Customer Reviews
Mac Users!! NO WORRIES! 
2008-03-15
I looked at a lot of cameras before settling on this one. Then I read the customer reviews here, and got very concerned by the Mac Users warning. After doing a bit of research, however, I discovered that it's very easy to export files from the Everio format to both iMovie and Final Cut. Conversion software is free from squared5.com, and converts to every format I could possibly need.
After working with this camera for afew days, I am SO GLAD I bought this one! The features are seemingly limitless. I can do everything I had hoped to do (or needed to do for my web design business) and more, more, more.
I'm looking forward to getting creative with this....very affordable, and very easy to use camera.
Good camcorder, horrible stills, overall a very good unit 
2008-02-23
I'm overall very satisfied with this camera. It was a snap to setup and transfer video to my PC for the first time. My opinion is that video should be shot on the highest quality setting, which gives you at least 7hrs of shooting without needing additional SD storage. It's hard to imagine needing too much more than that in one sitting.
One of the motivations for buying this camera was that it takes 5mp stills, which I think is awesome. I was holding out hope that it could be a worthy substitute for my p&s camera, however I find the still images of terrible quality (even on the highest setting) to the point where I'm thinking my cell phone might be better for stills than this 5mp camera.
The camera is outstanding for low light situations relative to the competition (see Sony's stuff in this price range). Although some other reviewers have correctly stated that the low-light quality isn't perfect, relative to the competition, I think its excellent. You'd probably have to pay 2x the price to get something that is better for low-light shooting. I'm not a camcorder expert by any means, but this was my strong impression after researching and trying out a few of them.
The menus are easy to figure out, it took me only a few minutes to get all the settings (date/time, video quality, etc) set how I liked it, without looking at the instruction manual. Most of the buttons and menus are pretty straightforward so this should be relatively simple to start using, similar to a typical digital camera.
I can certainly give this camcorder a strong review. If I were to do it again, I might consider a unit with a 60gb hard drive, but wouldn't spend any money on the 5mp still photo options, as they don't look to be good enough quality to be worth my while (I'll still have to carry my p&s camera).
If you need more space, 8gb SDHC cards aren't too expensive these days, so expansion is going to be possible no problem.
Some folks dislike the idea that you don't record to conventional DVD or tape media. Why?? I don't get that. You load the video onto your PC, then burn it to a DVD and store that. What's difficult about that?
Cool Camcorder! 2008-01-28
Okay, I did a lot of research before buying a camcorder. It seems like the main competitors were JVC and Sony. I chose the JVC because it had better resolution and better features for less of a price (with Amazon at least).
Now, when it came to the JVC camcorder I chose the Hard Drive version because I enjoy simply playing around and having fun without having to worry about wasting tapes or dvds. Plus, when you rewind and re-record over tape, you lose quality. Each time you hit record, a new scene begins, which is really cool for managing your files! Also, with the model I purchased, you're able to edit the scene so that you can trim it to just what you want.
So then, High Def or Standard Def? Do you have a High Def TV? Are you making high quality movies? Then stop reading and get the HD camcorder. If not, then get the Standard Def. I got it because I don't see any spectacular HD camcorders yet. I'm sure they're being developed, but with only a few models available, you're probably getting a low end HD which, in my opinion isn't better than a high end SD. Plus, HD takes up more Hard Drive space, and looks terrible on a SD television. I have a buddy who got an HD who actually does have an HDTV, and he said he NEVER uses it because it's just over the top. So he records in SD, but, like I said, the only models that are out are lower end HDs, so it's kind of a bummer for him. They also chew up more battery life.
Additionally, I chose the GZMG555 (currently their top of the line SD) because of a few great features: it's got a light (which is a little too fluorescent, but good enough), it's got a cold shoe (so you can plug in a better mic, trust me, this was the main reason I chose it), rather than having all the options digital (because it's really annoying to have to surf through billions of digital menus) there's a round dial on top that you rotate (like on good digital cameras), the camcorder offers great quality (learn about the 1/2.5" details), and a great zoom.
