->Prices

When I purchased this camera, I thought everything about it was great. But after I recorded some things and wanted to go to my computer and edit them. I quickly found out that getting the files from the camera harddrive to my PC was not as easily as previously described. I had to go to many different hectic processing to get the camera to actually connect to the computer! The choices of how to connect was a horrible idea. Rather doing that, JVC should have had a program to decide what to do.

The Everio Camera comes with Cyberlink PowerDirector program, which at first may seem very schnazzy with lots of features and ease-of-use. Don't be fooled! The software on this camera is bogus. The camera records files in .mod format, which can only be read by the CyberLink PowerDirector software, and nothing else. When you try and edit your videos, the PowerDirector has very few features allowing you to actually make a video. When trying to do a special feature available only on the PowerDirector, you must first buy the upgrade for it: even to do the most simple of things!

Due to the lack of software editing capabilities, I really hate this camera, because I bought it for the reason that I can edit my videos. When i found out that I cannot edit without going through pains-taking processes, I was very pissed off indeed that JVC is trying to make us spend more money on products in order for this one to work.

This camera is great if you have no intentions of editing any video. And the exterior and quality are great. But don't even consider buying this camera if you are looking to Record, Edit, and make DVDs, because it doesn't work!

Cheers.


->Wholesale

My wife and I have our first child due on July 10th. Time for me to get a camcorder. The MG130 is a great entry level camcorder for us. Takes very nice video, still shots are so so but we have a digital camera for that. Has nice feature set and does what it is supposed to do. Easy to copy from hard drive to dvd. Pretty much plug it in and it does its thing. Burned disc faster than I thought. I would highly recommend for the novice user. Included battery does not allow for long record times at all. You will definitely need to purchase a larger battery. I just bit the bullet and bought the biggest battery Amazon carries for it. Costing me another 100 bucks but as one reviewer said. "You can never have too much power" I am very satisfied with my purchase.


->Purchase

This is my first camcorder, and I like it a lot. The style and the weight excellent. I only made a few movies and I very happy with the quality. It is easy to use and easy to transfer the movies to the computer or watch them on the tv.
I recomend it to any one who is a first time camcorder buyer.


->Buy

The saleman at BestBuy assured me that the camera was compatible with iMovie software on our Mac computer, but my experience, and what I have read since on the web tells me that is simply not true. I will probably return the camera. Bummer.


->For Sale

I started with the GZMG130, but the still camera is worthless and the resolution is 640x480. The 255 has 2.0 Megapixel and a flash and firewire built in. Just plug it in and iMovie imports the clips right in. Plug into USB and iPhoto opens right up.


->Buy

After struggling with this camera for several hours and several phone calls to JVC customer support and Best Buy customer support, I found out that the JVC GZ-MG130 camcorder is not truly compatible with the iMac. JVC said the problem is that the MG130 does not have a firewire port. You can only hook it up to the iMac via USB and transfer the camera's video MOD file to the iMac. If you try to open it on the iMac, you get an export error message saying "QuickTime couldn't parse it: -2048".

So you have to purchase additional video editing software (either capty or pixela) in order to play and edit the video MOD file. Those apps will then convert the file to MPEG-2, which you can burn. iMovie requires MPEG-4, and you would have to buy additional software to convert the JVC file into that format, but I assume it would take several hours to convert an hour of camcorder video this way.

Unfortunately, I found all this out too late to return the camcorder. Note that there is nothing in the user manual, JVC's website, or on the product box to tell you about these problems. The salesmen are trained to tell you that the camcorder works with a Mac, which is really a bald-faced lie. When I complained to JVC about that, they refused to accept responsibility and simply apologized for my loss.


->Best Price

Have really put it through its paces yet. But had purchased it so that I didn't have to deal with tapes which is a common thought. I've had a previous JVC product not from amazon but purchased locally. Used it for years. It was a miniDV camcorder. Still works however wanted to be able to record nonstop without the worry of the tape running out. Not sure about battery consumtion yet as mentioned by other reviews. But if more than one is carried it shouldn't be a problem. The usb provides a direct link into the computer to which windows media player, etc. Picks up the recorded media pretty quickly and allows viewing of recorded media. Which is a nice feature. Unlike tapes where one would have to record to VHS first... Overall I like it thus far...


->Deals

We had the camera about 3 weeks now. Recorded my daughter's school musical with it, slightly over an hour long. The white balance seems a little off, but it should be correctable. The direct back-up of these files onto DVD disc fails -- no idea why, because the program and "manuals" are more point and shoot than the camera. (You can examine the user manuals at JVC website to satisfy yourself of this point.) However, the files are backed up by the camera into a deeply buried folder called "My Works" on the computer.

