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JVC Everio GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder
 
Sensor: 1/6 in
Optical Zoom: 35 x
HD: No
 
#37
in Camcorders

JVC Everio GZ-MS100 Camcorder
Review

By Kaitlyn Chantry
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
Published on September 15, 2008

The Everio GZ-MS100 is JVC's attempt to cash in on the demand for affordable, easy-to-use camcorders directed toward online publishing (i.e., YouTube). Unfortunately, the MS100 is going through a bit of an identity crisis. The overall video performance makes it far outshine the rudimentary point-and-shoot camcorders like the Flip, the Small Wonder, and the Creative Vado. But what these ultra-compact camcorders lack in performance, they make up for with portability, cheap prices, and ease of use. The MS100's video might look better, but it isn't nearly as idiot-proof and it doesn't really fit in your pocket. If you're looking for the easiest possible video experience, you can't beat the Flip's minimalist controls and seamless YouTube uploading. But if you're willing to pay a little more for something with decent video quality and some manual options, the Everio GZ-MS100 is a potential compromise.

So what does the MS100 have that these micro camcorders are missing? Aside from better-looking video, you get a lot more options. While Flip users are stuck with little more than an on/off button, the MS100 lets you brighten or darken the image, adjust the focus, or zoom in on the action with a fantastic 35x optical zoom. Unfortunately, the inaccessibility of these options (except for the zoom) may be the camcorder's greatest downfall. The MS100's touch screen is frustrating to use and has a confusing menu layout. But at least there is a decent selection of options, if you bother to unearth the layers of menu hiding them.

The MS100 is also a viable camcorder for vacations and longer projects. The removable battery lasts about 2.5 hours and you can buy a spare or plug in the camera for longer shoots. Video is recorded to SD/SDHC memory cards, which you can also swap in and out. A lot of these ultralight camcorders aren't good for long-time use; they have internal batteries that need to be recharged on a computer and internal memory, which means transferring video to a computer after 60 minutes of recording. Unfortunately, buying SD cards for your MS100 can also get expensive (for one hour of high quality footage, you'll need a 4GB memory card, which can run you about $40). Stocking up on spare memory will start to take away from all that money you saved buying a cheaper camcorder.

As for editing and uploading your footage, the MS100 could be a lot easier to handle. Putting your video online is not anything like the "one-button" affair promised by JVC. You have to install some software on your computer first – software that is PC-only and comes on a CD-ROM. The Flip and the Vado work on Macs and the software is built into the camcorder. Even after the software is installed, the process of uploading to YouTube is a little confusing.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance data at CamcorderInfo.com)
For creating quality video that you wouldn't mind watching on a television or burning to DVD, the MS100 is again a compromise. In our lab testing, the colors were more accurate and the image was sharper than the Flip and its clones. The MS100 also has digital stabilization – a feature that adjusts for shaking hands and makes for better video. It's a feature now standard in most consumer camcorders, but completely absent from the ultra-portable cheapos. Finally, and most importantly, the compression is a grainy step up from the grainy, blocky results of the micro camcorders.

The bad news is that while the MS100 outperformed its cheaper and more portable competitors, the video is still not on par with what you would get from a traditional consumer camcorder, including other models in its price range. The lab tests showed quite a bit of compression artifacting: chunky blocks of discoloration in various parts of the screen. Indoors, especially, it was hard to get a good range of colors. But if you plan to use the MS100 primarily for sharing video online, it will do the job.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
The Everio GZ-MS100 is a camcorder that excels at nothing, but does a decent job trying to be a little bit of everything. It is not the easiest camcorder to use, the cheapest, or the smallest. For those who want the most straightforward video experience possible, the Flip is a less expensive and more accessible alternative. And while the MS100 produces better video and gives you more manual options, it's also not the best performer on the market. We haven't tested the Canon FS100 or the Panasonic SDR-S7, but comparable models from Canon and Panasonic suggest that the image quality will be just as good and the user interface easier to handle.

For those looking at the Everio GZ-MS100, you'll have to ask yourself if the price is worth it for the higher quality video. After enjoying the Flip's interface, it's frustrating to wrestle with the MS100's menus and the inelegant journey from camcorder to YouTube. If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive option to give you better video and more manual controls, it might be worth trying out the Canon and Panasonic alternatives before settling on this model from JVC.

For a more in-depth review, visit the JVC Everio GZ-MS100 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com
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