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  • Introduction

  • Product Tour

  • Color & Noise Performance

  • Motion & Sharpness Performance

  • Low Light Performance

  • Compression & Media

  • Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling & Use

  • Playback & Connectivity

  • Audio & Other Features

  • Kodak Playsport Comparison

  • JVC GC-FM1 Comparison

  • Flip SlideHD Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Product Tour
  • Color & Noise Performance
  • Motion & Sharpness Performance
  • Low Light Performance
  • Compression & Media
  • Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling & Use
  • Playback & Connectivity
  • Audio & Other Features
  • Kodak Playsport Comparison
  • JVC GC-FM1 Comparison
  • Flip SlideHD Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

Product Tour

**Lens & Imaging System**


The GC-WP10 has a fixed lens with no moving parts. This means there's no autofocus mechanism (no manual focus either), no optical zoom, and no adjustable aperture. JVC doesn't list the ideal focus distance for the camcorder, but in our testing we found it best if the WP10 was two feet or more away from the subject you are recording. Any closer than that and things started to appear fuzzy and out of focus.

The camcorder has the same size CMOS sensor as last year's Picsio GC-FM1 from JVC, although its lens seems to have an entirely different wide angle for recording video. The GC-WP10 shoots at a wide (for an ultracompact model) 46 degrees in 1080p mode. Switch over to 720p recording and the camcorder's recording angle jumps to a very wide 57 degrees. In comparison, the GC-FM1 had a 34-degree wide angle.

**Front**


**Right**


**Back**


**Left**


**Top**


**Bottom**


**In the Box**


Color & Noise Performance

**Color***(2.84)*


The JVC GC-WP10 succumbed to the fatal flaw we've seen on most ultracompact camcorders: its auto white balance system performed terribly in our bright light test. As a result, the camcorder put up horrendous numbers in our color accuracy test, although these numbers weren't much different than what we've seen from the competition. The GC-WP10 produced a color error of 12.33 and a saturation level of 112.1% in this test. (More on how we test color.)

As you can see in the images above, the Picsio GC-WP10 had a rosy tint in its bright light image, which we attributed to the poor auto white balance system. Interestingly, you can't see the issue as much in the sample image of our train setup shown below, although it still has some of the warm, pink tone we saw in the Color Test Chart (above).

We expected the GC-WP10 to do much better in this test, mainly because last year's GC-FM1 from JVC was produced some of the most accurate colors we've ever seen from an ultracompact camcorder. JVC usually does very well with color accuracy on all it's camcorders, so the GC-WP10 kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. Still, when compared to the Kodak Playsport, the GC-WP10's colors don't look any worse, as the Playsport also had major issues with its white balance system (producing a yellow-orange tint on its image).

Keep in mind, these camcorders have no color or image controls, and none of them have a manual white balance option, so you're basically stuck with what you get as far as colors are concerned. We didn't notice as much of a problem with the GC-WP10 when we shot outdoors under natural light, but under most artificial lighting conditions the camcorder had difficulty producing clean, accurate colors. You can see in our low light testing that the camcorder produced a bluish tint when we shot our test charts under our LED lights.

**Noise***(11.12)*


The GC-WP10 did well on our noise test, putting up numbers that were among the best we've seen from ultracompact camcorders. The WP10 averaged 0.485% noise in our bright light test, and we consider anything under 0.5% to be very good. (More on how we test noise.)

In the cropped images above, you can see the GC-WP10 did produce a clear image in bright light, although it looks like last year's Picsio GC-FM1 from JVC captured more detail (it had much higher noise levels, though). You can see some interference and blur on the WP10's image, but that is commonplace for an ultracompact camcorder.

Motion & Sharpness Performance

**Motion***(5.35)*


Motion video often looks ugly on ultracompact camcorders and the JVC GC-WP10 definitely has its share of motion issues. The camcorder had less interference problems than we saw on last year's JVC GC-FM1, but it still had noticeable artifacting and its image appeared to have more blur and trailing than its predecessor. Overall, the GC-WP10's motion performance ranks the camcorder in the middle of the pack compared to other ultracompact models. (More on how we test motion.)

