JVC Everio GZ-MC200

Though not exactly a miniature effort compared with other non-tape varieties, the GZ-MC200 is still a top contender for the consumer point-and-shoot category with its smart use of micro hard drives as the recording media of choice, though price may yet be the deal breaker.

Design
Unlike most point-and-shoot camcorders that rely on a flip-out LCD screen for user reference, the GZ-MC200 does not have the same option. Instead, what it does have is a lens barrel that swivels in a 45 degree angle arc both up and downwards which reminds us of the form factor of the Sony DSC-F828. Though it performs adequately in this respect, it cannot quite match the 180-degree turn for a flip-out LCD which is required for self-portrait recording.

Primary control on the GZ-MC200 is held by a clickable quad-directional joystick which can access basic functions like flash and manual/auto modes. However, the miniscule tactile feedback on the part of the joystick means a new user may be left wondering whether they have triggered the command in the first place. A menu button and a shutter button are situated just above it. The zoom is operated by a toggle switch which feels rather loose and plasticky. There are also two tiny Info and Delete buttons placed just above the LCD screen.

A dial switch is located on the left side of the camcorder which switches the camcorder from recording to review to shutdown status. The dial switch also houses a single Mode button in the middle which toggles the camcorder, camera and voice recorder modes.

With the flash situated just above the lens on the front panel and the stereo microphone placed just above them, there should be no compromise in terms of illumination or sound pick-up, though the tiny nature of the flash does not really get our hopes up. The GZ-MC200 may not fulfill the usual form factor of typical point-and-shoot camcorders and does seem rather unwieldy at first, the GZ-MC200 does have a solid heft and mildly pocketable dimensions for those with jackets. Yet because there is not much grip for the palm, we would advise users to loop the included lanyard around their hand before any outings with the GZ-MC200.

The design of the GZ-MC200 is supposedly meant for one-hand operation, with the positioning of the shutter and joystick clearly within easy reach of the thumb. However, once the user starts switching his thumb between the shutter button and the joystick, he will find it difficult to reposition his digit each time while trying to maintain a firm grip on the camcorder.

Features
Other than the Panasonic D-Snap and the Sanyo Xacti, there are very few other consumer camcorders that do not run off a MiniDV tape. Both flash memories and, in the case of the GZ-MC200, Microdrives allow for a smaller form factor and easier review of the recorded material. We like the fact that for the GZ-MC200, there is no need to fast forward through an entire tape to find a certain scene; each video clip is represented by a thumbnail for easy reference.

There are four different quality settings for video recording (ultrafine; fine; normal; economy) and with the included 4GB Hitachi Microdrive, the GZ-MC200 can record up to 60 minutes in ultrafine mode which rates the same as a standard MiniDV tape. However, given the much higher cost of a Microdrive in relation to a MiniDV tape, it would be up to the user whether he is willing to splurge on a higher startup price since for longer shooting trips he will have factor in an extra one or two Microdrives or, barring that, tote along a laptop. The GZ-MC200 also features JVC's own proprietary anti-shock system for the Microdrive in a bid to reduce the oftchance that constant jitters may damage the hard disk.

On the optics side, the GZ-MC200 comes with a 10x optical zoom as well as a range of standard digital effects like sepia for in-camera video enhancements. Though there is a built-in flash, it should be noted that it is only for still image capture. For night time video recording, the GZ-MC200 does not have a hotshoe to support additional accessories which mean that the user will have to depend on ambient light or shutter compensation.

Resolution on the GZ-MC200 runs up to 2 megapixels for digital stills and there is an electronic image stabilizer that does a decent job at correcting our camera jitters. The GZ-MC200 is also pretty much customizable when it comes to specific controls like shutter speed, aperture, ISO and white balance.

For users who have a preference for using the LCD in framing their shots, they are in luck. The GZ-MC200 uses a 1.8-inch LCD that produces a very clear and bright rendition of what the camera lens is capturing. However, we feel this will be a drain on the battery since we cannot choose to use a viewfinder instead.

Performance
For the GZ-MC200, we noticed that there is a slight lag in terms of startup time, so impromptu videos are probably not in the cards. However, we are quite pleased with the LCD screen which is bright and responsive. Yet, we find fault with the autofocus function in terms of videography, which takes a bit of time before it gets things in focus; and even then for moving objects like road traffic, the GZ-MC200 tends to shift focus from one object to another. The manual focus is useful for immobile objects, but the fact that we have to dig into the menu for the feature as opposed to having a dedicated hardware interface does not appeal.

We also noticed that we are not able to make a still image capture while in the video capture mode, unlike conventional MiniDV camcorders.

Image Quality
The GZ-MC200 is quite unable to handle image capture in low-light conditions as it does not come with its own external light to make up for the lack of illumination. Resorting to a slower shutter, we experienced the typical blurring of the video. Still image capture, on the other hand, is typical of most consumer point-and-shoots; the lack of range for the built-in flash means that only macro shots are viewable.

In our day shoot, we noticed that there is a fair amount of noise and an inadequacy in terms of focus accuracy.

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