Customers Reviews
2009-11-08
Convenient and cheap, but indoor shots orange-shifted
Pros:
Very convenient-- Flip open the viewfinder, open the shutter, and you're ready to record in no more than a couple seconds. I've found that most of the things I tend to record are short and happen on the spur of the moment. Having a camcorder that's ready that fast means that I'm much more likely to use it.
Outdoor picture quality-- I suppose that any camera will do better when there's more light available, but the videos shot outdoors, particularly on sunny days come out sharp and clean.
Built-in LED light-- For subjects that are close at hand, you can (with only a couple buttons, but still via the menu) turn on a bluish white LED that seems to improve the picture quality.
Good sound-- Not that it's a major innovation, but the sound tends to be very clearly recorded, and the microphone is quite sensitive. So sensitive that if you're clumsy or hurried in ending a shot, every video will end with the sound of you hitting the record trigger to stop the clip.
Lightweight-- Partly because it uses SD cards for storage and I guess just partly because of the design and materials, this is a very light camera. You can hold it for extended periods without any wrist fatigue and it doesn't feel like you're smuggling lead when you drop it in bag or pack.
Cons:
Non-standard recording format-- Movie files are saved in a .MOD format instead of MPG. You can either use the JVC software that comes with the camera to "back up" the videos to a hard drive which converts them to MPG if you select the right options. Or you can obtain a freeware program called SDCOPY that mass converts the files directly. Either way, it's less than ideal that you have to take this extra step.
Indoor Color-- Videos recorded indoors using normal (i.e. ambient artificial) light tend to be sepia-shifted in color. The image is only slightly "softer" in these cases than the razor-crisp edges you get in full sunlight, so it's not a matter of picture quality per se. But you should expect that most of the videos you shoot indoors will have a moderate to severe orange-sepia-brownish color tone.
Overall I am pleased with this purchase, particularly for the $180 I paid for it. There are presumably other models out there that avoid the sepia invasion that this one suffers during indoor shooting, but probably not for the price.
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2009-08-20
Easiest to use
We had avoided spending money on a new camcorder since the one we have owned for several years seemed to still be in working order. After helping record a school event using an earlier version of this JVC Everio, I was hooked. Not only is this extremely easy to use, the fact that you don't have to mess with mini tapes or anything else is a joy. The larger memory cards are worth the additional cost and very easy to use likewise. We're glad we bought the new camcorder!
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2009-07-21
camcorder everio
it's good for the price.
The photos have very low definition(don't buy this if you want a camcorder and photo camera all in one)
but the video is ok,
The format of the video files is rare but it can easily be converted to avi for editing/recording.
the advantage is that it doesn't have mobile parts(disks, cassettes) and that you don't need cassettes.
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2009-07-17
Lightweight, Convenient, Good for most applications
The camera is very lightweight and generally easy to hold and operate. Although it does not fit in a shirt pocket,it is easy to carry but use of the strap is essential. The controls are simple and easy to use without needing instructions. Video and picture quality is very good for most normal applications but since it doesn't have a built in light, video taken in very low light or at night appears grainy. Battery life is very good and with the memory card it is very easy to find scenes and delete unwanted video. After using a flash memory video camera I cannot imagine going back to using any camera using tapes or even mini-dvds. It is a very good camera for the price.
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2009-07-07
Hot look ... and hot performance!
After quite a bit of research for a compact, non-HD video camera, I settled on the JVC Everio. Its solid-state recording (using SDHC cards rather than a hard drive) makes it really light-weight and more durable.
It is loaded with features and provides great video. (Don't really use the still photo feature.) However, please read the other reviews that reference the free conversion software you need to edit 16:9 video.
The controls all are convenient with one-handed operation, the viewfinder highly visible and the anti-shake mechanism provides really good "jitter-free" takes (I recorded my wife on horseback for almost an hour and, despite my arm feeling like jelly, the images were rock solid).
For the money, this camera performs flawlessly. Only HD could improve it, and then only if you needed that degree of performance. Personally, I'm very happy with the standard def version - on my 65-inch HDTV, the picture blows you away!
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