5 comments about Sony HDR-HC5 4MP MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. So far I have found this to be a great camera. Here are a few of my observations so far.
   
   Video Quality: The video quality this this takes is great. However, there must be sufficient lighting. In a dimly light room, for instance, the video accumulates a fair bit of grain. But by adding a few more lights, or taking it outside on a nice day, your videos will rival that of broadcast HDTV.
   
   Sound: Like most all camcorders the sound is very average. And the only mic's available are proprietary Sony mic's. One must upgrade to the HC7 to get the real mic inputs.
   
   Features: This camera comes pretty packed. There are manual settings for exposure, focus, white balance, and a few others as well. And all of these, for better or worse, are adjusted through the touch screen interface that I personally love. Some of the buttons on the screen are small, so those with bigger fingers may have trouble navigating the camera.
   
   Battery: I get about an hour of real recording time with the built in battery. It's enough to get through a Mini-DV tape, but not much more.
   
   Other: The "Smooth Slow Record" is garbage. Yes, it does record 3 seconds of video extremely slow. But the video quality makes YouTube look like HD... It is bad. The Night Shot is pretty cool and works just as described. The effect is only as good as the built in IR light, so you can see maybe 15' in the dark. The touch focus feature is really cool. Just touch on the screen where you want the camera to focus, and it does it automatically.
   
   Recording on Mini-DV tapes seems quite antiquated, but it does get the job done. It is a proven standard and pretty much any decent video editing program can handle it. The hard drive camcorders out there that record in AVC-HD do not currently enjoy as much compatibility as HDV, so that is why I when the tape based route.
   
   Overall, this is a great camcorder. It could use some "real" manual features, like a dedicated focus ring, but those kind of features seem to be reserved for cameras in the 4 digit area. The video quality is also great in the right conditions. Definitely recommended.



2. This Sony hi-def camcorder (filming in 1080i) provides a lot of value for the price. The key to "home movies" is always going to be the quality of the media on which you are putting your recording, and on to that end, this camcorder delivers very, very well for a relatively inexpensive price.
   
   I bought it for about $1,000 in NYC in March 2007 just before a family trip that was to include the Grand Canyon. When I came home and played the recordings on my HDTV, I felt like I had just produced something for the Discovery Channel HD! (I'm talking about the audio and video quality combined with the scenery, of course ... NOT my "skills" as a cameraman!)
   
   Here are the major PROS:
   - HDMI output port included, which allows you to show video straight to HDMI-equipped HDTV in the highest quality available (HDMI has become the HDTV standard cable for delivery of digital video and audio in one cable, and all HDTVs made in the last year or two have at least one HDMI input -- current ones have 3 or 4, for other sources like HD cable boxes, HDMI-equipped DVD players, game consoles, Blu-Ray DVD players, etc.);
   - Component output ports also included (one for audio, one for video; special cables included), in case you do not have an HDMI input on your (likely older) HDTV;
   - Firewire and USB (albeit 1.1) output ports included, for easy upload of video to your PC or Mac;
   - You can take pix while filming;
   - Low light filming is very good;
   - The Night Vision works VERY well (albeit in green, but that comes with any infrared illumination);
   - The "shoe" on top allows for a Sony zoom microphoneSony ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun Microphone for DCR-PC55, DCR-DVD305, DVD 405, DVD 505, HDR-HC1, HC5, HDR-UX1, UX5, DCR-SR100&SR200 Camcorders, which I highly recommend for anyone shooting any outdoor footage (the sound actually "zooms in" as you zoom in on the video subject, minimizing distracting noise made by others near the camcorder!);
   - The playback features are AWESOME, in that they allow for super slow-mo and zoom, and you can also record a 3-second sequence (golf swing, baseball pitch or swing, basketball shot, etc.) in high-speed filiming (120 frames per second, versus the normal 30 frames per second), so you can dissect that activity to your heart's delight; and finally (not really, but I have to stop somewhere),
   - You MUST invest (not much $ for the value) in a Sony tripod with remote control on the tripod handle; this allows you to zoom in and out; start and pause recording; take pix; even turn the camcorder on and off ... all from the main handle of the tripod!!! Sony VCTD680RM Remote Control Tripod for Sony Cameras & Camcorders (I'm not sure if the one I just featured is the one I own. The one I own includes a balance bubble, removable base (for quick removal of the camera from the tripod) and a tilt that allows you to turn the camera 90 degrees to the side - such as when you want to use the camera function in portrait mode.) That works out really well at kids' activities (sports, recitals, etc.), as you ELIMINATE camera shake (see CONS, below). Also, you can change tapes while the camcorder is on the tripod (the inability of which is a common design faux pas on too many other camcorders).
   
