Introduction

Update: The Flip UltraHD was ultimately selected as our 2009 Ultracompact Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Design

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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Size & Weight Comparison

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In the Box

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Performance

Color

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The JVC GC-FM1 suprised us with its excellent color accuracy in bright light (and low light too, for that matter). The camcorder registered a color error of 3.2 with a saturation level of 86.4%. These are better numbers than most budget flash camcorders are capable of. In fact, the GC-FM1's color error is very similar to what most of JVC's regular consumer camcorders earned in this test. This is a testament to JVC's ability to render accurate and strong colors in all of its models. More on how we test color.

The Error Map above shows that the GC-FM1 was most accurate rendering reds, blues and certain browns, while green tones gave the camcorder the most trouble. The GC-FM1 has no color mode options, so there is no way to tweak the saturation or adjust the colors on the camcorder. Below is a sample image from our color testing.

Many ultracompact camcorders have difficulty rendering an accurate white balance during our color testing. The Kodak Zx1 was the worst culprit and the Flip UltraHD also showed a slight yellow hue. The JVC GC-FM1, however, seems to handle auto white balance quite well. Its bright light image is evenly-toned with accurate colors. The Sony MHS-PM1 also fared well with white balance, but colors were less saturated and less accurate than those rendered by the Picsio.

Since there is no real way to define 'what color looks best,' we urge you to take a look at our color comparisons above and below and decide for yourself which camcorder has the best color. We can tell you that the JVC GC-FM1 had the most accurate colors, but as far as the most pleasing colors—well, that's a matter of personal preference. In the close-ups below you can really see how much the Kodak Zx1's poor white balance affected its image. We should also note that the JVC produced a slightly darker image than the rest of these camcorders, but that is a result of the camcorder's auto exposure system under-exposing the image a bit.

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Low Light Color

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At 60 lux, the level we do our low light testing, the GC-FM1's image doesn't look much different than its bright light image. Colors are still strong with an 86.56% saturation level, and their accuracy is very good with a color error of 3.8. These numbers, particularly the saturation, are nearly identical to what the camcorder showed us in bright light. This is a good showing for the JVC GC-FM1. More on how we test low light color.

Many ultracompact camcorders actually do better in our low light color test than with our bright light because their auto white balance systems are able to function better with our LED lights (which we use for low light testing). So, all the camcorders shown below had good color accuracy in low light, most of them outperforming themselves from their bright light scores (particularly the Kodak Zx1). Still, that doesn't diminish the fact that the JVC GC-FM1 put forth a good showing in this test. It is one of the few ultracompact budget camcorders that had good color accuracy in all kinds of light.

The Sony MHS-PM1 also had decent color accuracy in both bright and low light, but its overall numbers weren't as good as the FM1. In addition, the MHS-PM1's colors didn't appear as vivid or saturated as the other camcorders. You can see this quite clearly in the comparison images below.

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Noise

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The GC-FM1 didn't have very good noise levels in our bright light testing. The camcorder averaged 1.2775% noise, which is more than double the amount of noise we measured on the Flip UltraHD (it's also more noise than the Sony MHS-PM1 and Kodak Zx1 measured). Interestingly, the GC-FM1 actually measured less noise in our low light testing than in our bright light test. More on how we test noise.

You can see some of the noise present in the FM1's image by looking at the crops above. Notice that the Flip UltraHD looks a bit cleaner in comparison. The crops also give you some idea of the sharpness of each camcorder in bright light. The FM1 managed a very sharp image in our bright light testing—sharper than the rest of the ultracompact camcorders by far.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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The low light sensitivity on the JVC GC-FM1 isn't bad, but several budget camcorders have performed better. The Flip UltraHD and Kodak Zx1, in particular, had much brighter images in low light. Of course, this is somewhat of a trade-off for the Picsio's high pixel count; we didn't have high expectations for the GC-FM1 because of its 8-megapixel sensor. Usually when we see this kind of pixel count, the low light sensitivity of the camcorder suffers—this is what happened with the Sony MHS-PM1. The Picsio, on the other hand, did a decent job here. Kudos for JVC in figuring out the right formula for creating a workable low light sensitivity with a high pixel count camcorder. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

All the ultracompact budget camcorders listed below record at a 30p frame rate (with the exception of the Kodak Zx1, which has a 60p mode as well). This gives them an advantage in low light over regular consumer camcorders that shoot at 60i—the lower frame rate lets more light hit the sensor. Most budget camcorders also have automatic slow shutters that lower the shutter speed to around 1/30 of a second in low light. This is a setting that we usually disengage before testing, but ultracompacts do not give you that option. The good news is that the Picsio doesn't appear to lower its shutter speed quite that far, so the footage recorded at 15 lux looks reasonably good.