If you record Full HD video with the GC-WP10 (1920 x 1080 resolution) the camcorder uses a 30p frame rate, but recording with a 1280 x 720 resolution lets you use a 60p frame rate. The camcorder's two standard definition recording options (iFrame and QHD) both utilize 30p frame rates. The 720/60p mode does produce a smoother image, but your video clips won't be as sharp and they don't have as much detail as Full HD.

**Video Sharpness***(10.19)*


The JVC Picsio GC-WP10 measured equal horizontal and vertical sharpness values in our test, both of which came to 650 lw/ph. This isn't an overly impressive score, and it is actually a bit lower than what JVC's previous Picsio model (the GC-FM1)  measured in this test lest year. We expected to see some improvement in this department, but it seems JVC actually made things a bit worse. Still, 650 lw/ph isn't a bad performance, and it is definitely better than the sharpness values you get from a Flip camcorder.  (More on how we test video sharpness.)

Low Light Performance

**Low Light Sensitivity***(7.7)*


JVC improved the low light sensitivity on the GC-WP10 compared to the previous line of Picsio camcorders (the GC-FM1). The GC-WP10 required just 9 lux of light to hit 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, which is 6 lux less than the GC-FM1 required in our testing last year. This sensitivity performance shouldn't blow anyone away, but it is a solid showing and it is comparable to some of the better ultracompact camcorders in this testing category. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)

When looking at the low light sensitivity scores above, keep in mind that part of the reason these ultracompact models do so well is because they have fixed lenses with wide apertures, and most of them utilize slow shutter speeds (around 1/30 of a second) in low light situations. Since we cannot turn off these slow shutters on these models, we must test the ultracompact camcorders as is. With regular consumer camcorders we turn off any auto slow shutter options during our low light testing because the slow shutters often produce unwanted trailing or choppy motion.

**Low Light Color***(7.0)*


The Picsio GC-WP10 registered a color error of 5.24 in our low light test, which is significantly better than the camcorder did in our bright light test. The camcorder's saturation level was a very high 120.7%, however, and the WP10's low light image did appear to have a slight blue tone. (More on how we test low light color.)

The GC-WP10 certainly produced a very bright image in our low light testing—and you can see how much brighter it was compared to the competition by checking out the images below. Even though the WP10's low light image was brighter than its predecessor, the GC-FM1, we like the FM1's low light image better overall. The GC-FM1 managed more accurate colors and a sharper image in low light, although it did have a bit more noise than the WP10. Judging completely by the numbers in our tests, the Kodak Playsport (followed closely by the Flip SlideHD) did the best overall job in our low light testing out of these four camcorders.

**Low Light Noise***(11.76)*


The GC-WP10 averaged 0.72% noise in our low light test, which is a good score. Unfortunately, this low noise percentage had a negative impact on the camcorder's ability to capture a sharp, detailed image. Just take a look at the crops below to see what we're talking about. The GC-WP10 has a bright image, but it is very blurred and washed-out, which means the camcorder captured very little detail compared to the other models in this testing set.  (More on how we test low light noise.)

When you look at the crops above, you'll see that none of these ultracompact models produced a stellar low light image. Interestingly, however, all the camcorders seemed to have different problems. The GC-FM1 has a sharp, yet noisy and discolored image, while the Flip Slide HD has a very blurry image with interference problems, but no noise. The Kodak Playsport has a dark image with some discoloration, while the GC-WP10 has a bright image without much sharpness or detail. So, take a look at the crops above and make up your own mind as to which appears to be "the best" overall. They all have their benefits and disadvantages.

Compression & Media

**Compression***(7.7)*


The GC-WP10 records video using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression system. The MPEG-4 codec is what we commonly see being used by ultracompact camcorders to compress video, and it is similar to the AVCHD system (also based on MPEG-4) utilized by most higher-end consumer camcorders that record in HD. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of MPEG-4.

The camcorder has two options for recording HD video (1080/30p and 720/60p modes) and two standard definition recording options (iFrame and Quarter HD). The strange thing about the iFrame and QHD options is that they both record using the same 960 x 540 resolution. The difference, however, is that both options record using wildly different bitrates (iFrame records at 24Mbps, while QHD records at 5Mbps). The iFrame record mode was developed with support from Apple and is recommended for editing with Apple's iMovie software.