   Some CONS:
   - The image stabilization is not great, especially at zoomed-in distances, resulting in noticeably shaky video when you record by holding the camcorder with one hand and then plug and play the results on your HDTV (see recommended tripod, above, to fix that most times);
   - No microphone or headphone jacks (which don't matter much in regular use); and
   - the mini-dv tapes are more expensive than any off-the-shelf-at-CVS/Walmart/etc. types, although you can buy them in small bunches on Amazon for less than $10 each all-in NOT REFURBISHED, NEVER USED, NEVER OPENED.. It is said that the hi-def tapes have a better metallic coating on them that make them better-suited to hi-def recording. I have never done a side-by-side comparison of regular versus hi-def tapes, so I can't opine on that.
   
   In the end, you want to get the best MEDIA for your priceless memories, and this camera (in the hi-def mini-dv format) delivers, as the video and audio are less compressed than on hard drive or DVD hi-def camera, and thus more revealing. And since Blu-Ray seems to have won the High-Def DVD race (defeating HDDVD, if you are to believe the papers), then buy this camera, record your priceless memories before they go to college and convert then to Blu-Ray DVDs when Blu-Ray DVD recorders get to a reasonable price!!
   
   Whatever you choose, first go to a bricks-and-mortars store and try out and compare this camera and a few others. Good luck!



3. I am extremely pleased with this camera. I have been shooting and editing video as a hobby for about 10 years and am thrilled with the image quality of this lens and the processor. If you are going to buy it, my only recommendation is to make sure your computer can handle editing HD video. It is MUCH more data than standard "Mini DV" or Digital Video and will be extremely taxing on your computer's processor.
   
   As compared to similar products in the same price range that I tested in stores, the Sony seems to be slightly better built in terms of its casing. The only potential flaw I noticed was the plastic "door" for the ports. This thing could break extremely easily.



4. This camera works
   
   With ideal conditions, the camera can capture very impressive HDV footage,but with less light... it can be, well... not so good
   
   I got this camera for home use, I own professional Sony HD cameras, so Sony is always my top choice.
   
   For home use, its ok
   
   Note: The deck transports are very good for a camera this cheap, and the lens is above average.
   
   see ya!
   
   f3



5. I bought this while living in Hawaii and sold it a little before moving. The whole process of getting it from dv to file format was just too annoying for me. The quality of the video was pretty good, not as high as hoped. The slow motion capture was a nice feature, but was pretty restrictive.
   
   The compact size was great and it was relatively easy to handle on the go.
   
   I'd definitely say at this point to avoid DV even at some quality loss and go with something that is recording straight to file for ease.

5 comments about Panasonic VDR-D100 DVD Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom.

1. This camcorder is awesome!! Easy to use and the instruction manual breaks things down for you Barney Style:)
   
   The battery only lets you record continuously for about 2 and a half hours (more than I need) so you may want to have a standby battery waiting if it's nessasary.



2. You can do better for the money. The image quality is below average and low light is really bad, even for a novice camcorder. I'm glad to see the price has come down. The camcorder did not come with the software needed to capture video or even play the dvd on my computer(it really should have). I would do more research and choose a camera that is right for you. I found many online camcorder review sites very helpful. I returned it and bought another panasonic with 3ccd technology. It has much better picture quality. If you want really good night vision go with sony. I would not recomend this camcorder to anyone.



