Recently (2010), I picked up the JVC GZ-MS230 U camcorder (Top Left) for about $200.00. It has a rechargeable battery and an 8GB hard drive so memory cards are not a necessity.
In case you don't know what a memory card is, you can place a little square plastic card (Top Center) called an “SD” card in the camcorder and tell the camcorder to store your videos on it. Then, when you have it full, you can use it to store your videos (and purchase another one to fill), place it in your computer and play videos, and make DVDs. The DVDs can then be given to friends or relatives. With this JVC camcorder, you can also transfer videos to your computer via a USB cord included with the camcorder. That is why I say that a memory card is not necessary. The card is nice, though, because it is small enough to place in your Christmas card to send videos to your close friends and relatives. Also, if they have those digital picture frames and no computer, the card fits in the picture frames to play your videos. By the way, if you have a portable picture frame you can take a card of videos with it to your friends and show them your videos. The card gives you even more options to share your videos.
The JVC GZ-MS230U camcorder has four quality settings to take your video on--ultra fine, fine, normal, economy. The ultra fine, of course, is a bigger file than the lower quality of economy. The reason for this, is that some video uses don't need such fine detail or will look the same, such as video placed on a web page and where the need for smaller video file is important. The best quality is great for this price range of camcorder and I am happy with it.
The camcorder also takes still pictures. This is great to get the picture while it is available. However, I find that the digital camera has more settings and therefore, takes better pictures. Some digital camera’s can take videos, but the same is true as the statement above for your camcorder, it has more settings for video taking and therefore, takes better videos. The still picture taken by the video camcorder automatically goes to the fine quality setting but you have a standard quality setting to use as well. Also, you can get a still from videos that you already have taken. You can do it on-camcorder as well as on the computer for computer software comes with the camcorder. The benefit of on-camcorder editing is that if you decide to print your picture you can connect to your printer directly, or place your card in your printer, and print your picture right out (good feature if you are at your friend or relatives house and they don’t have the software for your camcorder on their computer and you want to share what you just shot).
The JVC GZ-MS230U camcorder also has a laser bar that lights when you touch it next to the LCD screen to manuver through the settings. It has a button for playback to switch between still and video, to upload to Youtube and/or export to Itunes on the opposite side of the LCD screen. Then, on the outside of the casing is a start and stop button, still shot button, and zoom in/out button. These buttons were easy to get to while taking the video. All of these buttons make it easy to set-up, shoot your video/picture and share them.
It did not take me very long to figure out how to use these buttons. I easily sat-up the camcorder for the type of videos I wanted to take. You will find buttons for trimming your videos right on the camcorder even though you have software that can do the same thing. You will also find that you can put your separate videos together to make them one video. Then, when you put it on the computer, you can just use the DVD settings to make a movie for others to see and to have. The reason it is important to have certain features on the camcorder even though they can be done on the computer through software is that everyone does not have a computer, and you may want to go directly from the camcorder to the TV, or YouTube to show your video.
The battery that comes with the JVC camcorder will record for approximately an hour and thirty minutes. You do have a car charger included, but so you don't take a chance that you will miss any memories, you may want to purchase a second battery pack. Since you are purchasing a second battery pack, it may pay to purchase a battery that lasts longer. You can purchase one that lets you record approximately four hours and forty minutes. While using the second battery pack, you can be charging the first battery pack in your car so you have access to a battery at all times.
The camcorder has a 45X zoom which is far greater than a zoom on a digital camera in this price range and seems to be the farthest of the camcorders in this price range. Right now I am carrying both the camera and the camcorder. However, I don't think it will be long before the camcorder takes over with all it's versatility.
To sum things up for you, the JVC GZ-MS230U camcorder has:
- 8 GB Hard Drive (Ultra Fine: 1h 50m, Fine: 2h 45m, Normal: 3h 40m, Economy: 9h 50m)
- SD Card up to 32 GB for use in picture frames, printers, computers (Ultra Fine: 7h 30m, Fine: 11h 20m, Normal: 15h, Economy: 40h)
- 45X Zoom
- On-Camcorder editing
- Buttons in the right places for ease of use
- Computer Software for editing and video/picture management
- Direct connection to TV, Computer, and/or Printer via USB cord and video/Audio cord
- Comes with battery for approximately 1 hour 30 minutes recording time and you can purchase a second battery pack that lets you record approximately 4 hours and forty minutes
Diane Bennett
Diane Bennett is a Wife, Mother of two grown children and two grown cats, and an Entrepreneur.
Clicking on the web will take you to a portal to Amazon, Netflix, Itunes, an online business opportunity, and to where you can apply for a loan. Anything you purchase when you go through this partal, I will receive a percentage of the purchase price. If you want to contribute to my sharing, going through this portal to purchase will do it. Use the portal to get familiar with it and take advantage of any deals you find in these areas. Please be advised that I do not condone online gambling and the link in this portal has been disable. Thanks, Diane Bennett
