JVC GZ-MC200
This stylish combination of an MPEG-2 camcorder and a 2-megapixel camera moves cassette-free digital recording forward, bundling the device with a 4GB Microdrive that will hold an hour of highest-quality video. So what's the catch? Read our First Take to find out.
JVC heats up the competition in the consumer MPEG video camera market with this extremely compact model. Capable of recording MPEG-2 video, 2-megapixel JPEG stills, and audio-only files, the GZ-MC200 has an attractive swiveling-lens design and comes with a 4GB Microdrive for recording up to an hour of video at the highest-quality setting.
Upside: The GZ-MC200 is endowed with a 10X zoom lens, a built-in flash for stills, and a healthy basic feature set for capturing both video and stills. It has a thoughtful, flexible design that's both compact and comfortable in the hand. You can record to the included Microdrive, a CompactFlash Type II card, or an SD card, which increases both the GZ-MC200's capacity and the chance that the media cards you already own will be compatible.
Downside: The only viewfinder is a 1.8-inch LCD on the back of the camera. In very bright light or when trying to be discreet in the dark, an eyepiece viewfinder would be a better option. It's great that JVC includes a 4GB Microdrive with the camera, but every time you fill it up, you'll have to download your video to a computer or another storage device before you can resume shooting. That makes it less than convenient as a travel camera, despite its compact design.
Outlook: JVC once again moves a new product area forward and appeals to technophiles who are willing to pay a premium for the latest and coolest technology. At $1,300 list, the GZ-MC200 will be a hard sell for most other consumers, who have the alternative of buying a decent and very compact MiniDV camcorder (albeit without 2-megapixel still capture) for about a third of the price. The JVC GZ-MC200 will be available in October.