and select an AE mode using the joystick, and the slow response time that is our biggest gripe about this year’s crop of Everios.

    In-hand, the GZ-MG555 feels solid and well-built, and balances nicely in your palm. The hand strap is wide and comfortable, and the zoom and photo buttons are positioned well. This is a very small camcorder, however, and that is an attribute with both pros and cons for handling. Unlike larger camcorders including Sony’s HDD-based DCR-SR300 (Review, Specs, $761.95), this JVC is best suited for small-handed users. If you’ve got larger than average hands, you’ll need to clench your fingers to operate the rocking zoom lever. This design byproduct is neither good nor bad, but it is something to be aware of when deciding which camcorder is right for you.

    A more serious issue is the fact that this camcorder’s electronic image stabilization system (called DIS by JVC) is poor in comparison to the competition. The MG555 (Review, Specs, $626) turned in a score that was nearly identical to its entry-level sibling, the MG130 (Review, Specs, $467.95), placing them both in last place among 2007 camcorders we’ve tested thus far. Seeing such a low stabilization score is a shame, as is the loss of OIS from last year’s MG505 (Review, Specs, $829.95).

    Ultimately, however, the MG555 (Review, Specs, $626) handles well. If you can work with the slow menu response time, you’ll find that manual control over parameters like shutter speed and aperture are unusually accessible via the Program AE dial.

    The screen-mounted joystick is another handling boon, offering quick access to Backlight and Spot Metering, the video light, manual focus, and night mode.

    The Function Menu button, just below the joystick adds quick access to exposure in EV steps (labeled Brightness), white balance presets, and Effects.

    While the response time will slow you down a little, the intelligent interface layout still makes this a relatively efficient consumer camcorder when it comes to setting up a shot. A cold shoe and external microphone jack add to its appeal as a capable performer – though once again, we lament the loss of a headphone jack, featured on the MG505 from 2006. If you rely on manual controls to optimize your shot, the MG555 won’t disappoint, and it offers much more control than the DCR-SR300 (Review, Specs, $761.95).

    Menu (5.25)
    The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626)’s menu structure is similar to cheaper Everio models, but one thing in particular sets it apart from the rest—the old-school program AE dial. This thing rocks. Instead of adding more clutter to the LCD screen, the GZ-MG555’s dial of delight supersedes an annoying menu interface and offers instant control over auto, manual, AE preset, aperture priority, and shutter priority settings. Therefore, the actual menu is simplified and a bit easier to swallow.

    The LCD-mounted joystick enables you to toggle through manual focus, night mode, backlight compensation, and video light settings by maneuvering it in accordance with the specific control’s label. When manual focus is selected, you can control its parameters by moving the joystick right or left.

     
    Menus, clockwise from upper-left:
    1) the function menu, which is operated
    entirely by the joystick;
    2) the main menu, general options
    3) the main menu, video options    		  

    Beneath the joystick is a round function menu button that brings up the function menu screen. The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626) must be set to manual mode in order to access the function menu. Here, you can adjust exposure (labeled brightness), or set the camcorder to auto exposure. Next is white balance with the following options: auto, manual, fine, cloud, and halogen. Lastly, the function menu offers the following digital effects: sepia, monotone, classic film, and strobe.

    The administrative menu is accessed via the menu button located in the LCD cavity. Once pressed, a cool blue menu screen will appear with vertically rotating icons for each subset. Video offers quality, zoom, DIS, 16:9 wide recording, gain up, wind cut, record media for video, scene counter, and external microphone settings. Next in line are the camera settings: quality, image size, gain, continuous shooting, and record media for image. The general set follows and consists of brightness, drop detection, remote, demo mode, operation sound, TV type, analog input, display, display on TV, language, clock adjust, date display style, date/time, preset, quick restart, auto power off, and color mode settings. Media is the last subset: clean-up HDD, format HDD, delete data on HDD, format SD card, video number reset, and image number reset.

    The administrative menu is identical in both video and camera mode because it includes both subsets. The only difference is that when you press the menu button in camera mode, the administrative menu starts on the camera subset. The function menu is slightly limited as well, offering only sepia and monotone image effects, and nixing auto white balance.

    Portability (6.25)
    The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626) is slightly larger than a balled fist and it’s proving to pack a solid punch in the handling department. This compact brick of stealth measures 74mm x 72mm x 118mm (2 15/16” x 2 7/8” x 4 11/16”) and tips the scale at 470g (1.1 lbs.). Its operating temperature falls between 32 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity range of 35% to 80%--that’s for all you weatherchannel.com freaks. The GZ-MG555 will definitely fit in the smallest camcorder bag you can find with room to spare. It will also fit in certain large pockets, including the ever-awesome cargo pants pocket.

    You’ll run into a couple issues on the road, though, one being the GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626)’s cheaply constructed port covers. Treat them like golden goose eggs and you shouldn’t have a problem. Also, a manual lens cover is great because it eliminates a clanking pendulum suspended from the hand strap and is also sturdier than a mechanical enclosure (more moving parts means more potential to crap out). The downside to the manual lens cover is that you have to remember to close the darn thing. Finally, like most batteries in this price range, the GZ-MG555’s BN-VF808 pack will not last you even 1/4 of a shooting day. Therefore, bulk up – bulk up to the max! Or in JVC’s clever reminder, “Don’t forget a backup battery!” The massive BN-VF823 will last three times as long.

    LCD and Viewfinder (5.0)
    Generally, Everio LCD screens are well equipped. The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626)’s 2.7” wide LCD screen is no exception. The LCD screen extends at a 90 degree angle to the camcorder’s body and can be rotated a full 270 degrees. The screen resists solarization fairly well and displays a crisp image. The only downside is that its resolution is an ailing 123,000 pixels—a cheap move by JVC for a $900 camcorder. Running vertically along the left side of the LCD panel is the battery/HDD info button, joystick, and function button. It’s all in the LCD, and those who are fond of two-handed shooting will jump for joy. The brightness of the LCD can be adjusted within the function menu. A horizontal slider appears onscreen and is controlled by the joystick.

    The GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626)’s old-school program AE dial rests in place of where a viewfinder would go. Although the lack of a viewfinder will vex those who like the option of a secondary monitor, remember that no standard definition Everio offers one, nor do Sony’s HDD camcorders. An adequate viewfinder conserves battery life and offers an alternative to LCD screen glare on sunny days, and certainly would have been appreciated, considering the price tag.

    Battery Life (12.7)
    We tested the GZ-MG555’s battery life by setting it to manual mode and recording continuously with the LCD flipped open until its BN-VF808U pack threw in the towel. The GZ-MG555 lasted a venerable 127 minutes, a rarity amongst consumer camcorders. Last year’s GZ-MG505 (Review, Specs, $829.95) incited shameful gasps with a 54 minute battery life. Much has changed since then, and the GZ-MG555 proves itself a vacation-worthy camcorder.


    The data battery information is displayed on the LCD.
















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