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Low Light Noise

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Since the GC-FM1's low light image looked very similar to its bright light image, we weren't that surprised to see that it managed roughly the same amount of noise in low light as it did in bright light—1.0925%. Still, the fact that the camcorder averaged slightly less noise in low light than bright light is a bit unusual. This means that in bright light the FM1 is a subpar noise performer, while in low light it did better than average for a camcorder of its class. More on how we test low light noise.

You can see the GC-FM1 retained a lot of detail in low light, although its image isn't quite as clean. There is more noticable artifacting and discoloration than in bright light. The Flip UltraHD also stayed rather sharp, but its image has a lot of splotchy discoloration. The Sony MHS-PM1 lost a lot of sharpness and looks very fuzzy and washed-out in low light, while the Kodak Zx1 is extremely blurred in some portions of its image and sharp in others (like the vertical trumpet). It is hard to pick a winner from the above crops, but the JVC GC-FM1 looks to have the strongest overall low light image of the group.

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Low Light Color

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At 60 lux, the level we do our low light testing, the GC-FM1's image doesn't look much different than its bright light image. Colors are still strong with an 86.56% saturation level, and their accuracy is very good with a color error of 3.8. These numbers, particularly the saturation, are nearly identical to what the camcorder showed us in bright light. This is a good showing for the JVC GC-FM1. More on how we test low light color.

Many ultracompact camcorders actually do better in our low light color test than with our bright light because their auto white balance systems are able to function better with our LED lights (which we use for low light testing). So, all the camcorders shown below had good color accuracy in low light, most of them outperforming themselves from their bright light scores (particularly the Kodak Zx1). Still, that doesn't diminish the fact that the JVC GC-FM1 put forth a good showing in this test. It is one of the few ultracompact budget camcorders that had good color accuracy in all kinds of light.

The Sony MHS-PM1 also had decent color accuracy in both bright and low light, but its overall numbers weren't as good as the FM1. In addition, the MHS-PM1's colors didn't appear as vivid or saturated as the other camcorders. You can see this quite clearly in the comparison images below.

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Motion

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The GC-FM1 uses a 30p frame rate when shooting in the camcorder's 1080p mode, but when shooting with the 720p or VGA setting the camcorder uses a 60p frame rate (the QVGA setting also shoots at 30p). We found the GC-FM1 to look much better shooting at 1080p than 720p, despite the lower frame rate. The footage was far sharper, there was less artifacting, and the 720p showed signs of aliasing, blur, and discoloration that were not present in the 1080p mode.

Of course, the JVC GC-FM1's ability to capture motion wasn't perfect, although this is something all ultracompact camcorders have trouble with. The GC-FM1 had a good amount of noticeable artifacting in its captured image—a bit more than the Flip UltraHD, a bit less than the Sony MHS-PM1—and its image was slightly smoother than average. We also noticed some jagged edges on the black and white pinwheel during our motion test.

The Flip UltraHD showed less artifacting in our motion test than the other camcorders listed here. However, it also had trouble producing a smooth image at times, and it has no alternate video resolution or frame rate options—all video is recorded at 1280 x 720 with a 30p frame rate.

The MHS-PM1 produced a large amount of pixelated artifacts in our motion test. These pixelated splotches showed up on the RGB pinwheel, although the rest of our motion test footage had significant artifacting as well. Trailing and blur were kept to a minimum, but the camcorder also didn't capture very smooth motion. Like most ultracompacts, the Sony MHS-PM1 captures video using a 30p frame rate.

