After reading many positive reviews 4 the JVCEverio GZ-MG330 & GZ-MG335, I purchased the 335 from Amazon since it came with the docking station 4 only about $10 more than the 330. I was replacing a JVC GR-DV1 MiniDV recorder & went with JVC since I had the GR-DV1 4 over 10 years & was happy with its performance & reliability. Shot four video sequences with the Everio 4 a total of about 90 seconds. Watched the footage on a TV through an S-video cable connection, & found it 2 be inferior in crispness & color fidelity 2 what I was used 2 with MiniDV. Did not have a chance 2 shoot in ultrafine mode or with the built-in light, which I expect would have been higher quality. Next, uploaded video 2 a PC 2 get used 2 operation of the unit. Software was fairly easy 2 install in Vista (contrary 2 problems reported by another reviewer) & use. After uploading videos, attempted 2 record more video, but a "pause" symbol displayed in the LCD & the start/stop button would not work. Tried removing the battery & reverting 2 factory default settings, but still did not record video. Called JVC service & they suggested reformatting the harddrive. This still did not fix the problem, so they said I should re-pack it & ship it 2 their repair depot & I would get it back in a week 2 ten days. Contacted Amazon, & they would ship out a replacement camcorder the same day. Instead, I chose a refund, & will buy a different brand harddrivecamcorder from Amazon. So, one star 4 JVC 4 a camcorder that did not operate properly after 30 minutes of use, but hats off 2 Amazon 4 their dedication 2 high-quality customer service.
Rating: 4 of 5 Very pleased with this product
I bought this product about a month ago 4 a Disney World trip. I'm not very good with new products, but I have 2 say, this was easy! The daytime videos are perfectly clear. The night recordings were just as nice as well. The only thing that I'm noticing is TONS of wind noise, even though the guard is turned on, & I'm not sure what 2 do about that, if anything. Other than that, no complaints. It was simple 2 transfer files, & burn DVDs.
Rating: 2 of 5 Not Happy
I bought this camcorder 2 replace an old Panasonic MiniDV recorder. After reading the reviews I decided 2 give it a try. My first issue was volume, if the people in the video did not speak very loudly, you could not hear them during playback mode. This improved once the video was downloaded 2 the computer though. My second issue was with the orange tinge that alot of my video took on. Unless I was in direct lighting, everything came out an orange & tan color. My biggest issue was the fact that the included software did not work with Vista - the movies played ok in Microsoft Photo Gallery but I could not use the software. I contacted JVC who directed me 2 the software's website, & I would have 2 pay at least $35 4 the Vista version of the software. Next problem I had was after taking only about 5 minutes of video, the battery light flashed red & the camera turned off. The battery had a full charge & died after 5 minutes!! Ok, it could have been a defective battery but at this point, I was pretty much done. Also, the docking station was a problem. When I hooked the docking station 2 my external DVD burner by firewire, it kept telling me 2 connect a USB cable! It was as if it had no clue that the firewire was connected. Then, 2 really make me hate this camera, the next time I turned it on a message came on saying that there was a memory failure, a broken something or other, click on "recovery". All this & I had the camcorder only 2 days!! Needless 2 say, I returned it. I was very disappointed in the quality of the video & the camcorder itself. I had 2 work way too hard 2 make it functional.
I didnt give this one star because I'm sure that the software would work nicely on XP, & the camera itself is very light & fits your hand comfortably. I only wish it would have worked better, I think I would have really enjoyed it.
Rating: 4 of 5 Good Value
JVC GZ-MG355 is a good value camcorder. The price paid was about $30 less at retail stores plus there was no tax charged. All I wanted was a camcorder 2 capture vacations & home activities with family. High definition was not needed. Video quality is very good in daylight & indoor lighting. Have not had a chance 2 do any night scenes. Controls are relatively simple 2 use. The laser touch along the side of the screen is much better than touching the screen itself like on the Sony model. I would hate dirty screens or scratched up screens. If you need an extra battery, buy a JVC battery on line & save some money. There are two complaints I have about this product. One is that it might be too small 4 people with big hands or fingers. The "on" button is small & may be a little awkward 4 big fingers. The other thing is the lens cover, which is manually operated rather than automatic so sometimes you forget 2 close it up. Other than that, I would say go buy this model.
Rating: 5 of 5 great little camcorder
great product, easy 2 use & handle, plenty of on-board recording time. easy 2 connect 2 computer or dvd/vhs recorder. First bought a panasonic of the same size, but the jvc was much easier 2 use. Very satisfied.
With the GZ-MG335H EverioHardDriveCamcorder you can record all the stuff that makes life more fun. Everio has been redesigned 2 offer more satisfaction in a smaller, lighter body. It's the world's smallest & lightest hard disk camcorder, so you can shoot actively without fatigue, & travel with lots of space left over when you pack your bags. The Everio models have been equipped with a high-performance lens developed by camera specialist, KONICA MINOLTA. It captures clear & bright images. Everio is equipped with an industry-leading 35xopticalzoom 4 incredible magnification with full optical quality. Digital zoom takes you up 2 800x. Internal high-capacity HDD allows extremely long recording times. With the 30GB model, you can store up 2 37 hours of video. To safeguard Hard Disk Drive from shocks & vibrations, the Everio has a Floating Suspension System that effectively dampens vibrations through polymer shock absorbers. You can choose the picture quality from four modes, from high-quality video equivalent 2 DVD Movie 2 small-sized clip ideal 4 uploading 2 the Web. In addition 2 a built-in hard disk drive, Everio also has a slot 4 microSD Card so you can store videos & stills on this commonly available memory card (optional). 1/2 - 1/4000 Video Shutter Speed 1/2 - 1/1000 Still Shutter Speed 112K pixel, 2.7-inch LCD monitor 30GB 1.8 harddrive microSD Memory Card Slot Video Format - MPEG-2-PS Audio Format - Dolby Digital Still Format - JPEG Interfaces on Camera - USB2.0, AV In/Out, DC in Interfaces on Dock - AV In/Out, S-Video In/Out, USB2.0, DV Out (IEEE1394), DC In Built-in Lens Cover Image Stabilizer Auto illumination light Auto Power ON/OFF - Close the LCD 2 turn the power off & Open turns the camera on in about 1 second Auto LCD Backlight Control 4 comfortable viewing whether indoors or outdoors PictBridge compatible Approximate Unit Dimensio