Find the best consumer camcorders and accessories all in one place
E-mail Print PDF

JVC GZ-MS100 HD Camcorder

 
Editor rating
 
3.0 User rating
 
3.0 (1)
dividerbar2

Compact Everio S Makes Sharing Simple

This elegant, slim , lightweight camera boasts a Konica Minolta Lens, 35x optical zoom, Laser Touch operation and sharing videos over the internet is now easier than ever with the new one-button uploading to YouTube™, the leading video sharing site.

It looks strikingly similar to the popular stylish Everio G series hybrid cameras, but is smaller due to recording directly to a SD card. Everio S also has all the convenience Everio is famous for.

 

Product Features

  • Compact Slim Design
  • One Touch Upload to YouTube™ on the internet
  • Konica Minolta 35x optical Lens and 800x digital
  • Records directly to a SD / SDHC memory card (card not included)
  • 1 hour recording at the highest quality (Ultra-DVD Movie) with a 4GB SDHC memory card.
  • 1/6-inch 680K pixel CCD
  • Gigabrid Engine
  • Up to 9999 digital stills at the highest quality
  • Laser Touch Operation
  • Auto LCD Backlight Control
  • Auto Illumi.Light
  • 2.7" 16:9 Widescreen Clear LCD
  • Quick Restart
  • Data Battery
  • Power-Linked operation with Quick Restart
  • Built-in Lens Cover
  • Multi-Language – English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean
  • One Touch YouTube™ Upload
  • One-Touch DVD Creation (Direct DVD)


Gigabrid Engine

6 digital noise reduction systems improve the S/N ratio by about 30% (3dB) over previous models, while the integrated MPEG-2 encoder helps reduce block noise and mosquito noise. It's assurance that all of those Gigabytes of video and photos you shoot will offer the best picture quality available for each recording mode.

Product Spec

Storage Media SD Memory Card [14]
Image Sensor

1/6” CCD, 680K-pixel each

Lens Filter Diameter:30.5mm
Still Picture Recording JPEG
Optical Zoom Optical 35x / Digital 800x

Format

SD-VIDEO Entertainment Video Recorder Profile: • Video: MPEG-2 PS • Audio: Dolby Digital (2ch) • Still: JPEG

Video Recording Modes

Ultra Fine, Fine, Norm, ECO

Video Recording Time (max.)

3hr 45min (ULTRA FINE) / 19hr 50min (ECO) (on 16GB SDHC card, not provided).

Still Image Size

640x480

Power Consumption

Approx. 2.3W

Interfaces

SD Memory Card Slot, USB 2.0/1.1,USB Mass Storage Class, USB Mass Storage Class, AV Input/Outputt, DC In

JVC GZ-MS100’s Review

by reviews.digitaltrends.com

06/16/2008

Since the silver-bodied JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 does not have a disc or tape mechanism or even a hard drive, it’s small measuring 2.18 x 2.68 x 4.37 (WHD, in inches), weighing 9.6 ounces with card and battery. It easily fits in the palm of your hand and you can carry this one around all day with no problems.

The front is dominated by a 35x optical zoom that provides an excellent range (36-1260mm in 35mm terms) that’s slightly wider than other models for easier group shots and landscapes. The Konica Minolta lens has a manually operated cap that certainly beats a cheesy cover attached by a piece of string. It also accepts 30.5mm diameter filters. Also here is a stereo mic and a tiny—and I mean tiny—LED light to illuminate close-up subjects (within 4.5 feet) that does a surprisingly good job (objects really need to be close though). Below the light is a compartment for the USB out.

The right side of the primarily plastic camcorder is nicely sculpted with several embossed logos touting the brand and the fact it accepts SDHC cards (up to 32GB which lets you record 7.5 hours of Ultra Fine video; a more common and affordable 4GB card does an hour). The card compartment is here as well. You’ll also find a fairly comfortable Velcro strap and an A/V output jack. There’s a strange compartment here that takes a knife to open—it gives service people access so they can run diagnostics. Take a look, then quickly close and forget about it.

The left side has a fold-out 2.7-inch widescreen LCD monitor so you can frame your 16:9 epics. It’s a good one that handles direct sunshine with a minimum of problems. On the far left bezel is a bar offering Laser Touch Operation so you slide your finger to move through menu options rather than toggling a joystick. There’s a cool blue light behind it to show it’s working. Below the screen are five small buttons including OK, Menu and three that align under specific menu icons so you can make adjustments. I found working with the Laser Touch OK after a little trial and error. Like an iPod there are times when you fly by the item you want to adjust. The buttons required a squeeze of the key and the screen’s outer cover with two fingers rather than a simple press. Not a big deal but clearly these are not the most sensitive controls out there.

On the inner body are a number of basic controls including power on/off, One Touch Direct DVD burn/Info and Upload to YouTube, the Play/Record button, a switch to change between video/still and Auto/Manual control. You’ll find the speaker here as well. The Info button shows how much space you have left on your card and remaining battery life to the minute, great things to have quickly at hand. As a nice touch, once you power up, the camcorder turns on and off simply by opening the LCD screen. With the screen closed you’ll see a silvery JVC and SDHC logos. Near the front is the slider switch mentioned for the lens cover.

The top of the unit has the wide/tele toggle switch and a Snapshot button for stills. Since the GZ-MS100 has only a 1/6th inch 680K pixel CCD it only takes 640 x 480 pixel stills, barely worth the trouble unless you’re posting to the web. Given the low price, I hardly expected a hot shoe for optional mics and lights; I wasn’t disappointed.

The rear has the slot for the battery that fits fairly flush to the body and isn’t intrusive at all. There’s the record button, a DC-in jack to charger things up and two tiny access lights.

You get the basics when you buy this camcorder: a 2-hour battery, AC adapter, USB and A/V cables, a 40-page basic manual and a CD-ROM with PowerCinema NE for handling video files and YouTube uploads as well as Digital Photo Navigator ver. 1.5 to deal with stills. There’s a more in-depth guide on the CD-ROM too but it’s only 74 pages; JVC should include it in the package.

This is not the most sophisticated camcorder on the block but it’s straightforward and geared for quick videos—and a little more once you get a handle on the basics. After charging it up, loading a 4GB Class 6 SDHC card, it was time to start recording and sharing.

Editor review

JVC GZ-MS100

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Rate this product:
 
3.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed by admin
June 12, 2009
#1 Reviewer
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
Last updated: June 12, 2009
 

User reviews

Average user rating from: 1 user(s)

 

Rate this product:
 
3.0
 
 

JVC GZ-MS100

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Summary

First Digital- 4 Stars

"I have never owned a digital camera or camcorder, so this is my first. The instructions were a bit confusing, but the JVC helpline cleared things up for me. Not only can I use this camcorder, but I can upload pictures and share them with my on-line service-which my tech daughter is impressed with. I need more practice with shooting and burning video, but I imagine that I will master that as well."
Rate this product:
 
3.0
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes No
Reviewed by admin
June 12, 2009
#1 Reviewer
View all my reviews
Report this review
 
 
 
Powered by jReviews
 

Latest Poll

What is your favorite camcorder brand?