The Kodak Zx1 is interesting from a motion standpoint because it offers both 60p and 30p frame rates. Unlike the JVC GC-FM1, both of the Zx1's frame rate options are available when shooting 1280 x 720 video, which is the camcorder's maximum video resolution (the JVC offers 1080/30p and 720/60p). We liked the Zx1's 60p footage and found it to be very smooth. Like all of the ultracompacts we've testing, the camcorder still showed plenty of artifacting. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The GC-FM1 captured a sharp, crisp image in our video testing, and it measured a horizontal and vertical sharpness of 750 line widths per picture height (lw/ph). These are significantly better numbers than what the three comparison models achieved in this test. Since the Flip UltraHD and Kodak Zx1 only capture video at a maximum resolution of 1280 x 720, a comparison between these models and the Picsio may not be fair. The Sony MHS-PM1, however, records video at 1080p just like the Picsio, and its sharpness values were still quite a bit lower than the GC-FM1's.

We did test the GC-FM1 in its 720p mode, just to see what its sharpness levels would be at that resolution. The results were much worse: roughly 500 lw/ph horizontal and 450 lw/ph vertical. We recommend sticking with the 1080p mode when shooting with the Picsio. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Usability

Ease of Use

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The most basic functions of the JVC GC-FM1 are quite simple to activate. Recording, switching between photo and video mode, entering playback mode... these are all easily accomplished. What's a lot more difficult is accessing anything more complicated than that. Switching between the handful of recording methods (1080p, 720p, VGA, QVGA) requires you to double-click on the left directional button. Not only is this is a completely unexpected action, but it's also hard to do. The dpad isn't built well for 'double-clicking.'Even more confusing than this is the obscurely hidden 'menu,' discussed below.

As for working with the files in post-production, the Picsio has a simple playback interface and is easily connected to your computer via USB. The built-in editing software (described below) is easy enough to use.

All things considered, the Picsio is much easier to use than traditional consumer camcorders, which typically have more buttons and lengthy, complicated menus. It's also easier to use than the Sony Webbie series, which has a handful of buttons that are used in a confusing way. Nothing, however, has yet to top the incredibly simple Flip series.

The JVC Picsio GC-FM1 features only a single menu, called the setup menu. As is often the case on these ultracompact camcorders, the menu is very difficult to access. It requires you to hold down on the delete button and then press the 'display' button.

The menu is very simple, containing only options for date/time, NTSC/PAL output, formatting the memory card, and displaying the version number for the firmware. Options within the menu are easily navigated with the directional pad.

Auto Mode

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Since there are no manual controls on the GC-FM1, auto mode is really the camcorder's only mode. The only thing you really have control over is the digital zoom, video/photo size, and normal/macro focus setting. The good news is the FM1 handles most automatic controls quite well. The camcorder's auto white balance was stellar under a variety of different lights—something that many ultracompact camcorders have trouble with. The FM1 also did a good job with auto exposure, producing smooth, even adjustments between different light levels.

The focus on the GC-FM1 is fixed, which means the camcorder doesn't have an autofocus mechanism. You can, however, switch between normal and macro focus settings using the slider on the left of the camcorder. With the macro setting you can film close-up shots in focus (up to 3.9mm away). The normal setting is for regular shooting and has a much longer focal range.

Low Light Modes - The GC-FM1 has no low light modes and it doesn't appear to have any automatic slow shutter speeds either (shutters below 1/60 of a second). In its defense, the GC-FM1 may not need any low light modes—the camcorder did rather well in our low light testing without them.

Scene Modes - There's no scene modes available on teh GC-FM1. The only ultracompact camcorders to include scene modes are the Sony Webbie HD models, the MHS-PM1 and MHS-CM1. The Sanyo VPC-CG10 also has a few scene modes.

Other Auto Features

Handling

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The JVC Picsio GC-FM1 handles much like the vast majority of ultracompacts on the market, including the Flip. The vertical body is held upright, with the broad face of the camcorder pointed toward your target. In this regard, using the Picsio feels a lot like taking photos with a cell phone. Also like most ultracompacts, the record button is situated directly in the center of a four-way control pad.

Though the Picsio is small in your hand (even smaller than most of the competition), it doesn't feel as awkwardly diminutive as you might expect. It still isn't as comfortable to hold as similar models from Kodak and Pure Digital, but the cause is not the small size. The center button of the Picsio (the record button) is lower on the body of the camcorder. This requires you to either bend your thumb awkwardly or slide your hand further down to compensate. Either way, the camcorder feels less steady in your hand.