**Media***(5.25)*


The GC-WP10 records video and stores photos on removable SD memory cards, and the camcorder is also compatible with SDHC and SDXC memory cards, which offer larger storage capacities. The card slot is located on the left side of the camcorder, in the same area as all of the WP10's ports and connectivity features. When recording video in the 1080p mode on the GC-WP10, a single clip cannot exceed 30 minutes in length. The camcorder will continue to record seamlessly after this time limit is reached, but clips will be split into different files when you open them on a computer.Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of flash memory.

The GC-WP10 does have 128MB of internal memory, but it is used to store the pre-installed PC software and instruction manual for the camcorder. You'll need a memory card if you want to record video or take photos with the WP10.

**Editing***(8.0)*


The JVC GC-WP10 has built-in editing software called LoiLoScope EX. The software is stored right on the camcorder itself along with a digital copy of the instruction manual. In addition to the built-in editing software, the GC-WP10 also allows you to do some on-camera editing in playback mode. However, this editing feature is so hard to use with the touchscreen interface that we think you should avoid it altogether. Just wait until you have your clips imported into a computer and edit them there.

For an overview of the software that ships with the JVC GC-WP10 and other JVC camcorders, see our article: "Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder"

Since the LoiLoScope EX software doesn't work on Macs, JVC recommends that Mac users record video with the iFrame video option. This iFrame setting is designed to be fully compatible with Apple's iMovie software, so you shouldn't have any trouble importing and editing your iFrame clips on a Mac.

Manual Controls

**Auto Mode***(5.25)*


With the exception of a poor auto white balance performance, the auto controls on the GC-WP10 are better than what you see on most ultracompact models. The auto exposure was quick and smooth, but it didn't have problems handling very bright areas within the frame (something we've noted as a problem on similar models). The camcorder doesn't have an autofocus mechanism because its lens is fixed, but everything should appear in focus as long as you are more than two feet away from the subject you are recording.

There's also the AE touch feature on the GC-WP10 that allows you to tap the part of the frame you want to expose properly. The feature is effective, but we do wish the video frame on the LCD was larger in video mode so there was more surface area to touch. Only around 1/3 of the screen is actually utilized in video record mode, while the rest of the LCD is taken up by touch-sensitive buttons. The face detection feature on the GC-WP10 worked quickly and detected faces accurately, but we didn't think it was as effective as the AE touch feature.

**Zoom***(3.0)*


The digital zoom on the GC-WP10 is activated by using the touchscreen buttons on the back of the camcorder. These buttons are rather large, but they are very close to the other buttons on the LCD (including the start/stop record button), so you have to be careful when you press them. The zoom on the camcorder goes slowly at first, but then it speeds up if you press the button for more than a second.

**Zoom Ratio***(0.0)*


The GC-WP10 has no optical zoom, but it does have a 4x digital zoom. Using this zoom degrades image quality and it isn't very effective in the first place, but it is there if you need it.

**Focus***(0.0)*


There's no manual focus option on the GC-WP10 because the camcorder has a fixed focus system (this means there's no autofocus either). Because the lens is fixed, you do have to be a set distance away from your subject in order for it to appear in focus. We found the ideal distance to be around one foot away, with anything closer resulting in a blurred image.

**Exposure***(0.0)*


The only exposure control on the GC-WP10 is the Touch AE option that will automatically adjust the exposure based on the area of the frame you tap with your finger. Since the video frame on the LCD is so tiny, this Touch AE feature doesn't work all that well, but it still can be useful in certain situations.

**Aperture***(0.0)*


As is the case with most ultracompact budget camcorders, the GC-WP10 does not have manual aperture controls. The aperture on the camcorder is fixed at f/2.8 and cannot be altered.

**Shutter Speed***(0.0)*


As with aperture, the shutter speed control on the GC-WP10 is entirely automated.

**White Balance***(0.0)*


White balance is controlled automatically on the GC-WP10 and it shows—the camcorder had significant problems white balancing properly in our bright light color test. This is an issue that comes up very often with ultracompact budget camcorders.