3. Very nice DVD camcorder. Silent operations, great zoom and a very good LCD. I'm enjoying it in these first days.
   Positive points: A large amount of editing features inside.
   Negative points: Movie edition software and DVD-RAM drive aren't available in the box (you have to get them separetly). Record functions like Fade-in and out are available only by a menu option (some movements to access).



4. Oh, I cannot believe, spent about $500 or more for this and it became unusable exactly after its 1 year warranty period. The disc eject does not work any more and Panasonic says it would cost me $260 or more to repair it, and of course now you can buy a new one now with that money since electronic items get cheaper with time so much. This is the last item for me from Panasonic. I thought it was a good brand and that is so wrong!!!



5. I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera. I am very disappointed with it. I have had it for several years. The vdr-d100 model does not come with software (the vdr-d200 does come with software) I purchased the software seperately. It is a HUGE hassel to import the video to the computer and then to burn a DVD. I do digital editing with pictures and video so I am pretty good on the computer and I have such a difficult time getting the video imported. The picture quality is good and the camera is easy to use but I would not purchase this camera again.

3 comments about JVC GR-SXM38US Compact Super VHS Camcorder.

1. Nice camcorder. Easy to use. Can see tapes right away unlike digital camcorders. this was a gift for my 14 year old grandaughter and she loves it.



2. The JVC GR-SXM38US Super VHS Camcorder is a great little camcorder . . . it is easy to use and takes great video, even under very low light conditions. I am extremely pleased with this camcorder. I wish, however, the proper cables to hook up to a television were included with the camcorder. It took a couple of trips to Fry's to finally get the right cables to use with my television and watch my videos. As far as the camcorder goes - I highly recommend it for anyone purchasing their first camcorder, and the price was very reasonable, as well.



3. The camcorder was very good quailty, but I did find it some place cheaper with a bag,and many other asserires. The return was very easy and smooth, I thank you Amazon.com for maken' that happen! I would order from you again. A.M.H.

5 comments about Canon GL1 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Lens & Optical Image Stabilization.

1. I just purchased a canon GL1 for use with filming sports (I am a golfer). My overall experience has been good but things are left to be desired. This review gives you the good the bad and the silly, so read on!

   The Good

   The controls on this thing are great, it's almost like having an SLR in a camcorder. The lens on this thing is great! Images come through very bright allowing for high shutter speeds. The zoom is 20X optical and something like 100x digital, and the digital zoom is usable, trust me on this one. You can switch between interlace and progressive scan with the use of one button interlace=60 1/2 frames per second, progressive= 30 full frames per second. The image stabilization is great, and it is very easy to shoot with. Shutter speed is good up to 1/15000 of a second. Oh and did I mention lots of manual controls if you want them.

   The Bad

   The CCD's on this thing have no resolution. I would almsot have to lie to tell you I get 500 lines of horizontal resolution. When displayed on a big screen pixilization is obvious. Still images stink too. You can't even get VGA out of this thing. Also the auto focus is amazingly slow. Terrible for action sequences but not a problem for a normal situation or say filming a golfer tennis player.

   The Silly/trivial

   You need to push a seperate button to eject a tape. Canon could have made this thing smaller to. The camera has an uncomfortable inbetween size. It is by no means small, not even medium sized, but not really one of those huge shoulder mounted things. The LCD screen on this thing could have been bigger too. In all honesty I think cannon wasted a ton of space on this thing. I know some will say the lens head is big, and that is fine, but the tape deck is way too big and the LCD is almost an inch thick, not excusable.

   Overall I am satisfied with it. A very nice piece of machinery. The best camcorder for recording golf hands down.