I then used the provided cyberlink software to try to edit out the dead spots. I was able to do something only because I have used Roxio programs. Explanation and documentation of the cyberlink program is generic and minimal. So after I produce the movie, I get the news: TO BURN A DVD DISC, ONE MUST PURCHASE THE UPGRADE!!!! My independent Nero burner program will not recongize the mpg files, and I can only produce a disc readable by Windows media reader, and not a DVD player.

To make a fair comparsion to other cameras, add $100 to the price tag, because in spite of all the talk about making your own movies, you still have to pop out $80 more to do it. The Cyberlink programs looks to be a poor program nor will you get much help to get it working. [...]


->Buy

It's a very simple to use camcorder. It's easy to transfer the records to the computer or to burn a DVD.
I think that is good to have a spare battery, because the original one has low cappacity.
The Data Battery allows to check the remaining battery live, it's a usefull feature.
I love its size, it's realy a small camcorder.


->Best Price

It is very easy to use this comcorder.Quality of the video is high.There is not problem to copy video or pictures to PC or DVD. MENU is clear even for this who is not an expert.Settings can be changed easy and quickly.
I am very satisfied with this product and recommend very much.


->Comparison

I recently purchased this item. I was looking around for Hard-drive one for the last one year as I have been using the HI8 tapes one from Sony since 6 years.
My main motive was to spend little but get best quality product. I was inclined to go for Sony peer product as my friend a die-hard-core fan of Sony, recommended it. However, after my last 3 months research this is equally good enough and beats Sony overall (price + quality + sleekness + ease of use + joystick). Only bad part from JVC is their product support and warranty packages. Sony got a great waranty package for little more price to JVC one. JVC service package is really AWEFUL.

I have to say that JVC provided Cybershot software has both good and bad features in it. It is better than what I had from Sony 5 years back. However, Sony might have better one (custom software). It is bit slow as for 25 minute vedio it took 1 hour to get a CD burned via my laptop (Half Gig RAM and good processor).

So, I recommend this to the people who has budget constraints and knows how to handle a camcoder. But if you think warranty support is main concern, go for Sony with at least 200$ additional price!!!


->Buy Now

There was another product out there from Sony that was constantly compared to this one. I researched for a couple of hours until I finally made my decision of buying this particular camcorder. I have ZERO regrets. This camcorder is simply amazing! For one thing, it has more features (night vision, lights, and uh... cheaper!!!) than the Sony camcorder... only the Sony was over $100 more! And hey, JVC has a pretty good rep, so why not?

If someone is out there struggling on which camcorder to get and you have to choose between this one and a similar product (ala the overcharged Sony Camcorder 30gb HDD w/ no night vision, and so what if it has a touch screen thing? Is it really worth it?), then I would highly suggest you save your time researching now and just get this camcorder. It really is SUPER FANTASTIC! Oh yeah, did I mention the zooming feature is also fantastic? Yes... it certainly is. :) Trust me, this product is really worth it... even for the price of the SONY!!!


->Best Price

The good:
This camera works very well. The controls are well placed for easy use. Image quality is very good and the battery lasts the time indicated in the documentation. I do miss not having a view finder since sometimes, in strong sun, viewing the LCD screen is difficult.

The bad:
The Cyberlink software provided with the GZMG130 has some issues with Windows Vista (64 bit) and crashes on a routine basis.

The ugly:
This is a bit technical, but like some earlier JVC camcorders, the camera does not properly set the wide screen flag in the mpeg headers. The result is that other software does not always recognize your clips as wide screen. Fortunately, there is software available to correct the problem.


->Compare

My fiance and searched high and low for a good camera that would fit in our budget. Our inital reason for needing one is to record our wedding, but with kids and whatnot in the future, we wanted a camera that wouldn't be obsolete next week.

We were going back and forth between a Sony SR-42, which is Sony's newest model in HDD, which was $599 at Best Buy, compared to the $499 we paid for the JVC. The Sony supposedly has a better lens, but we couldn't tell. The salesman at Best Buy said that unless you were looking for differences you really wouldn't see them.

The biggest difference we found between the two cameras was the optical zoom. When you were set on a higher zoom, the JVC was able to keep focus better. With the Sony, if you were at a 30x optical zoom and moved the camera everything went blurry and it took some time to re-focus. At the same zoom the JVC didn't do that. That is what really swayed us towards the JVC.

We would have rated the JVC with 5 stars if there had been a port to plug in a microphone or external lighting to the camera. The Sony didn't have that either-you had to buy a more expensive model of either brand in order to get those features.