The Picsio has one other failing: the quality of the camcorder's actual construction. Many of the pieces on the FM1 feel cheaply made, especially the exposed A/V ports on the right side and the tele-macro switch on the left. In fact, the tele-macro switch is so cheap that it sometimes causes minor focus problems, with the camcorder stuck between tele and macro modes. Occasionally, we would see the right half of our footage out of focus, only to discover that the switch had to be jiggled into the proper position. Though the focus problem wasn't persistent, the switch seems likely to wear out more over time and require increasingly frequent jiggles to work properly.

Portability

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The GC-FM1 is every-so-slightly smaller and lighter than the Sony MHS-PM1 and the Kodak Zx1, but we're really picking at bones here in determining which ultracompact camcorder is the most... ultracompact. The GC-FM1, Flip MinoHD, Sony MHS-PM1, Kodak Zx1, and Sanyo VPC-CG10 are all small enough to fit in your pocket with ease, and their differences in weight and size are negligable. The Flip UltraHD is a bit larger than the rest of these camcorders, as is the horizontally-shaped Sony MHS-CM1.

The fact that the GC-FM1 has an SD/SDHC card slot does help its portability a bit. Unlike the Flip, which records to internal memory only, you can simply insert a new memory card into the FM1 when your original one fills up. Most ultracompact camcorders other than the Flip models have this option (the Sony Webbie HD camcorders record to Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, however).

The GC-FM1 does not have a DC power input, which means you can only charge the camcorder's internal battery using a USB cable. This is a bit of a drag for portability because it means you must have access to a computer whenever you want the camcorder to charge. There are adapters, however, that allow you to plug a USB connector into a regular wall-power outlet, but these must be purchased separately from the GC-FM1.

Battery Life

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The Picsio GC-FM1 had a battery life of approximately 75 minutes (1hr, 15m, 17s). This is a very poor battery life for an ultracompact camcorder. It's hard to tell whether that's due to a small battery or high power consumption, but we assume it's the former. More on how we test battery life.

Like the Flip Mino, the Picsio has an internal, non-removable battery that is charged via USB. There is no option for recharging via DC power or removing the battery and placing it in a wall charger. This also means you can't replace the battery if it begins to have trouble holding a charge. That doesn't leave you with many choices—a fact that we find a bit troubling. The Picsio also lacks the retractable arm that gives the Flip its name (and has been copied on Creative's Vado series of camcorders). You must use the USB cable to recharge the FM1.

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LCD

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The GC-FM1 has a 2-inch LCD screen, but JVC does not list the screen's pixel count. Two inches is about as large as LCDs get for ultracompact camcorders. The Flip Mino has a 1.5-inch screen, the Sony MHS-PM1 has a 1.8-inch, and the Kodak Zx1 and Flip Ultras both feature 2-inchers as well. The JVC GC-FM1 does not feature a viewfinder and its LCD is completely stationary on the back of the camcorder.

Stabilization

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The GC-FM1 is equipped with a digital image stabilization system—a feature that is not commonly found on ultracompact camcorders. The thing about the FM1's stabilization, however, is that it can't be turned off, which means there's no way to test how well it works. Does the FM1 capture a more stable image than other ultracompacts? It's hard to tell, really. These little camcorders don't offer much in the way of zoom capability, so, for the most part, stabilization really isn't that necessary. We didn't find the Sony MHS-PM1, Kodak Zx1, or the Flip camcorders to capture inherently unstable footage... it all looked fairly stable to us. So, from what we can tell, the GC-FM1's digital stabilization doesn't appear to help out all that much.

The Sanyo VPC-CG10 also offers digital stabilization, but its feature can be turned on and off (and it wasn't very effective in our testing). More on how we test stabilization.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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The JVC GC-FM1 doesn't really have many controls other than video size options. There is a switch on the camcorder's left side, however, that allows you to adjust the camcorder's focal length between normal and tele macro.

Macro

A switch on the left side of the camcorder allows you to switch between normal and macro focus. Macro allows you to focus on extremely close-up subjects (as close as 3.9mm).

Audio Controls

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In a nutshell, the GC-FM1's audio features are a built-in microphone that captures stereo audio. Before you dismiss this as meaningless, we should remind you that many ultracompact camcorders only record mono audio, so the FM1 does have a slight advantage there (the Flip UltraHD also records stereo). The audio captured by the GC-FM1 isn't great, however, and we noticed a consistent, audible buzz during playback. It wasn't awful, but it was definitely a drawback for the camcorder. Of course, all these ultracompacts record bad audio, so if this is a concern for you we recommend upgrading to a mid-range or high-end camcorder.