2. I wasn't so sure about this camera because I had listened to the hype about Sony DV cameras. But let me tell you, I have never seen a mini DV camera pack such a punch for the price. Between the GL-1 and the much more expensive Xl-1, I cannot tell that much difference at all, maybe none at all. This camera captures truly stunning video. From reproducing each and every color vibrantly and crisp to the razor sharp picture quality. And I haven't even gotten to the microphone. It captures the audio very true to life. From soft whispers to loud bangs, the audio never becomes muddled or distorted. The menu buttons and function keys are all very well placed, and it takes a still photograph of a fairly decent quality, although it couldn't compete with a 2 megapixel photo camera. It has many different video modes,including toggling between Video and Frame recording, although most of the time you'll never need to take it off of automatic. Another sleek feature is how it captures video in low light. In low lighting conditions, the picture NEVER becomes the least bit grainy. I am continually impressed, and am impressing others with this camera. It is perfect for the beginner or the pro.



3. I bought this camera about 10 months back, and at the time made a compromise in choosing it because I couldn't afford the XL1S. What I've learned though after using it for so long now is that Canon didn't compromise on this camera. The GL1 has essentially every feature the aspiring film maker or video professional needs to get underway quickly and easily.

   My favorite feature of this camera is the frame mode ability that allows you to shoot non-interlaced video, with results that are very similar in appearance to film rather than video. After shooting in frame mode and seeing the results, I've yet to shoot interlaced video again.

   The one thing that this camera lacks is any ability to manually control the audio levels for the internal or external mics, which can sometimes give you less than optimal results in situations where the noise volume fluctuates noticably, or where you are trying to achieve a specific audio effect.

   Summary - Excellent camera worth the price tag. Across the board, far more features and better quality than all competitors in its class. Probabaly the only camera that can top the GL1 in this class is the GL2.




4. I purchased my GL-1 almost two years ago with the original intention of using it to create videos of weddings and grandchildren. After comparing numerous available models and brands, I chose the GL-1 for its good reputation, high-end features, lenses, and of course for the more reasonable price.

   It could be said that the GL-1 is among the worst of the best, but that is not a fair way of comparing its features to other camcorders. The GL-1 is top end material, producing similar or equal quality as equipment costing twice as much or more. The lower price mostly reflects the fact that the GL-1 does not have as many features as the more expensive models. It already has more buttons and settings than most of us even want to know exist anyway, so except for professionals and hard-core video fans, we amatures are plenty happy to leave the settings on 'automatic' and simply push the record button.

   What really matters is the end result, and viewing a video on your television recorded with the GL-1 looks no different than a video recorded with more expensive models (well, unless you are one of those hard-core types who are very critical, but then too, every camcorder model produces slightly different results, so any differences noticed would be noticed in all). The major end-result difference will be noticed in audio quality. Recording video in a normal room setting is no problem, it comes out great, but in areas with high noise, winds, or too low of sound, the recording is sometimes less than desired. Too loud of noise causes distortion (avoid sitting directly in front of or even behind a rock group's speaker array, even if 75 feet away!), and when the desired sound to be recorded is too quiet, you may hear a slight humming of the camcorder's motor. Many users have solved the problem by purchasing additional audio recording equipment, which is of course an acceptable solution, but one that new owners should be aware of.

   Every camera of course has it's good points and bad points, and except for the bad points of not-perfect audio, everything else about the GL-1 is good. Good balance, medium weight, easy loading, good battery life (1 hour with the factory battery, other batteries can be bought that will record for over 3 hours), and the appearance does say you are using high-end equipment.

   All things considered, the GL-1 is right about in the middle, giving better results than all known lower-end models, but not quite as good of results as the more expensive models. The Gl-1 is Goldilock's "just right" choice (sorry, I just had to say that).

   The Sony camcorder is said to be a little better, close to that of the Canon XL-1, and I did consider it, but at the time I had just overcome a less than favorable experience with a Sony product and I did not want to make another mistake. If you have the money to spare, get the XL-1 just because it's cooler looking, but for fast, easy, quality video, the GL-1 is a great choice.