The software seems to be pretty user-friendly on our XP operating system, but we haven't needed to burn anything (30GB holds a lot of stuff!). Hopefully that will go smoothly.

We've been happy with picture quality so far, and we don't exactly have the latest and greatest in terms of our TV. The functions are pretty easy to use on the camera. We preferred buttons to the touch screen on the Sony. The LCD on the camera is really nice and swivels in just about every direction. The camera is so light you forget you're holding it.

We haven't purchased an SD card for the still-photo portion since we both have digital cameras, but switching back and forth between the still function and video function only requires a flick of the thumb on the on/mode button.

Overall we've very happy with the camera. We went to Best Buy to purchase it and got the warranty, which covers cleanings, and just about any form of damage (including if I drop it, which could very well happen) except loss or theft. Hopefully we'll continue to be happy with our purchase.


->Lowest Price

The JVC Camcorder is very functional. I used in Hawaii for our Band Review and produced quality video, the only drawback is at night when I need more light to get more visual on events. The light on the camera is only useful for close up. Otherwise the features of the Camcorder is great.


->Best Price

This is my first camcorder, but I think this thing is pretty awesome if you want a basic, reasonably priced camcorder. I'd read somewhere that if you format the HDD before you record any videos, that helps in the grainy department. I did that, and haven't had any issues yet as far as the picture goes. It's really clear and sharp. So if you aren't sure if you want to get this because of the "grainy images" complaints, I'd say go for it. It isn't like what they're describing. If you're looking for a camcorder that you want to have around for those moments you want recorded, this one does the job. The user interface is really easy to figure out, and not having to worry about having enough tapes/discs around is great.

The pictures this thing takes aren't too wonderful, as mentioned before. But I didn't buy this to take pictures with. That's what my digital camera is for. I'd say having that feature is good for those times you want to take a picture, but don't have your digital camera on you. The images wouldn't make very good prints, though.

I'll have to agree with a few other reviews about the software. It's... okay, but there are better programs out there. The program that JVC includes does suck up a lot of system resources and seems to lag when I try to playback directly from the camcorder (I blame it on the usb connection, as opposed to firewire). I found that saving them to the computer and playing directly from that gets rid of the lag though. Also, the software is limited in some areas because you can't get certain features without paying for the "deluxe" version of it. But the software is good to have if you don't have anything to convert to mpg, avi, real media, etc.

Overall, I really like this camcorder, and haven't had any issues yet. It's easy to hold, the buttons and joystick make it easy to navigate, and the picture quality is really good, given the price range of this camcorder. Definitely would recommend to anyone who's a first timer, or wants a reasonably priced camcorder.


->Prices

I'm a first time camcorder owner, and find the GZMG130 very user friendly. The harddrive feature w/o the need to change media is absolutely convinient. Highly recommended.


->Affordable

I spent hours searching for a camera to fit my budget and to suit my very amateur needs, whilst still working well with my Mac Powerbook. I had read about using 3rd party software to convert the video files but was sceptical. I'm pleased to report I have the camera, have managed to convert the files on my Mac, put them into iDVD and burn them to a DVD with out any hitches and very easily too. I'm happy with the camera - especially as I'm dreadful at reading instructions before playing, so the easy to navigate menu system is a real bonus. The camera does what it says on the tin and is surprisingly small and light. My concern about whether I had done the right thing (between submitting my order on line and me getting to play with the camera) was unwarranted. I'll definitely be ordering a bigger battery as I can't see the 1hr 30mins or so from the standard one ever being enough. The hard-drive storage is great for deleting video from the camera, freeing up space on the go too. Pleased with my new toy!


->Compare

This is my first digital camcorder, and so far I'm pretty happy with it. From what I've read about other JVC GZ-MG series camcorders, this one is very similar. HOWEVER, one significant difference is the threading on the lens collar is apparently smaller than other Everio camcorders. Most apparently use 37mm filters, but this one uses 30.5mm diameter threadings. I think the batteries that work with this camcorder are different than others as well. I ordered the camera as part of a "kit" that came with filters and a high capacity battery for Everio camcorders. When I found they didn't fit, I called customer service and had to convince them to try it themselves before they believed me that the filters didn't fit. Also, JVC still has not seen the light with regard to Apple Macintosh - which is amazing since everyone knows how much video editing is done on Macs, and Macs are often marketed for video editing. Come on, JVC, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!! In the meantime, with the help of some third party software products which can be easily found with an internet search (keywords: JVC Everio Mac), you can convert the .mod filesthe camera produces into other formats that can be worked with on a Mac with iMovie.