Now, here's some advice for a couple questions you may or may not have thought of. Why isn't the zoom as good as lower end models? I have no clue, but the zoom it has is plenty. In fact, zooming too much seems pointless--all you get is particle vision, and you really notice shaky hands. What about only having a 30GB instead of a 60GB? Honestly, on the Ultra quality version you get over 7 hours of footage, are you ever going to need more? Then use the Fine quality that will yield like 10 hours. If you need more than that before you offload the footage onto your computer you have 3 options: 1) buy the JVC portable DVD burner (a good option if you're on a long vactation), that way you can burn to DVD at the end of each day or two; option 2, bring a laptop on your vacation that you can save to; or 3 buy a different camcorder.
Last important piece of advice! This records video as an MPEG2 with a .MOD at the end. This is annoying if you have film editing software because it's not always compatible (Roxio=no, Pinnacle=yes, I think). But, remember this!: You can convert these to MPEG2 files VERY EASILY by erasing the .MOD and retyping it as .MPEG2...or if you're clever, you'll be able to find an mass converter which is much much quicker. I recommend this because if you record in 16:9 and retype the .MPEG2, the media player you use will not know that it was 16:9 (so it'll look retarded). If you find the converter I found, you'll be able to check mark a box that will make sure to include the 16:9 setting. By the way, the download I found was free.
Oh yeah, the software it comes with is cool, but only a trial version (no big surprise) where there's no time limit, but all the options are limited. It seems like cool enough software, so if you don't have a program already, just upgrade to the full version.
So that's it. You'll be happy!
Great Price 2008-01-12
The camera is awesome, I bought it for scuba diving and i'm on my way to cozemel right now to use it for the first time, looks like everything will be great though. Great price from the seller, would buy again
Great camera, excellent features, great results 2007-12-26
I purchased this camera a week ago and have been using it daily since. I am making a project using video editing software with what I've captured from this device, and I have to say that it's superb overall. Before I get started, I should mention the biggest problem this camera can be said to have: a sluggish focus. It's true that sometimes it can take up to a three seconds to focus at first, and then if you move too quickly zooming in and out, it might take a second to focus again. Hasn't been a show-stopper at all for me, and it generally doesn't ruin any shots of mine.
Things I love about this camera are not unique to this particular model, but let me mention them. First and foremost is the HDD (hard disk drive). I cannot emphasize enough how awesome and valuable this has been. The camera I bought right before this one (which I am sending in for a return today) used miniDV tapes, and the sound of the tape motor recorded into the video as a horrible whirring or even ringing sound. That and the frustrations of awkward rewinding/fast-forwarding to try to position the tape properly for recording; it got even more frustrating when I wanted to preview a video I had taken earlier. Tapes have serious limitations, and I really hated the fact that for best quality I had to use a brand new tape (and, to top it off, downloading video from the tape required as much time as the video took to shoot).
With the HDD, I can shoot over 7 hours of video at the highest quality and download them to my computer as fast as USB 2.0 can fly. If I want to see a shot, I can browse to it like I'm scanning for a video on a computer, with a thumbnail for each one. If I don't like one, I can delete it right then and there and use that space for something else (the new video will appear at the end of the current videos, keeping in timing). Using just the camera, I can organize my videos into Events (basically, folders). I can also apply a couple different filters and then undo those if I don't like it (though don't expect much out of the built-in effects). Basic editing is also possible using only the camera, though anyone and everyone with any tech savvy will prefer a computer-based editing software.
Gone is the horrible whirring, ringing, and roaring of the miniDV tape motor; replacing that sound is... well, the audio you actually want to catch! Run this bad boy in a quiet room and all you'll hear is the standard calm static that any silence will produce for a camera (no camera will ever pick up pure silence, since it really doesn't exist). This is the kind of static you won't even notice, but if you're really pick you can easily and quickly edit it out using even the most basic of video editing software (just use noise reduction). The whirring of the previous camera's miniDV tape motor could not be edited out at the highest noise reduction or playing with the different levels of sound. Very satisfied in general with the audio of the Everio MG555. However, remember that this is an onboard microphone, so don't expect stellar audio. No fear, though, you've got the option of using a separate mic with a connection (shoe) on the top for it. I used a simple handheld, corded microphone, and it worked well.
