JVC GZ-MG555 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Jan 10, 2007 6:00 AM
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Video Performance
The JVC GZ-MG555 is equipped with a 1/2.5 inch, 5.37 MP CCD. With last year's GZ-MG505, the colors tended very much towards the saturated look, which we had mixed feelings about. Consumers like strong colors, but and you can't blame JVC for meeting their demands. But accurate color representation should hold equal footing. It's hard to determine how the MG55 will break. Oversaturation was an issue with the MG505, but its sister model, the less expensive one-chip GZ-MG77 produced a dull image that lacked any luster at all. With such inconsistent video performance last year, it's hard to determine how the new GZ-MG555 will fair when tested with our Imatest software. A firther X-factor is the new GigaBrid processing engine, an upgrade from last year's Megabrid engine.
The JVC GZ-MG555 comes with a JVC brand 10x optical zoom lens. Part of the problem with optical zoom, even at 10x, is image stabilization. The GZ-MG555 comes with only a digital image stabilization system. Similarly priced Panasonic models are equipped with optical image stabilization which offers superior results. While viewing footage in playback, digital image stabilization's shortcomings were obvious. The image quality when the camcorder was shooting at the full 10x optical zoom showed camera shake and tremors. Although, it was worse without the digital stabilization; the results with it on were still sub-par to other camcorders found at a lesser price.
Low Light Performance
If JVC's claims are correct, the JVC GZ-MG555 will show a marked improvement in low light performance compared to prior models in the Everio line. JVC claims their new GigaBrid engine increases the signal-to-noise ratio by approximately thirty percent or three dB. JVC states that all 2007 models will be shooting at equal or better sensitivity to previous models. Last year's models were just as inconsistent in low light as they were in video performance. It should be noted that the 2006 models were equipped with 3D Noise Reduction system. JVC claimed that this technology was going to reduce noise by thirty percent, and we still found siginificant noise level. This claim of reducing noise by 30 percent may be an optomistic outlook, though we'll almost certainly see some improvement. Having looked at the still image photo examples provided by JVC at their CES booth, the images showed noise in shadows. It must be noted that this was not a production model, and on-the-floor performance (as we are so often reminded by all manufacturers) is not necessarily representative of the final product.