The GC-FM1's built-in mic is located on the front of the camcorder and is represented by four small holes next to the lens. The camcorder also has a playback speaker on the right side that is comprised of nine little holes. This playback speaker is downright awful, as it produces muffled, noisy audio. But how important is a playback speaker on an ultracompact camcorder anyway?

Editing

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The editing software is fairly simplistic and only compatible with a Windows operating system. On most PCs, the software installer will launch automatically when you attach the Picsio via a USB cable. Unfortunately, the software does require installation, unlike the simple Flip Video software that opens automatically.When we plugged the Picsio into our PC, it did prompt us to immediately import files from the camcorder onto the computer. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Features

Compression

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The Picsio GC-FM1 records and compresses all video files using the generic MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression codec. It does not employ the proprietary AVCHD format utilized by its line of full high definition consumer camcorders. For anyone buying the FM1, this is good news; the .mov files recorded by the Picsio are much easier to simply drag and drop onto your desktop. Many editing programs will require you to render this footage before you can edit it, butif your only aim is to watch the video, a program like QuickTime will do that easily.

A point of clarification about the Picsio's 1080p video setting: the camcorder actually records video at a resolution of 1440 x 1080, which is then output to 1920 x 1080. This is actually very similar to the resolution of HDV camcorders, which record 1440 pixels across, but output 1920. The resulting video will not appear stretched in any way, but it is technically capturing fewer pixels. This might be slightly inferior to full HD camcorders, but it's still theoretically superior to most of the other ultracompact camcorders on the market. The Flips and Kodaks have a maximum resolution of 1280x 720.

The Sony Webbie also records at 1440 x 1080 and outputs at 1920 x 1080. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The JVC GC-FM1 records primarily to removable SD/SDHC memory cards. The camcorder does have a very small amount of internal flash memory, but most of that is taken up by the FM1's built-in editing software. That leaves about 34.5 MB left for recording—only about 24 seconds of footage on either of the high definition settings.

We doubt anyone is purchasing the FM1 to record 24 seconds of a birthday party... so, that means making an investment in a memory card or two. SD/SDHC memory cards are very commonly used in camcorder and digital cameras, so you might already have some lying around. If you don't, they are readily available at a wide variety of camera shops, electronics stores, and megamarts.

We like the durability and reliability of flash memory. It's relatively shock-resistant and weather-resistant, unlike tapes and hard drives. Plus, memory cards are highly portable and can be plugged into a memory card reader for easy file transfer. On the other hand, removable cards aren't quite as reliable as internal flash memory, which is the medium of choice for Pure Digital's Flip line and several other ultracompacts. Inserting and removing cards, handling them, or throwing them unprotected into a bag can cause them to wear over time. And those little cards can be easy to lose too. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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The GC-FM1 can capture still photos with a few different size options, but it doesn't have any additional still features. The camcorder has a dedicated photo mode, which is accessed by pressing the video/photo button. In photo mode you can zoom with the up/down d-pad buttons and the start/stop record button acts as a shutter button. You can also switch between normal and macro focus just like in video mode.

To take a photo you don't have to hold the shutter button down halfway to focus—remember, the lens is fixed—so as soon as you push the shutter button the camcorder takes a photo. Strangely, the GC-FM1 has no shutter sound effect when you capture still photos (it has no sound effects in video mode either). This can make it difficult to figure out whether you've actually captured a photo or not.

To switch between photo sizes on the FM1 you have to double tap the left arrow on the d-pad (the same way you switch sizes in video mode). We find this system very confusing and difficult to figure out without reading the manual. Someone could also accidentally change photo sizes without knowing and have no idea how to switch back. For a camcorder that is designed to be extremely simple, we find this size adjustment system to be a bit too confusing. All of the camcorder's photo size settings capture images at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The JVC GC-FM1 didn't do well in our still color testing, which is a shame because it had excellent scores in our video color tests. The camcorder appeared to have difficulty with its auto white balance system in photo mode—something that showed no sign of a problem in our video testing. We took a variety of photos for our still color test and each reproduced certain colors slightly differently. At best, the FM1 produced a color accuracy of 8.98 with a saturation level of 136.7%.

