JVC Everio G Camcorders Review
September 22nd, 2005 1:46 PM | by Christen da Costa | 152 Comments
Forget tapes and discs because JVC’s Everio G camcorder line records right (double entendre) to a hard drive.
There a few different models of the Everio G line, which are reflected in hard drive size (20-30GB), zoom lens distance, and still photo quality (.3-1.3megapixel). This means it holds anywhere from 5-7 hours of high quality video depending on model. This should be more then enough for the family vacation, unless of course you’re one of those idiots that records landscapes and vistas that were clearly destined for still photography. Thumbnails of each shot can be displayed on the 2.5 inch LCD and allows you to select clip by clip for viewing. You can even create a 99 shot play list.
The best part of course is that importing and editing should be a snap. No more batch digitizing, or having one continuous clip of video to segment. Even better is that transfer is 4 times as fast because it no longer has to play in real time, and it connects to USB 2.0. JVC has also included editing software in the box, although I am sure many will opt for iMovie if Apple users.
The camera’s pretty small at just 11 ounces and 2.6 by 4.3 by 2.8 inches, and start at $750.
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I just lost everything I had on the JVC Everio camera! unbelievable!
My wedding June ‘07, my trip across the US in July, and my trip to Europe in October!
GONE!
I was just getting around to capturing and editing this priceless, irreplaceable video, and the camera went into recovery mode. But, guess what?!!? It didn’t recover anything. It obliterated everything it had in it.
I am going back to mini-dv…
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I have a GZ-MG275E and a Mac Book, both purchased less than a year ago. I just spent three hours reading and trying all advice and free applications on this thread. To get the data from the cam to the Mac, that is.
And guess what? Nothing worked. Got ffmpexX, Streamclip and Divx… No go.
It´s probably fair to say that you have to pay extra to use JVC on a Mac, which is bullshit. Come on, surely JVC must be aware that a lot of creative people use a Mac??? Surely Apple know that a lot of crative people use JVC??? What is the big non-deal?
Huge clusterfuck-up, if you ask me;)
Let me know if my cam doesn´t need to be crushed under angry, heavy foot!!!
We have the GZ-Mg77u that we use for video for our web site. It captures video that has been compared to that of some low-mid professional models. Converts easily to a format that is friendly to the web for the website, and also to formats for production.
While not a professional camera, it serves it’s purpose at capturing events better than most. The HDD is perfect for long record times- tapes adn mini DV are not capable.
Easy to use, easy to edit, easy to download. Great camera!
Thanks #35 – disfasia.
I run Mac OS-X 10.4 on an older G5.
Just bought a JVC GZ-MG130U – having been assured by Best Buy that it is seamless with Mac!!!
I tried Streamclip, but that didn’t work for me as I don’t have the required upgrade for Quicktime.
However, I had bought a Hitachi dv cam a couple years ago that cannot be recognized at all be a Mac (at least the Everio disc comes up as an external drive).
So I was downloading to a Dell using Pinnacle, and then transferring the files to the Mac.
I found a great software (had to buy it) DropDV – and once I followed disfasia’s advice to change the suffix from .MOD to .MPG, DropDV converted the files perfectly for import to iMovie.
My only problem with the JVC now is – I don’t like its inability to take good video in low light. The Hitachi has it all over the JVC for that.
Hey Sneakers whinners……………I say your a pussss too bad you can hide behind your screen fat boy.
Suggest Roxio Popcorn. You can download HDD files form Camcorder into codec desired. Burn to a DVD, compress to iPod etc. if you want you can import then to iMove and create your movie. Works wlll. I use iMove 06
Lovely, informative site, thanks
i HAVE A JVC GZ HG 37AA AND OUR INSTALL DISC WAS STOLEN ALONG WITH OUR CAMERA BAG, WHILE WE WHERE ON HOLIDAYS. i WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WHO CAN HELP ME REPLACE OUR DISC SO THAT WE CAN DOWN LOAD OUR CAMERA.
THE ABOVE QUESTION 107 SHOULD OF READ GZ-MG 37AA JVC HARD DRIVE CAMCORDER.
thank you for your wonderful web site. I liked it very, very much.
Super site darlings. Thanks awfully
Ok for mac people. All you have to do is open imovie and your files will load.
