Ah, springtime. Ain't it beautiful? So beautiful, in fact, that you're apt to want to capture the flowers blooming and the kids playing around you, which is probably why JVC finally decided to ship the Everio GZ-HM550 that it announced back at CES. As far as handheld camcorders go, it's one of the better specced models on the market, touting a 10.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, 32GB of inbuilt storage, an SD / SDHC expansion slot, an integrated Bluetooth module (for controlling the camera's play, zoom and record functions via cellphone) and geotagging support when used with a compatible BT phone. Oh, and users can even sync up a Bluetooth headset in order to monitor the recorded sound or input voice recordings. You'll also get 1080p recording, a 16x zoom and the ability to snag 9 megapixel stills, all for the low, low price of $799.95. Go ahead -- step your YouTube game way up.
Geo-tagging with video has always been unclear to me. What if you're taking a video while in motion. Say you are flying or riding a motorcycle or some other high speed movement. How does it work then? Is the video Geotagged once or every 5-10 frames or in some other way?
For those wondering about the Smartphone control app for this camera - it is only available for Windows Mobile and a couple of Curve/Bold Blackberry devices.
I'm confused, if it's got a 10.6 MP CMOS sensor, why are the stills 9 MP?
Also, does the bluetooth allow your phone to act as a wireless display for the camera?
Lastly, why bluetooth and limited compatibility... If they gave it wifi, you could potentially use any wifi-enabled device with a browser to remotely control it... Not only that, but you could use it as an IP Camera.
@perrinoia Yeah, it does. I've been testing it over the weekend for the site I work for and while it only supports WinMo and BlackBerry at the moment, my tests with BlackBerry showed that it not only acts as a display but also as a control. So hit record on the phone, the cam goes into record mode. Stop recording on the cam, the phone goes to a green circle and pauses.
JVC's website specs give it 10x optical zoom (the 16x is for "dynamic" zoom)--either way, that's anemic. As for viewfinder, there is none. For $799, that's a fail.
Hello this is my first post on this forum. I being reading some reviews and comment on different articles. Now I need some help from you guys who know lot more than me. I want to buy a decent camera for video recording and photos. I was looking for something under $500 but this cam it's $300 over. I don't mind buy it if it's worth. I currently have a panasonic GS500 wich I paid $799 when I got it the videos are ok but I need HD videos since everything now it's going HD. I was looking into the Nikon 1080P CoolPix P100. Also Canon EOS 5d Mark II. Which camera will you recommend me I need something that take good videos on dark place I want to use it for recording party and poor light also take pictues. If under $800 I will apreciate you recommendation
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posted March 21st 2010 10:41AM
When are they going to start making video cameras with decent dynamic range and low light performance?
Geo-tagging with video has always been unclear to me. What if you're taking a video while in motion. Say you are flying or riding a motorcycle or some other high speed movement. How does it work then? Is the video Geotagged once or every 5-10 frames or in some other way?
For those wondering about the Smartphone control app for this camera - it is only available for Windows Mobile and a couple of Curve/Bold Blackberry devices.
@Brent1700 holy monkey you're right
I'm confused, if it's got a 10.6 MP CMOS sensor, why are the stills 9 MP?
Also, does the bluetooth allow your phone to act as a wireless display for the camera?
Lastly, why bluetooth and limited compatibility... If they gave it wifi, you could potentially use any wifi-enabled device with a browser to remotely control it... Not only that, but you could use it as an IP Camera.
@perrinoia Yeah, it does. I've been testing it over the weekend for the site I work for and while it only supports WinMo and BlackBerry at the moment, my tests with BlackBerry showed that it not only acts as a display but also as a control. So hit record on the phone, the cam goes into record mode. Stop recording on the cam, the phone goes to a green circle and pauses.
I did a video of what I got out of the Bluetooth functionality in case you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcTeSMptsc
@Leighlo Thanks, that's pretty cool. But I still think wifi would be better for portability.
JVC's website specs give it 10x optical zoom (the 16x is for "dynamic" zoom)--either way, that's anemic. As for viewfinder, there is none. For $799, that's a fail.
I remember Sony announced first Bluetooth camcorder back in 2000...
JVC sucks...
Sony's Handycam.........are best in quality / design .......
No SDXC=FAIL
@haz an SD / SDHC expansion slot is on the spec list, therefor YOU=FAIL.
@perrinoia You fail, SDXC is the level up from SDHC. SDHC is up to 32GB. SDXC is beyond that.
Hello this is my first post on this forum. I being reading some reviews and comment on different articles. Now I need some help from you guys who know lot more than me. I want to buy a decent camera for video recording and photos. I was looking for something under $500 but this cam it's $300 over. I don't mind buy it if it's worth. I currently have a panasonic GS500 wich I paid $799 when I got it the videos are ok but I need HD videos since everything now it's going HD. I was looking into the Nikon 1080P CoolPix P100. Also Canon EOS 5d Mark II. Which camera will you recommend me I need something that take good videos on dark place I want to use it for recording party and poor light also take pictues. If under $800 I will apreciate you recommendation
This is interesting. They are using Minolta lens? I wonder if it has the nice colors and beauty of the Minolta Maxxum lenses.
Any recommendation ?