JVC Everio Camcorder
Just got in a JVC Everio GZ-MG30U camcorder that records video in MPEG on its internal 30GB hard drive… up to 7 hours, assuming there’s power (and a tripod, of course). I’ll start playing with it and the editing software that came with it in a week or so. The camera itself is tiny and lightweight. Like most inexpensive camcorders, its F1.2 to 2.8, f= 2.2 mm to 50 mm lens doesn’t provide a wide enough field of view, instead offering a 25x optical zoom. Too much zoom, not enough wide angle. Overall, though, if it proves durable, this will make recording student teaching easier for some of our students and cut back on tape issues. We’ll see how editable the MPEG file format is with the bundled CyberLink (Windows) and Capty DVD (Mac) software.
January 13, 2006 at 4:45 pmMike Hoffman
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Hmm… morbidly curious about MPEG editing on the Mac, I followed your link to info about Capty DVD software and found this note at the bottom of the page:
NOTE: Products in the “Capty” Series and the “PIX-DVRR” Series are only sold within Japan, and are designed for use solely in the Japanese environment, with a Japanese OS. Support for these products is limited to users who meet these criteria, and is available only in the Japanese language.
As the kids say, “waddup wit’dat?”
– Mike
March 6, 2006 at 4:30 pmDonald Gray
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Any news to report on the JVC Everio?
Does it have some kind of optical steady shot function?
I have done some shooting with tiny cameras lately—they’re incredible, stealthy, and a lot of fun.
But many of the images are useless, they shake so much.
Related to this last bit, have you aver seen any post-production software that can reasonably reduce camera shake through interpolation or some such process?
Does FCP have and post effect that can help wityh the problem?
—D
March 8, 2006 at 12:00 pmTim Merritt
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Donald,
The little cameras do suffer from shake, and it’s one of the compromises we have to adapt to I suppose.
I think there are some tools for that, but I don’t think they’re built into FCP. It would involve some sophisticated motion tracking – I know it’s doable. [Searches Google.] Aha – found this: Lyric’s Motion Tracking FCP Plugin , which looks like it might do the trick. Good luck.
March 13, 2006 at 9:26 pmTim Lauer
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Hi Tim,
Am wondering if you have any other thoughts on the JVC Everio Camcorder. I’m thinkin of getting a few for use in a video class. Also do you have any other recommendations?
thanks,
Tim Lauer
March 14, 2006 at 2:16 pmTim Merritt
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Hi, Tim. No, I haven’t been able to get a lot of experience with it. It’s the editing software and the time to test it that concern me. Since this camera shoots in MPEG, it saves files with compression unlike that of DV, so I understand it’s not as easy to compress for web video. I hope to get some practice with it soon.
I’d recommend going with DV cameras. We’ve had pretty good luck with Canon and Sony, but we’re moving to Panasonics because they’re top-loading – they don’t require the user to remove them from a tripod to put in a new tape. We also now make sure the cams have a mic input, for cases where there’s too much noise for the on-cam mic to pick up the desired sound.
As for editing, there are so many good options: iMovie on the Mac, of course, and Movie Maker on Windows are included; other editors for Windows are pretty inexpensive. Write to me if you have moer questions, Tim.
P.S. I won’t make it to NECC this year; enjoy San Diego.