Plug in the usb from your camera to your computer
choose connect to device
open imovie
if this doesn’t work close imovie and use a different USB port on your computer. Thats what worked for me. Hope it helps
This camera sucks MG-77u. It will not connect via USB Cable at all. I have a lot of video on it and when I went to down load it it will not connect. Since video is important. I am going to break it open, and recover the data. JackRepairs .com does this type of work. Then I will put it together and use it only to record to SD card Peice of junk. Before you buy a JVC take a look at there site, the try to find the support section, after and if you can find it look at what kind of support they give. Run do not walk away from any and all JVC camcorders. They are the pits, and no support at all for my JVC MG-77u. I called tech support, save your dime they are worthless. Hope you are reading this before you buy this camcorder.
i have the jvc 3ccd everio I cannot for the life of me get my mac
that operates on leopard to recognize my upload someone said to use ilife bought it loaded it nothing
circuit city said no problem
they are were wrong it is such a fiasco i don’t know what to do
great vacation videos sad
so…i thought i was going to be frustrated too, as i own a mac book. turns out there are plenty of quick fixes in this here blog (if people would take the time to read). i copied the videos to my macbook and changed the file extension to mpg. works like a charm…though not with quick time mind you. but thats because quicktime is worthless–and that is why i have used, and will alwayse use VLC media player–it’ll play just about anything.. as for compiling a burnable dvd well, you’re on a computer in the 21’st century–this is going to take a few tricks as nothing is directly cross compatable anymore without updates and patches–seems to be a fact of life anymore. I am using adobe after effects and have been able to open the moves with the mpg file extension no problem. thus i can also turn them into dvds no problem. However if none of your friends can get you the hookup for adobe after effects, and you don’t want to spend 600+ on the program…well…don’t give up, be creative and just get it done for god’s sake. it took me all of 10 minutes to figure this shit out…seriously people… thats my rant.
I don’t know what everyone here is talking about. This camera *comes with* a docking station that includes a Firewire port. You connect any computer — Mac or PC — to it, press “play” in your video editing software and the camera streams video to your computer just like any MiniDV camera would.
Really, I don’t know what the problem is. I’m worried more about the image quality and lack of a viewfinder at the moment.
I bought a JVC HDD GZ-MG22AG last year and i can use it as normal. I can transfer my video file from camcorder to PC.
But suddenly today when i want to transfer new video file, i’ved found that my PC recognized the JVC HDD but there were nothing inside the disk, i’ve check the camcorder and confirm that the video file is there.
I tried another PC, and the same problem happened. It seem like a software lost inside the JVC HDD to show the video file on the PC. Does anyone got idea about this. Thank You.
I have JVC Camcorder GZ-MG77U and I can’t tranfer my videos to the JVC CU-VD10.
I try with different one and was imposible.
Then I try to trafer the info to my computer and did not work.
I do not know what else to do.
Please if some one know my solution let me know.
I NEVER GOING TO BUY ANYTHING REALETING WITH JVC, AND THE SERVICE IS SUCK. THEY DO NOT HELP YOU.!!!!!
I just purchased the JVC GZ-HD3 Everio Hard Drive and Memory Card Hybrid Camcorder. I found it to be the simplified version of the HD7 with enough charm and functionality to keep the budding videographer happy.
see the review: http://www.videomaker.com/r/142
I have a JVC Hybrid Hard Disk Drive Camcorder (GZ-MG555U). We are having troubles with uploading our videos to our PC. We are about to litterley about to throw this piece of crap out the window. We are frustrated with uploading and we need help!!!
Please help us!!! SOS.
I feel sorry for everyone who is having problems with their Everio. I used to have a JVC Everio 505- I found that there was no practical way of editing with this camera. Luckily, I was able to trade it for a Sony Miny HDV Camcorder on the basis that I had been lied to by the store’s salesman. Good luck! ev in aus
My husband got me a JVC GZ-MG21U for Christmas 2006. I copied the my videos (unedited) on my DVD recorder because the instructions for downloading seemed to not be very user friendly. Just today I decided to download all I had on the camera so I could edit it and add music, etc. I still don’t know what happened, but, in the end, my camera screen said "No files stored" and there was nothing downloaded on my computer anywhere. The software is SOO not user friendly and I have lost my videos. I’m going to have to go out and buy a different camera. I will never trust this one with my precious momories again!