**Gain***(0.0)*


Nope, the GC-WP10 has no manual gain controls either.

**Color & Image Controls***(0.0)*


The GC-WP10 has a few digital effects, which some people may classify as color and image controls. These effects don't give you any adjustable controls, however, they just allow you to record in black and white or use sepia tones and stuff like that. We talk about these digital effects more in the Other Features section of this review.

 

**Other Manual Controls***(0.5)*


Still Features

**Still Features***(7.6)*


The GC-WP10 has a dedicated still image mode, but the camcorder only has a few still features. You can capture photos in two sizes—2592 x 1944 and 1920 x 1440—both of which utilize a 4:3 aspect ratio. The camcorder has a pixel count of 5.13 megapixels, which means the 2592 x 1944 photo option is a native resolution.In addition to these two size options there's also a 10-second self-timer and a variety of digital effects (black and white, sepia, etc.) that can be used in photo mode.

We are a bit confused by the two photo size options on the GC-WP10, mainly because when you shoot using the 1920 x 1440 mode you have to turn the camcorder horizontally. The camcorder switches to this layout automatically when you press a button that looks like an image rotation icon (this is actually the image size button switcher). What we don't understand is why the camcorder switches to a horizontal layout in the 1920 x 1440 mode only. Since both resolutions are a 4:3 aspect ratio, why can't you shoot horizontally in both modes? This is a mildly upsetting quirk that doesn't make sense to us.

**Still Color***(7.74)*


The GC-WP10 measured a color error of 4.52 and a saturation level of 127.4% in our still image testing. The camcorder didn't have as much of a rosy tint in its still images as it did in its bright light video clips, but it was definitely still present. You can see this fact by looking at the red skew on the color error map below and by checking out the sample images below. (More on how we test still color.)

The GC-WP10's color error score of 4.52 is actually very good compared to the numbers put up by the competition. The Kodak Playsport produced very inaccurate colors in our still image testing (with a strong orange hue), as did the JVC GC-FM1. The Flip SlideHD, as with all Flip camcorders, does not capture still images.

**Still Noise***(2.76)*


In our testing, we measured 1% noise on the GC-WP10's still images. This isn't a terrible score, but it certainly isn't very good either. Considering how well the camcorder did with our video noise tests, this poor score comes as something of a surprise. (More on how we test still noise.)

**Still Sharpness***(0.14)*


Ultracompact camcorders usually don't do very well in our still sharpness test, and the GC-WP10 is no exception. The camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 1254 lw/ph with 36.8% undersharpening and a vertical sharpness of 1172 lw/ph with 12.8% undersharpening. While these sharpness numbers are quite a bit better than the competition (the Kodak Playsport and JVC GC-FM1 were far worse), the undersharpening values are a bit disconcerting. Basically, we're saying that you'll probably get just as good photos from a good cell phone camera than you would from the GC-WP10—and you're certainly better off with a cheap digital camera. (More on how we test still sharpness.)

Handling & Use

**Ease of Use***(3.0)*


JVC clearly missed the mark in trying to make the Picsio GC-WP10 simple to use. The camcorder's touchscreen design is full of confusing icons, hidden menus, and a sluggish performance that at times makes you think the camcorder has frozen up or crashed. The touch-buttons on the LCD area  mixture of confusing arrows and dots that make absolutely no sense to the casual user—so much so that we had to consult the instruction manual to find out what certain buttons actually controlled. Unfortunately, the provided instruction manual is entirely lacking in details, although there is a more informative digital manual loaded on the camcorder's internal memory.

The camcorder has nothing in the way of onscreen tool tips or hints, which makes the confusing touch-buttons even more annoying. For example, it took us a good deal of trial-and-error to figure out that the speaker icon controlled headphone volume only and not audio recording volume. Why isn't this labeled? Why doesn't JVC offer a more detailed icon? These are questions that you should not have to consult the manual to get answers to, let alone a manual that requires you to connect the camcorder to a computer so you can read it.

Instead of concentrating features and controls under one menu, the GC-WP10 has a variety of menus that are scattered throughout the camcorder's touchscreen interface. This makes things extremely confusing, particularly for a camcorder with such a limited amount of features to begin with. There are two settings menus—one that is accessible in record mode and another that has options to set things like date/time or format memory cards—and there are two menus for choosing record settings. Frankly, we think anything more than one menu is too much for an ultracompact camcorder.

