Editorial Review:

From the Manufacturer:
The revolutionary JVC Everio G series hard-disk camcorders offer unprecedented storage capacity, eliminating the need to carry tapes, discs, or any media at all--yet can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video. They also record more than 10.5 hours at a quality level comparable to a DVD camcorder's 30-minute mode. Recording-time capabilities for all four models in the Everio G series are impressive: The GZ-MG20 and GZ-MG40 offer 4 hours and 50 minutes of recording time at DVD quality and 25 hours at lower-resolution Internet quality; the GZ-MG30, GZ-MG50, and GZ-MG70 record for 7 hours and 10 minutes at DVD quality and 37 hours at Internet quality.

The GZ-MG20 fits in the palm of your hand.

The GZ-MG20 has a 20 GB hard disk, is truly palm-sized, and weighs less than 14 ounces with the battery attached. Its design is similar to a MiniDV camcorder's, which means that it's comfortable to hold and operate, and includes a large, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD monitor for easy recording.

Playback is easy, too, with multiple connections allowing convenient TV playback, dubbing to a VCR or DVD recorder, transfer to a PC or Apple Macintosh for DVD creation, editing, or posting on the Internet, or even burned directly without a PC to a full-length movie DVD disc using an optional DVD burner.

MPEG-2 Video Recording for DVD-Movie Quality Footage
The GZ-MG20 offers an impressive 4.5 hours storage at 9 Mbps, and over 7 hours at 6 Mbps. The high-quality MPEG-2 recordings are in the same format used in DVD, so there's no quality loss when burning them to DVD, and no time- and quality-wasting conversion.

The JVC GZ-MG20's 3D NR technology reduces video noise by 30 percent, even in low light.

3D Noise-Reduction Technology
Conventional noise reduction offers limited accuracy since it compares field A and field B that make up a frame with different sets of odd and even scanning lines to compensate for noise. JVC's 3D noise-reduction technology compares field A to field A, and field B to field B across two frames so that the scanning lines are identical and noise can be reduced more accurately. As a result, signal-to-noise ratio is improved by 2 dB and noise is reduced by about 30 percent. Flicker is eliminated and color reproduction is improved, enhancing overall picture quality.

25x Optical Zoom with 800x Digital Zoom
With the powerful 25x zoom, an image is enlarged 25 times without jagged edges. Images can be further enlarged up to 800x when combined with the digital zoom.

Get close to the action with optical and digital zoom options.

Random Access to Recordings
The benefits of recording video to a hard disk are the same benefits that have made hard disk-based audio players so popular--random access to quickly locate desired material, and the ability to effortlessly delete unwanted material and easily rearrange the playback sequence. What's more, there's no danger of mistakenly recording over something that's to be saved.

Browse recorded scenes easily with the thumbnail image index.

Scene selection is made easy thanks to on-screen index images, so the large amount recorded won't become a hindrance to quick accessibility. And with remote control operation, it is possible to connect the Everio G camcorder to a TV and operate it from a distance, just like a DVD deck. Playlist operation allows recording of desired clips directly to DVD with the optional DVD burner, or directly to VHS or other analog input devices with the S-Video or Composite video output for perfect copies every time.

Hard-Disk Protection and Stability
A challenge in designing and building a hard-disk camcorder is protecting the disk from shocks and vibrations. One way this is done in the Everio G camcorders is through a unique floating suspension system that effectively dampens vibrations through advanced polymer shock absorbers. Another security measure familiar to notebook PC users is its gravity-like force sensor system that automatically senses sudden acceleration such as in a free fall situation, and turns off the power to defend the hard disk so that a head crash can be avoided in many cases even when the unit is dropped.

Confirm remaining disk capacity and other details with the GZ-MG20's intuitive graphical display.

Make Full-length DVDs Easily, With or Without a Computer
In a unique collaboration with Apacer Technology Inc., JVC and Apacer developed a new DVD video burner that connects directly from the Everio G. Just select the playlist or file, or simply copy it all--one touch creates a full length video DVD to watch on a DVD player, with no need for a personal computer. For those who want to edit with a computer, JVC includes software for use with both the Windows and Macintosh platforms. Provided Pixela Capty MPEG Edit EX and optional Capty DVD for making DVD Video software provide seamless integration into the Apple Macintosh computer world. Of course Everio G is compatible with iPhoto for still pictures.

For Windows PCs, the CyberLink DVD Solution bundled with Everio G models comprises three applications that make it easy to make full-length DVD movies. A standard 4.7 GB single-layer DVD-R/RW disc holds over one hour of an Ultra mode movie, and over 90 minutes of a Fine mode movie.

• PowerProducer offers easy saving and authoring of video clips in any order to DVD, even directly from a USB-connected camera, so users can share original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player. The software makes it easy to locate and transfer video files residing on the camera's hard drive. Saving to DVD requires only a PC with 256 MB RAM, 700 MHz or above Pentium III, USB 2.0 terminal, and a DVD burner.
• PowerDirector Express offers feature-rich, non-linear editing so users can flex their creative muscle with titles and even mix stills with videos. PowerDirector Express also converts movies to a variety of file formats to send via the Web or e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed uploaded or streamed over the Internet.
• PowerDVD conveniently plays back video clips and DVDs with Dolby Digital audio.