Lost software for JVC Everio GZ-MG77U. I cant find it anywhere the download. Where can I download? The JVC site doesnt have it.
Also, I have the USB plugged into the camera and I keep getting USB MASS STORAGE as a message. What does this mean?
i have a mg155 jvc everio every time i tried to burn what ever i film to a dvd it gives me and error code ff037303 please help
Hello Peter Harris,
I think it’s not a filesystem-problem that you have, but you cannot use SD-modules with HC. Try the older non-HC Versions, and they should work fine. I’m using my Everio GZ-MG505e on my bicycle and the hardrive is too sensitive for that, so I have to store all my movies on 4GB SD modules. I am using "Ridata 4GB"modules. If I had know that I would have bought a different camcoder.
Oliver
If you are a MAC user, DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY this Everio camera. As you can see, issues of incompatibility with Mac software span back at least 2 years. I can attest that the out of the box product (in this case the GZ-MG330HU) still provides no solutions. Quicktime, iMOvie will not recognize the Everio files. Any product that requires you to download extra software for use on a highly popular system–i.e. a MAC, is not worth purchasing. Demand an explicit demonstration of downloading compatibility by a salesman in the shop before purchasing. I made the mistake of listening to a BestBuy salesman tell me this had the best compatibility with a MAC–no need to comment on that mistake. Baloney!
Did anybothy know how to use the GZ-MG155U JVC camcorder with an external microphne?. Is it possible?
Just bought the JVC Everio MG 332.
Until now, I don’t have any problem to play the recordings on iMovie 8.
- I connect the camcorder, using USB (!).
- on the camcorder screen, I choose “Playback on PC” (EVERIO_HDD icon appears on the desktop)
- open iMovie
- click on “import from camera”
- and that’s it, in a few minutes videos are in iMovie.
I think that it’s only possible with te last version of iMovie, 2008.
Ceyb *
EVERIO EASY AND FAST FOR MAC USERS:
There is really no need for panic.
Just download ‘MPEG STREAMCLIP video converter here: http://www.squared5.com/
After installing connect your cam via USB to the mac.
It will appear as a disk. Look for the files with TOD extension and drag and drop them to a folder on your desktop.
Once they are copied open MPEG STREAMCLIP and drag the first TOD file into it.
From FILE choose wich format you want to export to.
The conversion is fast and clean and them you are home free to edit your clips in Final Cut Pro, iMovie, iDVD, etc
ITS EASY AND FAST!!!
changing the filename is quarky…
P.C. users try this
capturing(converting) the footage to .avi by using the editing software i think its called power director.
load the video
transport it to the timeline
*initial slices and trims can be made to a video here
click produce video
select the create a file
select avi
click produce
name the file
and watch it work
Does anyone know if it’s normal for the lens on the JVC GZ-MG130U to re-position itself to about 20x when you power the camera off? I’m shooting at 1x and when I power the carera off the lens will move to about 20x by it’s self.
Strange…
I can’t believe someone actually agreed with Sneakers. They have chosen a horrible format, .MOD, which even after I convert it, won’t play. The Share Station tells me that the JVC
DVD which I UNWRAPPED from the share station box has “has already been used”. The camera itself records nicely but what difference does that make it is nearly impossible to do anything with… check the internet. Alot of people are having problems getting their footage either on their computer or off their share station. Oh and Sneakers, learn some manners.
I own a GZ-MG155U camera and the manual I was given says this camera will record MPEG2 files as well as MOD files so I am wondering where inside of my camera can I change those settings to record MPEG2 and not MOD. If the manual says the camera is capable of recording MPEG2 files then there would be no point to convert them anymore. So anyone know how I can do this?
P.S. For my PC
Oliver (Post#125),
I was having the same problem as Peter but since going back to non-HC SD cards I can at least use 4GB SD cards in my GZ-MG505. Thanks for the tip. I just wish I could fin non-HC 8GB SD cards!
Anyone know if there are any firmware updates out there for JVC cameras?
P.S. Never had any real issues with any of the JVC cameras I’ve owned. Even my old trusty DV camcorder still works.
I recently purchased the GZ-MG21u used. Pinnacle Studio will read the mod files directly. Just point to the folder where you copied the mod files and Pinnacle Studio will use them directly. Pinnacle Studio 12 is the latest version but I’m using Pinnacle Studio 10. I’ve used Sony Movie Studio and Ulead Video Studio 11 but prefer Pinnacle Studio for it’s easy of use.