5. This is one Great camera! Works great no probs. I am shooting a movie and this camera works great for it. Good for anyone who needs a in the middle camera from customer to pro cameras. I have had this camera for 2 months now and I love it! P.S. The pic of the camera at the top of the page is the pic for the GL2 not the GL1.

1 comments about DXG 565VS 5.0MP Ultra-Compact Digital Camcorder with 2.4-Inch LCD.

1. For only $100 this is a very nice camera. I took it on a trip to film landscapes and personal videos and it worked out very well. You just have to make sure you learn/understand the features, if you're not that familiar with photography. It also has a lot more features than you'd need for a camera, like an MP3 player, but that's just more bang for your buck. It's good to note that the files save in .MOV format, so download software that will convert them to .AVI or other desired formats. There're free ones out there.
   
   Overall, great product.

No comments about Sony DCR-HC52E MiniDV Camcorder for PAL Systems.

5 comments about Sony HDR-UX7 6MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom.

1. I love this camera - video quality stunning. I'm a non-techie so let me toss a question out to the crowd - the 6.1MP still photos this camera takes are average at best. My 6.1MP Nikon D50 takes much better photos. Specifically I'm talking about grain and what I would call pixelation. I've double checked the settings on the HDR-UX7 and have them all set to max resolution. What am I missing? Other than that tiny issue this camera is great!



2. I have only had the chance to use this camera once, during a fishing vacation. I spent some time reading the reviews on the camera and on the DVD player which has to be a Sony Blu-ray. The camera was formated for HD and results were a true 1080 when played back. You will have to spend the money to make the whole thing work right. Purchase the Blu-ray BDP-S1. The Sony package was amazing. I really like being able to go directly from the camera to the DVD player.



3. Not much to say here other than it's awesome! Until 1080p camcorders come out, this is the one to buy for ease of use and portability. Shipping was fast. I am completely satisfied with this product! Thanks Amazon & Sony for having/making an awesome camcorder!



4. I chose this camcorder because I don't do any video editing, and just wanted a high quality easy to use camcorder. The touch screen is great, doesn't smudge up much at all. I can't imagine why this is a problem for anyone unless you play with your own fecal matter and don't wash your hands. The camcorder stays charged for a long time. The picture quality is incredible. The night mode is amazing. The only thing to know. If you do the HD recording, you can only play in this camcorder, or a Sony brand blue ray disk player. Enjoy.



5. I owned a DCR DVD 305 previously and decided to take the next step.
   Glad I did. Nothing compares to AVCHD. Except maybe real film.
   This cam is prosumer. I cont care if it doesn't look like an FX-7.
   The selling points for me were:
   1. The assignable dial for manual control of shutter, exposure, focus, whatever you decide to assign to it. Having auto settings can be great but some shots require some tweaking and manual control is a must.
   2. 6.1 mega pixel still shot. The 305 had a lousy 1mega pixel still shot. Not worth a darn. The 6.1 quality is an option I can boat about. 6.1 mp may be a few years behind, but this is not a digital slr folks. It's a video cam. Often camcorder shot leave traces of interlacing and such that reveal the source of cam it was taken with. Not this one. It looks like a still right from an early digital slr. No interlacing.
   3. Mini DVD storage. It seems most the newer AVCHD cameras are going HDD. Hard drives crash. They are prone to incurable errors. If you have ever own a PC with windows XP, you know this. Lesson learned. My previous camera the Sony 305 was a mini DVD storage based cam. When it failed, I was able to recover the disc out of the cam and rip it from my DD drive on the PC. If this had been a HDD cam, I would have lost the footage forever.
   4. External mic option. I plan on using a lav mic for interview types of footage. This has the option for an external mic. Super.
   Besides the jump to HD, those were the main reasons I bought it. It has all the normal options you will find in a DVR. I used Sony's website to compare shop. Very helpful.
   Some things to think about when you go AVCHD.
   Editing software is still behind the ball. I managed to score a copy of Sony Vegas Pro 8 which totally supports the AVCHD format and the 5.1 surround audio. Nero 8 Ultimate supports it to but, Nero is limited if you want to get creative. Adobe products, so far are still just supporting HDV, not AVCHD. If you like editing, get a MAC or go with Vegas.
   The software bundle with the cam is necessary. I tried to bare bones the install and it would not recognize the cam as a valid drive. Take the hit on your start up and install it ALL.
   Some additional cool things about this camera are that fact that if the cam is on and running on AC power, then a screen saver that is also a tutorial on how to perform tasks runs. Not sure if it is standard but a nice hefty NP FH-70 battery comes with it. Thats about 120 mins of recording. Most Sony cams follow the same ergonomic design so no learning curve required. This cam is not light but also not dead weight. You know you are holding cause it just fills up the hand without rendering your digits feeling fat and uncoordinated. I thought this was the icing on the cake and decided to write this review.
   And NO I do not work for Sony, but let me tell you this, they have a very fair Customer Service Department.
   
