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Jvc Everio GZ-MG330 Review: (My rating: A Five Star HDD Standard Definition camcorder)

OPENING STATEMENT: To all people interested in purchasing their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th camcorder, I recommend to go for the Jvc Everio GZ-MG330 without a second thought. It is by far the Best & Latest Camcorder introduced in 2008.

I'll justify the above hereunder but, without being overtly technical, as this is a personal review meant for the common man like you and me, here's a user friendly opinion:

APPRECIATION: Thanks JVC, you have done a wonderful job at bringing this great piece of work! And I convey my deepest appreciation to their R&D team for designing and manufacturing this beautiful camcorder for us, which is a wholesome piece of equipment.

FOR WHOM THIS IS? If you are either of the following, this camcorder is meant for you:
1. Anyone shopping for his/her 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th camcorder.
2. Anyone who is not interested in Hi-Def technology yet.
3. Anyone who is not a campro and wants a ready-to-shoot camcorder.
4. Anyone who wants the best video quality output both in day and night.
5. Anyone who believes in a slim, small & compact camcorder.
6. Anyone who wants to hold the latest gadget, which has beautiful ergonomics
7. Anyone who has a big TV but is not ready for a HD camcorder yet.
8. Anyone who wants easy editing & DvD burning of his recorded video.
9. Anyone who desires the best technology but easy on pocket.
10. Finally, anyone who loves a good looking thing!

I think by now I have given out all the good reasons why one should have the Everio GZ-MG330.

NOW THE REASONNING (WHY?): I had 6 camcorders before, starting from Mini-DV tape ones (3), to SD Card ones (1). Whereafter, recently purchased the Sanyo-Xacti HD2 (1) and the Everio GZ-MG575 (1). However, none of them lived-up to my expectations vis-à-vis picture quality, especially at dim-light conditions. Though the GZ-MG575 was also an HDD Camcorder; the last year's (2007) entry; and a better configuration, yet it only gave good video in bright daylight (I don't know why?). Thus, I shopped for another HDD camcorder, researched, tested and took the Jvc Everio GZ-MG330, which is my latest happy 7th Camcorder, also hopefully Final one in Standard Definition until I lay my hands on the Best HD model. You see, I have an HD one already, the Sanyo-Xacti HD2, however, its picture quality is better not to be discussed. Moreover, loading HD video on only SD cards (max. 8 Gb in market yet) is a stupifying experience.

IT IS HARD DISC DRIVEN: Firstly, in today's scenario I would recommend everyone to go for a HDD camcorder, what with the tapes, SD Cards getting messed-up, making countless back-ups to cater for. The Everio GZ-MG330 has a 30 Gb HDD, which is quite good enough for all the recordings we will ever need in SD format. No extra baggage to keep track of, beside HDD is easier and faster to download into your PC, edit and then burn your DVD at will. With my GZ-MG330 I copied, edited & burnt DVDs of 6 Gb recording in just over 1 hour.

IT IS VERY SLEEK & COMPACT: The GZ-MG330 is the smallest camcorder in the market today (besides the Sanyo-Xacti series) and yes, the smallest HDD one. At nearly the size of a Pepsi Can, it surprisingly packs in all the features needed for a camcorder. You would have guessed from its pictures, the GZ-MG330 is a stunner in looks dept. What with the very cool colour choices (the only one such in the market), all buttons neatly placed, easy to reach and smooth to handle. The laser guided scroll function on its LCD is unique. Besides, it is very easy to operate, the menu is simple, no unnecessary features, which generalists like me actually do not need.

VERY GOOD VIDEO OUTPUT: The picture quality of GZ-MG330 is very good compared to all the cams I had before and definitely very-very good compared to its size. I recorded both day & night shots. The ones I did inside my house at night, in the general lighting we all have in our homes, was 'splendid'. Though not exactly like a daytime outside shot, however the GZ-MG330 delivers the best night picture quality in the market. And believe me, no consumer camcorder gives the perfect picture in low light conditions. This I learnt with my experience, as well as reported by the specialists' is camcorder websites. I viewed the GZ-MG330 shootings in my 42" LCD TV and to be frank, I was myself surprised at such a good resolution. The picture was sharp, the colours were nearly original and there were no ghosts. Albeit, the day shots were great, as any camcorder which delivers good at low light would do even better at daylight. The GZ-MG330 gave me goose-pimples when I saw my footage in the TV. The picture was stunning, absolutely clear-cut, sharp, focused, well contoured and rightly coloured. I must say, the GZ-MG330 is well ahead in the SD technology, even though there are many SD Camcorders, which have quite better configurations like 3 CCD, 5 Mp, 1.2f Lens and the jargon. Though the GZ-MG330 is just about 1Mp CCD with a 1.8f Lens (which is about half the light capture of 1.2f), it delivers quite clear video. Obviously JVC has done a tremendous job with this camera! And mind you, all the pictures I am viewing in a 42" TV. Surely, with smaller version TVs the output will be flawless, just like a HD recording.

EXCEPTIONAL ZOOMING CLARITY: Inside the house, at night time, with conventional lighting, I kept a newspaper at about 22 feet away and zoomed my GZ-MG330. The output was astounding. Even the smallest type print was crystal clear. And the colour photos looked exactly the same as on newsprint. Remember, the general pages in a newspaper carry dull photos compared to glossy prints of a magazine. Thus, capturing that in white contrast is a difficult task for any camcorder without added light. I also zoomed into a building, about 500 yards away in the daytime. And surprise of surprises, I could clearly look inside their uncurtained living room and could see their wall murals. And all these I was doing hand-held, without a tripod. The GZ-MG330 has 35x Optical Zoom, the highest ever in a camcorder, plus the usual digital zoom. In this category the GZ-MG330 is a market leader. PLUS-PLUS-PLUS for this camcorder.