Interestingly, we've noticed this issue before on many ultracompact camcorders. Often, the white balance does not function in photo mode the same way it does in video mode. What is really strange is that the FM1 showed different color tones in every photo we took—it never reproduced colors in exactly the same way. Both the Sony MHS-PM1 and Kodak Zx1 also had troubles in our still color testing. The sample photo from the FM1 shown below doesn't look all that bad, however. Its colors are definitely over saturated and the image is a bit warm, both of which have a negative effect on color accuracy.

The noise levels on teh FM1's still images were quite high. The camcorder averaged 1.55% noise in our still testing, which is more noise than the camcorder measured in any of our video tests. Both the Kodak Zx1 and Sony MHS-PM1 measured less noise than this, although their noise performances weren't anything to write home about either. We don't have data for the Flip UltraHD because it doesn't capture still photos (in fact, none of the Flip camcorders can take photos).

Despite the fact that the GC-FM1 did amazingly well in our video sharpness test, the camcorder did very poorly with our still sharpness test. The camcorder managed a horizontal sharpness of just 644 lw/ph with 27.7% undersharpening, and a vertical sharpness of 968 lw/ph with 31.2% undersharpening. What really kills the FM1 is this high undersharpening scores, which means the camcorder isn't processing its still images with the optimal amount of sharpness. Honestly, we didn't see anything better from the Sony MHS-PM1 or the Kodak Zx1. In fact, the GC-FM1 had slightly better still sharpness than those two camcorders. The only two ultra compacts that have impressed us with their still capabilities have been the Sanyo VPC-CG10 (very good still photos) and the Sony MHS-CM1 (decent still photos).

Lens & Imaging System

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The lens on the GC-FM1 is fixed with an f/2.8 aperture. This means there is no autofocus mechanism and the camcorder has a fixed focal length. The focal length can be altered by switching between normal and macro focus using a switch on the camcorder's left side. With the macro focus setting the camcorder can shoot very close-up images in focus (up to 3.9mm), while the normal setting provides a much wider focal range and allows distant objects to be in focus.

The macros switch was actually one of the most poorly implemented, problematic elements of the Picsio. The switch is cheaply constructed and jiggles around easily. Worse, if you aren't in the precise 'normal' or 'macro' position, the right side of your image will be out of focus. The first test unit we received from JVC was very difficult to get into a normal position and most of our test footage was half out of focus. When we received a replacement, we found it was much better than the previous unit, but was still slightly loose. We expect that, over time, many Picsios will have this same problem. A simple point and shoot camcorder should never be difficult to get into focus.

LCD

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The GC-FM1 has a 2-inch LCD screen, but JVC does not list the screen's pixel count. Two inches is about as large as LCDs get for ultracompact camcorders. The Flip Mino has a 1.5-inch screen, the Sony MHS-PM1 has a 1.8-inch, and the Kodak Zx1 and Flip Ultras both feature 2-inchers as well. The JVC GC-FM1 does not feature a viewfinder and its LCD is completely stationary on the back of the camcorder.

Connectivity

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The Picsio has a small handful of ports available right on the camcorder. The three primary ports are a composite AV, HDMI, and USB. These outputs are on the right side of the camcorder, all exposed to the elements without any kind of port cover. This could spell disaster fora camcorder that's likely to be casually tossed into a purse or pocket. Dust, sand, or dirt can get into a port and ruin it.

One additional port on the Picsio GC-FM1is the SD/SDHC memory card slot. With negligible internal memory, SD cards are the primary storage media for recording videos and photos on the Picsio.

Battery

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Like the Flip Mino, the Picsio has an internal, non-removable battery that is charged via USB. There is no option for recharging via DC power or removing the battery and placing it in a wall charger. This also means you can't replace the battery if it begins to have trouble holding a charge. That doesn't leave you with many choices—a fact that we find a bit troubling. The Picsio also lacks the retractable arm that gives the Flip its name (and has been copied on Creative's Vado series of camcorders). You must use the USB cable to recharge the FM1. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The JVC GC-FM1 records primarily to removable SD/SDHC memory cards. The camcorder does have a very small amount of internal flash memory, but most of that is taken up by the FM1's built-in editing software. That leaves about 34.5 MB left for recording—only about 24 seconds of footage on either of the high definition settings.