   Dave T

No comments about Sony HDR-CX12 High Definition Handycam Camcorder + Deluxe Accessory Kit.

3 comments about Vivitar DVR-560G 5.2 MegaPixel 6-in-1 Multi-Functional Camera with 2.0" LCD.

1. Vivitar DVR-560G is a super-compact digital video camera addressing some of the needs that more expensive cameras don't. After receiving and briefly testing it I was so excited I purchased 3 more as gifts!
   
   Here are just a few advantages and features that I like:
   - Decent video quality. The video quality is somewhere between a webcam and an average video camera, keeping in mind that its recording at 640x480 resolution and 30 frames-per-second, while some Webcams are still rated at 320x240 and 15 fps. I do treat it as a portable Webcam that I can take with me and record videos to a removable memory card. This is awesome for non-critical videos that can be quickly shot in everyday situations. Though recently I was attending a wedding where no one was recording video and now I wish I had at least this little Vivitar with me.
   The only problem is that video can be smudgy/blurry when you move the camera too fast, especially in low-light.
   I also uploaded a test video to YouTube and you can find it by searching there for "Vivitar DVR-560G". I may upload additional videos as well.
   - Decent video quality in low light when compared to standard video cameras. This doesn't mean that this camera takes good videos in the dark, but it's probably not worse than most webcams out there. (I also have couple miniDV cameras like Samsung and JVC that don't perform much better). However, the smudges intensify in low light due to longer exposure, therefore this camera really needs to be positioned statically in low light.
   Note: there is a "night-mode" option in this camera, but I didn't notice a difference in quality when using it.
   - Take-anywhere video camera. Great portability through its ultra-compact size, smaller than even most digital photo cameras. Can be easily put in a larger pocket or small purse. The size is actually quite similar to the extra-slim digital photo cameras Casio Exilim. Vivitar is only 25% thicker.
   - Portable, reusable & removable media (memory) that can be easily copied to computer (although the memory must be purchased separately). You can also purchase multiple memory cards at 20 bucks each. Compare this with almost as expensive miniDV tapes, or cameras that have built-in hard-drive that is not removable and may require slow data transfer to computer via cable.
   - Data compression. Movies are compressed in MPEG4 format and 1 hour movie takes about 1 GB, thus there is 2 hour recording capacity on 2 GB SD memory card. Compare this with 12 GB of your computer disk-space eaten per hour of an AVI video recorded with miniDV digital cameras. (unless you spend time re-compressing miniDV AVIs).
   - Motion detection mode. This mode is not very usable due to the default setting that usually records only a few-second long clips after detecting a movement for 3 seconds. This means that many times the camera will start recording only after something happens, without catching the actual event. However, this feature still enhances the camera's use and can be interesting to some. For example you may leave your camera on for the whole day or a week and let it record short clips of your family's life throughout that time.
   - The built-in 8x digital zoom is actually usable and up to 4x doesn't produce "digital quality" when taking videos. This might be because the camera has much larger resolution (5.2 megapixel) than it records on video. (the higher resolution is used for taking photos)
   - The built-in voice-recorder is basic feature-wise but records decent audio quality. And hey, dedicated memory-based voice recorders can cost 50 bucks or more, even without removable memory.
   