DIGITAL IMAGE STAB.: The GZ-MG330 has an Image Stabiliser, which performs delicately well. Unlike many other models, especially JVC models, here is a camcorder which does its job well. Everytime I zoomed or shaked the camera, within micro seconds it gave me the clarity I needed. This is a silent worker, strong on inside, cool on outside. Though the stabilizer is an asset, I actually feel it should have been an optical one, which would have given the added punch (but I guess, it is too much to ask in such a compact machine).

KISS (KEEP-IT-SIMPLE-N-STRAIGHT): The GZ-MG330 is a perfect example of KISS cameras. No manual control, nothing to set here or there, fully auto-focus (and a good one at it), not even the instructions booklet is needed to be read. Just, charge the battery, set the date & time and start shooting. Believe me, that's it. You may like to change the initial settings later (though not at all needed) like the video & still quality to be refined ('Superfine' modes), but that is entirely up to you, JVC doesn't need it. And take my word for it, the recordings would anyway come out to be picture perfect.

MORE ON LOOKS: The GZ-MG330 is a very good looking work-of-art and I just can't take my eyes-off it. Thus, I need to add-on some more. From all angles front, left, top, right, bottom and back it exuberates style. The sleek metal finish, interspeckled with black rubber covers for the cable sockets, various labels here & there, steel linings/dashes, the gray plastic areas, black front mic, hand-strap... the GZ-MG330 is beautifully sculptured. It advocates desire; one keeps feeling to hold it, move around with, showing-it-off and go on shooting anytime, anywhere. And I guess, that's what home camcorders are meant for. And naturally with its hard disc capacity, you can afford to do so. I have the Ruby-Red model and I have fallen in love with it.

SIZE MATTERS: Oh yes, in the gadget world it really does... everything small & sleek is trendy. And the Pepsi Can sized GZ-MG330 is definitely a leader.

TECHNICAL SPECS.: I do not need to discuss here, as it is well covered in every site, you can easily lay your hands on and understand. I would say, it is well packed with all necessary features and a very sturdy one too, being small.

BOTTOM-LINE: The GZ-MG330 is a technical marvel. A must for everyone. I feel even though you might have a camcorder already, yet you must also have this one. It would be your secondary camcorder to carry along just in case. And believe me such pitfalls do occur. And who knows, it might become your main camcorder, while the older one may be sidelined...

PROs & CONs: GZ-MG330 has more pros than cons. Some being, it is just a 1 CCD, 1.8f Lens (yet doesn't matter, as the video is great), less than 1Mp still images (again doesn't mater, as this is a camcorder, that too a compact one, it is thus doing its basic job well. Though the stills are not that bad), no opitcal stabilization (I think not possible at this size. Though once again doesn't matter, the Digital Stab. is performing well), just at that.

CONCLUSION: The GZ-MG330 is the best Camcorder ever produced. My recommendation is GO FOR IT... and you will never regret. Actually, you might not need a HD camcorder for a long-long time, until the HD market develops more and stabilizes (which is yet in its nascent stage, with many battles still to be won. Though the 'BluRay' issue is decided, how it develops is a matter of time). Until then I am happy with my Standard Definition Everio GZ-MG330.

At this price there is no other camcorder packing-in so much features and resolution. Though the price is not a consideration here, as the GZ-MG330 is anyway an all-rounder camcorder, you actually do not need to look at the higher priced ones at all.

FINAL RATING: I say the Jvc Everio GZ-MG330 is a 'Superstar' camcorder, 'Five Star' rating, I'll give it '10/10' or 'A++' if you like. Though I maybe sounding like a JVC Executive (*which I am heavenly, not), I would suggest you SAFELY BUY IT.

Capt. S. Dutta, Dubai, U.A.E.
25 Mar 2008.

*Ps.: I think JVC would be surprised by my views.

Does it make the coffee as well........????

Hi rich, my names Steve. I have posted a blog under Panasonic HS9 Software. I have just purchased a Panasonic HS9 camcorder and my question was this. I cannot plug and play direct through my lap top, I cannot download direct to my laptop and play without using the software provided by Panasonic. They provide a Hd writer 2.5 disc which I need to use to transfer data from my camcorder to my lap top and to view that data. That I understand. This software is very limited in it's capabilities. but if I try to play the recorded film direct from my documents, my laptop does not recognise the file extensions. There is another disc that comes with it Pinacle studio plus HD edition but this is only a trial disc and I have been informed that Pinacle is not the best. Is there some better software out there I could use for editing my work without using this hd writer 2.5, and does it have to be HD specific software.

On a camcorder use note. If I film with 25p digital turned on will the quality of the recording be better than if I shoot with it switched off. The reason I ask this is because I think I am correct in saying that shooting with it switched off shoots at 50 frames per second.
So far In my experimenting I love this camcorder and the quality of image is amazing. The only negative I can think of at the moment is the fiddly little joy stick.
THanks.
Steve.C

Well that seems to answer all my questions (and some that I have not thought about yet )!
If it`s that good I should rush out and buy my son this JVC gem straight away.
Thanks
Newboy
ps not bothered that it doesn`t make coffee or tea

Hey, I'm Louis

Looking forward to getting into videography. Doing small independant films and local documentaries.

Don't yet own a camcorder, but that's why I'm here. I'll start up a thread for it, hopefully see you there.

Louis.