The video quality on this camera is often said to be lacking in terms of its specifications (that is, people think it should give higher quality than it does for what it is). I am no expert, so all I can say is that I'm basically 100% satisfied so far with the video I'm getting. Aside from the sluggish focus that doesn't occur all the time (you can often times zoom all the way out and back in with no serious loss of focus), I have no issues with the quality of the video. Some people make pin-point comparisons with color variation at varying light-levels; me? I just know what looks good to me when I edit it on my video software. My main goal was to purchase a camera that would allow me to create videos where everyone is focused on the content and not on the quality (or lack thereof); this camera fits the bill more than adequately. In fact, setting on the second to highest quality setting is good enough for everything I need, though I always use the highest setting (with over 7 hours of video storage on the HDD, who wouldn't record at max quality?) You do, of course, get even more mileage if you use a lower quality video (but if you're editing, highest is best).
A unique and awesome feature of the camera is the dial on the top of it. Today, 95% of all consumer camcorders are forcing you to go into the on-screen menus to get to pre-sets like Auto, Manual, Snow (scenery), Portrait, Night, etc. The MG555 brings us the awesome return of the physical dial, where you can actually snap it left and right to change the settings (and push the button in the center of the dial for the Nightalive feature, which simply draws in more light to make the most of dark situations). Unless you're trying to get effects like shallow focus, you will generally never need to go into any manual setting modes, but it's always nice to be able to set the white balance, aperture, and all those things if you need to. Be careful, though; as with any camera, using the wrong setting or not properly setting the white balance under certain lighting can sometimes leave your video with a blueish or orange-like tint.
Still photos have never been spectacular on a camcorder, but in this case they are actually quite nice. Compared to a dedicated stills camera, the MG555 isn't going to amaze, but when you look at it for what it produces, it's really quite good. It's so good, in fact, that even though I brought my stills camera along with me on a trip to the city, I didn't think it worth the bother to switch cameras, and just took my stills with the MG555. Any professional or semi-professional wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing, of course, and besides, they probably wouldn't be using my stills camera either. The stills can go up to an insanely huge resolution, topping nicely over 2000 pixels by something or other. Just trust me, it's bigger than what you'll ever need, so you'll probably just pick a lower size like me so that you can see them on a single computer screen. Basically, you can shoot up to 9999 photos at any resolution or quality, so unless your drive is full of video, there's no limitations whatsoever. Oh, and it also has an included flash.
Additional features include the remote, which although it seems it's quite standard now-a-days, it's nice to know it's there (many reviews don't even mention whether there is one or not). The lens cap is replaced by a sliding shutter that you open and close manually, which is always nice (just gotta remember to shut the darn thing when you don't need it). And, if your camera seems to be filming nothing but blackness, chances are you can fix it instantly by opening up the shutter (not shutter speed, but the lens cover). It also has an awesome dock, which allows you a few more options. Using the dock, you can also connect via firewire, though it appears impossible to use the firewire for pure data transfer (only useful for direct importing into video editing software). With the dock, you can have everything connected (USB, power, AV cable, firewire) and yet be able to instantly remove the camera without pulling out all of the cables; this is nice for when you simply want to set the camera down and pick it up at will (and it charges, too).
Another great asset to having this camera is something I never even thought of: the ability to record using the AV cables. Normally we use the AV cables for viewing our videos on our TVs, but these also double in their purpose for recording AV input. This means that you can record old VHS cassettes to the HDD. Let's not stop there, you can also record DVDs, satellite, cable, whatever shows up on your TV (as long you have a AV-out). I'm a language student, so it's great to be able to record TV shows and then watch them over and over, practicing the language and picking up on new material. I recorded about 10 minutes of a satellite news broadcast as a test run, and when I played it back on my TV, it was virtually impossible to tell that it wasn't the regular satellite signal. Playing it on my high-resolution laptop screen was great as well, and it didn't show any graininess or quality issues. Compared to ripping a DVD and then encoding it to MPEG or some other format, it may just be faster to record the DVD at its playing rate using this camcorder. This, of course, is for DVD backups and convenience of watching it on my computer (where I can fast-forward and rewind more efficiently for studying the language); it's not for pirating DVDs or any such thing, which is not cool.