   Now for a few negatives:
   - The built-in speaker is not too loud and low-quality. Actually one time it was making such a strange clicking noise when playing videos that I was afraid that the sound didn't get recorded. Later it turned out to be a temporary problem, possibly with the volume set to maximum on such a low-quality speaker.
   - The built-in MP3 player is very basic. The DVR-560G didn't seem to recognize my music folders, and it has not categorized my MP3 files. This means that I have just a long list of MP3 files to scan through. I won't comment on the music quality as for me all MP3 players sound the same.
   - The built-in digital photo camera mode takes only mediocre, video-like photos. I'd rate these photos at only 25% quality of photos taken with a dedicated digital photo camera at the same resolution. Therefore I would carry a separate digital photo camera for taking static pictures. However, possibly Vivitar could be useful as a photo browser, just like some MP3 players currently have (although I haven't tested this).
   - The built-in 20 games look cool, but are quite nonsensical and you'll get bored after trying each one for couple minutes.
   - Holding the camera when taking videos is little awkward therefore you may consider the DVR-550 model instead. I chose DVR-560G mainly because it is approx. 40% less thick (0.88 inch vs. 1.35 inch) and therefore provides maximum portability. Also, I was interested in using it as an MP3 player and photo camera, but now little disappointed with these features.
   - Short battery life, about 40 minutes. I've purchased couple spare batteries on eBay at 8 bucks each.
   - This camera could be incredibly more useful if it had just a little more video capture customizability/options/features. I won't get into details, but with a just a few more features I could probably write an article about many uses of Vivitar DVR-560G. The voice-recorder also lacks voice-activated recording and is too slow to start for taking quick voice notes.
   
   In summary, don't buy this camera for taking photos, but you won't regret taking videos with it, or give it to your kids. You may also like to use the built-in basic MP3 player and voice-recorder. I rate this camera 5 stars only for it's video features, small size and low price. Many other features are extras that can't hurt either.



2. Just amazing what you can do with this little camera.
   I'm a Mac guy and this beauty works perfect with the Mac no software need it. I purchased this camera for my 11 year old son and now I'm buying one for me, the quality of the videos it's great and to my surprise the pictures
   are more than decent quality. this one is definitely the one, I'm glad I
   didn't buy the flip camera this one is cheaper and do lots of things.
   I love this camera



3. This is a very stylish camcorder. But, as I wanted only a camcorder, for me it has too many left and unnecessary features (PC camera, MP3, etc.). I tried it right away and was a little bit disappointed. It is not usefull indoors or at night (do not have night shot features), and if the objective moves (or you move), the recorded image blurs also (do not have steady shot either). Maybe the producers can remove the PC camera, the MP3 and the voice recorder, and improve features more needed in a digital camcorder, such as the night shot and the steady shot.

1 comments about JVC Everio GZ-MG730 7.2MP 30 GB Hard Drive Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Includes Everio Dock).

1. I really like this camera. It is compact, shoots nice stills and has good sound qualities. The interface is intuitive and I was tweking settings right out of the box with little or no reference to the manual. It is perfect for quick family videos and fits in a small camera bag, making it easy to transport. The problem is when you shoot long videos and want to edit them down. I have found that for my purposes the .MOD format this camera produces is old and has to be converted to .avi or .wmv for the sort of editing I want to do. That means a very long conversion process through the supplied software, which I did not find particularly usable or helpful. The autofocus also has issues indoors in medium lighting and the image stabilization is not the best out there. If you want a happy cam to grab shots of the family and friends, then this is a really good buy. Otherwise, spend the extra and go for a unit that has more flexibility with its video outputs. I started out loving this camera , but every day I find something else I dislike about it.