JVC GZ-MG555
Encyclopedia
Camcorder
A camcorder is an electronic device that combines a video camera and a video recorder into one unit. Equipment manufacturers do not seem to have strict guidelines for the term usage...
(in North America), also known as the JVC GZ-MG575 (in Asia and Europe), was produced by JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
in 2007. It records standard definition MPEG-2 video onto either a built-in hard disk drive, or on a secure digital memory card
Secure Digital card
Secure Digital is a non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association for use in portable devices. The SD technology is used by more than 400 brands across dozens of product categories and more than 8,000 models, and is considered the de-facto industry standard.Secure Digital...
in MOD
MOD and TOD (video format)
MOD and TOD are recording formats for use in digital tapeless camcorders. The formats are comparable to XDCAM EX, HDV and AVCHD.-Overview:...
format.
Video can be recorded in four quality settings: Ultra Fine (720 x 480, 8.5Mbit/s), Fine (720 x 480, 5.5Mbit/s), Normal (720 x 480, 4.2Mbit/s), and Economy (352 x 240, 1.5Mbit/s). The built-in harddrive has capacity of 30GB (40GB for GZ-MG575) and can hold up to 7 hours of video when recorded at the highest quality setting.
When recording to a memory card, the recording time depends only on capacity of the card. The GZ-MG555 uses full-size SDHC memory cards. One 4GB card can fit roughly 1 hour of video at highest quality setting. There are no limitations for using any of the recording formats when recording to a memory card.
In 2007 this camcorder had the largest imaging sensor for a consumer camcorder, 1/2.5". Other distinguishing features of this camcorder include:
- External microphone jack
- Accessory shoe
- Built-in neutral density filter
- FireWire port
- Threaded lens barrel for attachments
- Black body color
Lacking from the camcorder is an optical viewfinder, headphone output, focus ring and full manual mode.
Specification
- Sensor: 1/2.5-inch 5.37 Megapixel CCD
- Lens speed: f/3.5
- Filter Diameter: 46 mm
- Optical Zoom: 10x
- Image Stabiliser: digital
- Viewfinder: No
- LCD Screen: 2.8"
- Headphone Out: No
- Microphone In: Yes
- Recording media: built-in 30GB (GZ-MG555) or 40GB (GZ-MG575) HDD, SDHC memory card (card is not included)
- Weight: 750 g
Product Information and Reviews
- First impressions by CamcorderInfo
- Full review by CamcorderInfo
- Review by CNet
- Hands-on review by AVCHDUser
- Review by PCWorld
- Review by Videomaker