What's in the Box
Everio GZ-MG20, AC power adapter/battery charger, rechargeable battery, AV cable, USB cable, remote control, shoulder strap, grip belt, lens cap, software CD-ROM (USB driver, Digital Photo Navigator: Windows, CyberLink DVD Solution: Windows, PIXELA Capty MPEG Edit EX: Mac)

Product Description:
No Tapes and No Discs. JVC GZ-MG20 has a built-in 20GB hard-drive that is capable of recording up to 25 hours of video in a palm-sized, lightweight (14 ounce) digital-camcorder. You don't need to use replaceable tapes or discs. Instead, you can transfer images to other A/V devices at home through composite and S-Video ports or to your computer through the rapid USB 2.0 high-speed interface. There's a large 2.5' LCD screen for convenient viewing of images as being recorded or played. An astounding 25x optical and up to 800x digital-zoom brings distant objects super close for extremely flexible and creative photography. So on your next trip away from home, don't pack any tapes into your suitcase, just get yourself this Everio G from JVC.
The benefits of recording video to a hard disk are the same benefits that have made hard disk-based audio players so popular ? random access to quickly locate desired material, the ability to effortlessly delete unwanted material, and easily rearrange the playback sequence. What's more, there's no danger of mistakenly recording over something that's to be saved. Scene selection is made easy thanks to on-screen index images, so the large amount recorded won't become a hindrance to quick accessibility. And with remote control operation, it is possible to connect the Everio G camcorder to a TV and operate it from a distance. Auto LED Light, Power Linked Operation USB 2.0 high speed interface 3-D Noise Reduction for clear picture MPEG-2 Video Recording for DVD-Movie Quality Footage Image Stabilization - Floating Suspension System; Gravity-like Force Sensor System 640 x 480 VGA digital stills SD Memory Card slot DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) - DCF, PIM 3 and Exif 2.2 for optimized print quality Make Full-length DVDs Easily Convenient TV playback Easy dubbing to a VCR or DVD recorder Simple transfer to a PC or Apple Macintosh for DVD



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• JVC BN-VF714U 3 Hour Recording Data Battery for GR Models
• RCA BC04HU Medium Digital Camcoder Case
• Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus [OLD VERSION]
• Apple Final Cut Studio 2 (Mac)
• Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus [AMAZON.COM EXCLUSIVE]

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Rating: - Not bad, definitely well worth the price I paid.
First off, I want to say that the camera shoots pretty good footage outdoors, not at all superb quality, but passable for just archiving personal footage. Indoors is another story, out of the box the low-light conditions pretty much blacked out the playback.

After researching, and changing settings, with help from a review on a similar camera, the indoors picture is pretty good. With the lenses and filters I purchased for this it actually has it to a B-. What I did was set it to M mode, shutter speed to 1/30 and set it to cloudy. You can also gain up while in this mode for a brighter picture, but it does add some grain.

The hard drive is so easy and convenient. I didn't bother installing any of the included software because I use Sony Vegas to edit video. Sony Vegas doesn't recognize the MOD format the video files are saved in, so again I did a few minutes of research to find out that you can simple highlight the MOD part of the file name/extension, backspace 3 times and type MPG. This instantly converts it to MPG format, which Vegas and all of my other playback programs recognize.

Sound is great, for a built in speaker it was almost one of the best I've heard on a simple video camera. The lense comes with threads to attach wide-angle lenses, and filters to make the picture even better... all in a camera a little over 5 inches long!

I was really pleased with this camera, and recommend it to anyone who really needs a good camera, but nothing extravagant- for people who rarely use it. It takes a few minutes of tweaking to get it right indoors, but most cameras aren't cut and dry to begin with.

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Rating: - JVC Does Not Stand Behind Their Products - JVC Lemoncorder
I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-XXX. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

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Rating: - Love love LOVE it!
The 5 main reasons I purchased this camcorder:
1) Size. It's barely larger than a can of soda!!!
2) Hard drive. Nice not to not ever have to buy blank tapes or discs.
3) Ease of use. The controls are well designed. Had most everything figured out in no time.
4) Downloading to the computer is a breeze.
5) Reviews from other owners. Everyone seems to like it for the most part.

Very happy with my purchase!

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Rating: - Pretty good camera for trips, you need a better battery though
The quality is awesome, the ergonomics is just super (the four way stick in the LCD for starters), the transfer capabilities are nice (just plug it in to ANY PC and it becomes an external hard drive with video files, although you have to rename the .MOD to .MPG), and the zoom/frame rate is great. (Upto 32X optical and .5-4000 fps - this is really good for shooting as you like).

For those who complain about the grainy stuff, try changing the frame rate yourself - lower frame rate for poorer lighting condition (so that the poor lighting gets registered on the CCD more slowly but rigidly), or change the white balance. I have had very little lighting problems , and that too only when shooting at really bad lighting conditions (in night for eg)...

Other than that, the camera is perfect for trips; it's amazing to see that the product turns out to be as good and heavenly as it was advertised.. for the first time.

Some personal gripes (from the stand point of a HDD camcorder), are that you can't record from a video source directly :D, and that you need to wait for 4 seconds before you can start recording after switching it on (it shows the same JVC animation every time, possibly to warm up the HDD meanwhile), and that you need to recharge it often if you are shooting it with the provided battery. If you can add 90$ more the 4 hour battery will make this cam one of the best. Also the digital stills are like crap; I mean 640x480 stills, worse than the ones in the cell phones.

But the overall thing is that you can shoot the videos and then transfer and burn them to your DVDs.. the problem is, with such a camcorder you would want to shoot everything that moves and is colorful and waste the 20GB soon enough...

I have owned a JVC VCR way back, and it was pretty good too, and that made my judgement about a industry first HDD camcorder from JVC...

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Rating: - JVC Video Camera
When we received the camera, it had been previously used. We were initially given a run-around, but Amazon gave us a good discount on the camera that made us happy. They couldn't replace it with a new one. The camera seems to have a sharp picture and excellent sound. It is amazingly small. It seems like a great choice for general home video. The software is a little daunting. Follow directions very carefully. The freedom from tapes and discs is nice feature... will also run longer w/o interruption to change discs or tapes.