We doubt anyone is purchasing the FM1 to record 24 seconds of a birthday party... so, that means making an investment in a memory card or two. SD/SDHC memory cards are very commonly used in camcorder and digital cameras, so you might already have some lying around. If you don't, they are readily available at a wide variety of camera shops, electronics stores, and megamarts.

We like the durability and reliability of flash memory. It's relatively shock-resistant and weather-resistant, unlike tapes and hard drives. Plus, memory cards are highly portable and can be plugged into a memory card reader for easy file transfer. On the other hand, removable cards aren't quite as reliable as internal flash memory, which is the medium of choice for Pure Digital's Flip line and several other ultracompacts. Inserting and removing cards, handling them, or throwing them unprotected into a bag can cause them to wear over time. And those little cards can be easy to lose too. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The GC-FM1 can capture still photos with a few different size options, but it doesn't have any additional still features. The camcorder has a dedicated photo mode, which is accessed by pressing the video/photo button. In photo mode you can zoom with the up/down d-pad buttons and the start/stop record button acts as a shutter button. You can also switch between normal and macro focus just like in video mode.

To take a photo you don't have to hold the shutter button down halfway to focus—remember, the lens is fixed—so as soon as you push the shutter button the camcorder takes a photo. Strangely, the GC-FM1 has no shutter sound effect when you capture still photos (it has no sound effects in video mode either). This can make it difficult to figure out whether you've actually captured a photo or not.

To switch between photo sizes on the FM1 you have to double tap the left arrow on the d-pad (the same way you switch sizes in video mode). We find this system very confusing and difficult to figure out without reading the manual. Someone could also accidentally change photo sizes without knowing and have no idea how to switch back. For a camcorder that is designed to be extremely simple, we find this size adjustment system to be a bit too confusing. All of the camcorder's photo size settings capture images at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The JVC GC-FM1 didn't do well in our still color testing, which is a shame because it had excellent scores in our video color tests. The camcorder appeared to have difficulty with its auto white balance system in photo mode—something that showed no sign of a problem in our video testing. We took a variety of photos for our still color test and each reproduced certain colors slightly differently. At best, the FM1 produced a color accuracy of 8.98 with a saturation level of 136.7%.

Interestingly, we've noticed this issue before on many ultracompact camcorders. Often, the white balance does not function in photo mode the same way it does in video mode. What is really strange is that the FM1 showed different color tones in every photo we took—it never reproduced colors in exactly the same way. Both the Sony MHS-PM1 and Kodak Zx1 also had troubles in our still color testing. The sample photo from the FM1 shown below doesn't look all that bad, however. Its colors are definitely over saturated and the image is a bit warm, both of which have a negative effect on color accuracy.

The noise levels on teh FM1's still images were quite high. The camcorder averaged 1.55% noise in our still testing, which is more noise than the camcorder measured in any of our video tests. Both the Kodak Zx1 and Sony MHS-PM1 measured less noise than this, although their noise performances weren't anything to write home about either. We don't have data for the Flip UltraHD because it doesn't capture still photos (in fact, none of the Flip camcorders can take photos).

Despite the fact that the GC-FM1 did amazingly well in our video sharpness test, the camcorder did very poorly with our still sharpness test. The camcorder managed a horizontal sharpness of just 644 lw/ph with 27.7% undersharpening, and a vertical sharpness of 968 lw/ph with 31.2% undersharpening. What really kills the FM1 is this high undersharpening scores, which means the camcorder isn't processing its still images with the optimal amount of sharpness. Honestly, we didn't see anything better from the Sony MHS-PM1 or the Kodak Zx1. In fact, the GC-FM1 had slightly better still sharpness than those two camcorders. The only two ultra compacts that have impressed us with their still capabilities have been the Sanyo VPC-CG10 (very good still photos) and the Sony MHS-CM1 (decent still photos).

Other Features

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The JVC GC-FM1PAL/NTSC output

The PAL/NTSC output feature on the GC-FM1 allows you to switch the video signal output on the camcorder. It doesn't change the way the FM1 captures video, but it is helpful if you find yourself in PAL-standard territory (Europe, Austraila, parts of Asia and South America). By switching to PAL output you can hook the GC-FM1 up to a PAL television and watch your videos.