Now, as for the battery, the included one will leave you a bit wanting. Some expert reviewers have reported a on to shutdown time of 1 hour and 26 minutes, but since most of us won't be doing our recording in one hugely long stretch, we face a different reality. The battery often feels like it only records about 50 minutes or so of filming before it starts to die off (this is on and off filming, the kind of stuff you do when you get out there and take shots). You can always buy a nicer one. It seems that lately camera manufacturers are shaving dollars off their products by cutting down on battery quality...
A few more points before I call it quits on this review. The feel of the camera is very important, and I have to say that there are no real complaints about how it feels. I really appreciate putting the microphone right in the front of the camera, so it can catch the clearest audio and avoid being hit by my fingers. The camera is extremely small and relatively light, so large-handed buyers beware (though small is a trend lately, and you might just have to stick it out). The complaints about the port covers coming off easily have found no warrant in my experience as of yet. The included straps are nothing to wow over, but they get the job done. The light on the front can help illuminate the immediate foreground in a pinch, but don't expect it to make up for bad lighting. There's also, as mentioned earlier, a flash for the stills photo capturing. The LCD screen seems quite nice, and although it cannot show you the highest quality of your video, it gives you pretty much what you need to decide if the shot is right or not. A bottom-loading slot allows for one (SD) memory card, which can give you another option for portability of your photos and videos (but beware, as the videos will automatically record to a lower quality when using the memory card slot). I suppose they can also give a slight memory boost in a pinch, but who needs it when you have 30 gigs?
Get yourself a decent video editing program and a DVD burner, and you can make some awesome videos with this little HDD camera. It comes highly recommended with 5 stars, with the only reservation I can offer you being the sluggish focus. Search around for the best price and grab one; you'll be glad you did!
Video format difficult to edit 
2008-07-20
I bought this camcorder about a year ago and haven't used it much... just been taking video here and there. Now I'm ready to do some editing and the file format it records to, .MOD is not recognized by any program except the lame video editing program it comes with. I have Adobe Premiere CS3 with the latest update and it still doesn't work. There are programs out there for converting the files, I've tried one, it's a pain, and I still can't get the audio to work with the video.
Don't just take my word for it, google .MOD and JVC and see what everyone else is saying.
Save Yourself the TROUBLE! 
2008-06-01
I recently just got this camera and boy is it frusterating! Now don't get me wrong the video quality is just pure excellence compared to the last camera I used. Another pro is the night alive feature which allows you to turn on a light built in the camera if necessary. Now with the cons. The camera files are saved as MOV files which are basically basically mpeg files, but none of my computer editing software can recognize it, including Windows Movie Maker and Sony Vegas Pro. I have wasted nothing, but precious time to solve this, but none of the solutions I've found appeal to me. I don't want to lose any quality and only want to edit the files directly through the programs I have (without converting)and not use the poor editing software it came with. Shame! with it's price tag it should be able to do the basic function what my previous $80 camera was capable of doing.
Camcorder Is Off The Hook 2008-05-27
I bought is camcorder about about two months ago. I used it at eight events day and night time shooting and the videos came out great. I also shoot photos at a wedding, I loaded the photos on my computer. The prints were like a pro.
Video good, software is non-user friendlyand awkward. 2008-03-26
Video is not particularly bright when using indoors. Software is ridiculously confusing. Will not let you download and use your own burning software, must use theirs.
Light weight and fairly easy to use. Handle/button placement does not allow easy use with right hand.
Satisfied, thoroughly 2008-03-24
I can not say I haven't had anything other than a pleasurable experience with this camera.
It takes not only great videos, but also great pictures. It picks up color so well. My digital camera has a higher resolution than this video camera, yet this video camera takes much better pictures.
The only pit is learning on all the functions, and figuring them out. A little complicated, and I'm a tech nut. Thats why I gave it 4.
Buy an extra battery (as goes with every camera).
I give this product an A.