Like others have found out you must use the non-HC SD cards or the camcorder won’t recognize the card. A firmware update would take care of this but I haven’t found any firmware updates available yet.
[...] read the Everio directly because it uses USB2 and not Firewire (oversight #1), and as many over at Gadget Review have already figured out, the video downloaded from the Everio is formated as .MOD (the same as [...]
I recorded some video in 16:9 format. Now it’s being displayed as 4:3 format in Cyberlink PowerDirector as well as in Windows Mediaplayer. Anyone familiar with this or know how to fix it? Thanks!
I have a GZ-MG175EK. The camcorder is easy to use but incredibly frustrating to try and download footage and create movies. I’ve tried Power express and Power Producer but can’t save a project, importing files is difficult and though i’ve used free software to convert files, i cant change them to mpeg to use movie maker. I really regret buying this machine. I wish I had checked the quality of software for ease od use. I am reasonably computer literate and just can’t use this!!!
Received GZ-MG21u as a Chrismtas Gift in 2006. Was recommended to purchased DVD Recorder. Best Buy rep. told me to buy JVC Cu-VD3U recorder as it was compatible with the G series. Come to find out it’s not compatible. Are there any DVD recorders compatible to this Everio model camcorder?
Thanks
A
I bought a jvc gz-mg505us and i want to buy accesories, telephoto, video light, wide angle, battery, in a kit of accesories, but i dont know if only gz-mg 505 are usefull, or i can buy a kit of other serie?
I have a jvc gz-mg505u and need software to download video and pics to my computer. Can anyone help me with this?
I have a jvc gz-mg505u and need software to download video and pics to my computer. Can anyone help me with this?
I have a jvc gz-mg505u and need software to download video and pics to my computer. Can anyone help me with this?
I have The Everio GZ-MG155 and an imac OS10.4.11.
It works wonderfully with iMovie, absolutely no need to change file extensions, upgrade software, or anything else.
Very pleased.
For pete’s sake, can nobody use then and than right? The author of this article, and many people of today’s illiterate generation write like they speak. The word “then” is used completely wrong here. Get it right…”than” is for comparison…
Anyone saying this is easy to use is either working for JVC trying to spread disinformation or just out of their minds. I have an MFA in electronic media and years of video production experience. I also know a Graduate Professor in Video who can not get his to work. The GZ-HD7 makes proprietary TOD files. The software that comes with it to enable quicktime and final cut to read them does not work. The JVC website says to buy quicktime pro, which does not help, and after days of searching for fixes I found a download that allowed me to see the files in quicktime, but when I export them out they corrupt to nothing but a green screen, and if I try to look at them again in quicktime, they don’t work in there a second time.
Hey SNEAKERS you DO KNOW where you can shove your JVC camcorder right?
If it doesn’t fit your tight but then press harder until tit does. Next time use that excuse for a brain to THINK before calling people losers! MORON! ;-)
It matters what kind of Mac you have. If you have the Mac PowerPC series you have more issues with the JVC files than if you have the Mac with the Intel processor. IMovie 8 isn’t compatible on the PowerPC Macs but works great with the Intel Mac. My camcorder the Everio JVC GZMG360 will work with IMovie 8, I have a Power Mac G4, so I had all the issues you guys have. I bought the JVC sharestation, which is great IF you just want to burn your info to a DVD
I was given the JVC Evario 505 and as far as I am concerned it won’t even make a decent boat anchor. The battery charger is not the correct one, it does not seem to take stills on its SD Card and as far as “movies” it is not good. Since I have no receipt, I am going to donate it, the instructions and all the stuff that came in the box to a charity whose personnel might be able to figure it out. The only thing I am keeping is my SD card. I think I figured out how to erase the “movies”, but if not the new owner can see my grandkids and their dogs. This was touted as a point, shoot, download. I even read the book. Bah
Jagga- you, like all Mac automotons, have a conceptual issue with this item. You said you have trouble because the ‘new’ technology hasn’t ben made compatible with imovie. Look at it this way, imovie, and Apple, have faile dto make their product compatible with leading edge technology- again!
Mac is little more than an overglorified toy and Apple needs to miserably fail as a company.