Sony MHS-PM1 Comparison

The JVC Picsio GC-FM1 and the Flip UltraHD are made in the same mold: they are both ultracompact, budget camcorders designed to make the video experience as simple and seamless as possible. Their compact size and low price tag also mean a sacrifice in video quality: you'll find much better looking video from higher-end consumer camcorders.

Streamlining the process, however, means making is easier for people that might be a little intimidated by camcorder technology. And it means making something that can easily fit in your purse or pocket. If these are the main goals of these two camcorders, the Flip UltraHD triumphs over the Picsio. It's easier to use from the moment you record to the moment you upload to YouTube. The USB arm is built right into the camcorder, which makes it more convenient to hook up to your computer. We also prefer the AA-battery operation to the invisible internal battery of the Picsio. And, to be honest, the UltraHD is a better-looking device. We don't even like the aesthetics that much, but strange metallic look of the Picsio is... an acquired taste.

The Picsio does have some slightly superior video performance, but it also has that unreliable tele-macro switch that sometimes results in a half-blurry image. You might also prefer the SD-card recording media, as opposed to the internal memory of the UltraHD. And one significant advantage of the FM1 is its higher resolution (with 1080p recording) and its still photo capabilities. The Flip Ultra maxes out at 720p and can only record videos.

Update: The Flip UltraHD was ultimately selected as our 2009 Ultracompact Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Kodak Zx1 Comparison

The JVC Picsio GC-FM1 and the Sony Webbie MHS-PM1 are two of the only ultracompact models that support 1080p recording. Most of the competition maxes out at 720p. Of course, native recording is 1440 x 1080, but all files are output as 1920 x 1080, in a similar fashion to HDV recording on traditional consumer camcorders. In terms of video performance, the FM1 achieves superior results compared to the Webbie. It was sharper, and had better-looking motion and color.

The PM1, on the other hand, is a more attractive piece of consumer electronics and has that convenient swivel lens for self-recording. The ports have a sturdy cover, which should lengthen the life of the camcorder, and the Webbie has no flimsy tele-macro switch to hinder focus. The resolution isn't as high, so your videos and photos aren't as sharp, but we think that's a small price to pay for a more reliable product. (Especially considering that most videos recorded on these cams are headed towards a low res destination like YouTube.) Both camcorders are easy to fly on auto-pilot and more annoying to navigate when you try to delve deeper.

If you like the look of either of these cams, that will probably be the deciding factor for you. If you don't like the look, you're probably likely to spend your money elsewhere.

COMP 3

The Picsio GC-FM1 and the Kodak Zx1 look similar on the surface, but are quite different in fact. Both record to SD/SDHC memory cards, but the Picsio relies on an internal rechargeable battery, while the Kodak utilizes AA batteries. The FM1 has a maximum video resolution of 1440 x 1080 (1080p), compared to the 720p maximum of the Kodak Zx1. Both offer the same bevvy of ports and connections, but those on the Kodak are protected by a sturdy rubber cover. And, to tell the truth, we think the Kodak is a nicer-looking product.

Unfortunately for Kodak lovers, the Picsio results in much higher quality video and still photos, especially with the high-resolution sensor and superior color accuracy in indoor lighting. Both are largely simple to use, with some quirks that make 'advanced' operations (like accessing the menu) more difficult.

Overall, the superior video quality would be enough to recommend the Picsio over the Zx1. However, that flimsy tele-macro switch that occasionally impedes focus on the Picsio is very troubling. As are the uncovered ports.

Conclusion

In many ways, the JVC Picsio GC-FM1 (MSRP $199) comes as a disappointment. It's easy to use and has impressive video quality—better than the other ultracompacts we've tested. This is due, in large part, to the impressive high resolution sensor and the excellent automatic white balance, even in indoor lighting.

So why is this a disappointment? Despite the impressive video quality, the Picsio falls short in several departments. Most significantly, the FM1 doesn't seem to be particularly well constructed. The tele-macro switch is unreliable and sometimes causes the footage to be half out of focus. It's rare, but troubling enough to make us pause. Combined with the vulnerable, uncovered ports and the unusually glittery aesthetic, the FM1 might not match the competition.

On the other hand, the Picsio is certainly easy to use and easy to commend for its impressive quality of video. For that alone, it may be worth the venture. For our part, we look forward to a second generation Picsio that's a little more durable.

Photo Gallery

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