**Handling***(4.75)*


The JVC GC-WP10 is an abysmal camcorder when it comes to handling. The LCD touchscreen is unresponsive, its touch-sensitive buttons are confusing, and the camcorder offers little in the way of grip or comfort. The hard buttons on the right side of the camcorder are also designed poorly, making them difficult and uncomfortable to press. Of course, the GC-WP10 is designed this way because of its rugged, waterproof body. This doesn't mean everything has to feel rigid and uncomfortable, though, as the waterproof Kodak Playsport felt a whole lot better in our hands.

 

Another major gripe about the GC-WP10 is the camcorder's sluggish response times. After pressing buttons on the LCD, the camcorder often goes to a blank screen for a second, which often left us wondering if something had gone wrong. Did the battery die? Is the camcorder frozen? Nope, it's just really, really slow. This may not frustrate every user, but people who are accustomed to modern technology devices—particularly things like iPhones with ultra-responsive touchscreens—are likely to be perturbed.

 

The design of the GC-WP10 does feel durable and strong, so that's a plus. The port cover on the left side of the camcorder has a well-built locking mechanism and the inside of the cover is coated in a rubberized material to keep water from seeping into the ports. We like this design and layout very much, but the rest of the camcorder feels clunky. We wouldn't give the WP10 any style points either, as its thick, rectangular design makes it look like it's a camcorder encased in a waterproof holder (which is essentially what it is).

 

While we did like the way the GC-WP10's underwater video looked, we found the camcorder a bit difficult to use when submerged. The shape and size of the camcorder made it difficult to grip and the touchscreen interface was often unresponsive when the camcorder was submerged. You can use gloves with the touchscreen, but we found this always didn't work well underwater.

**Stabilization***(0.0)*


Much like JVC's previous Picsio camcorders, the GC-WP10 has a digital image stabilization feature, but it cannot be turned off. This means we have no way of testing its effectiveness. That being said, stabilization also isn't that important when you use a camcorder that doesn't have an optical zoom lens. Since you are always shooting a wide shot (for the most part), you shouldn't have much trouble limiting the amount of camcorder shake. (More on how we test stabilization.

**Portability***(10.98)*


The GC-WP10 is certainly thicker and heavier than last year's JVC GC-FM1 (and the new JVC GC-FM2), but this added size is directly related to the fact that the WP10 is essentially a camcorder enclosed with a waterproof casing. So, the "portability" of the camcorder really depends on what you're planning to do with the GC-WP10 and where you plan to take it. The camcorder certainly isn't the smallest ultracompact model on the market, but you don't have to worry about getting it wet when you take it to the beach or tossing it into a bag that may contain moisture.

Even with its thick design, you shouldn't have trouble slipping the GC-WP10 into your pocket. Its waterproof casing is sturdy, although we are a bit concerned about getting scratches on the touchscreen LCD. In our time with the camcorder the touchscreen seemed fairly scratch-resistant, but we'd still be careful about carrying it around in a pocket full of jagged keys.

When you look at the numbers, however, the GC-WP10 is roughly the same size as the waterproof Kodak Playsport. The JVC is a thicker camcorder, but the Kodak is a bit taller. This means both offer the same amount of portability essentially, as the size differences really aren't that significant. The Flip SlideHD, on the other hand, is also roughly the same size as the GC-WP10, and it does *not *feature a waterproof design.

**Battery Life***(4.1)*


The GC-WP10 has an internal, non-removable battery that charges via the camcorder's USB connection. We don't like this setup all that much because it means you can't replace the battery when it gets old, and you have to plug the camcorder into a computer to charge it (or buy a USB-wall-plug adapter). All this would be less of a problem if the WP10's internal battery did a tremendous job in our battery life test, but, sadly, it didn't. The camcorder only lasted for 82 minutes in our test, which is roughly average for an ultracompact camcorder. (More on how we test battery life.)

**LCD & Viewfinder***(6.58)*


The big new feature on the GC-WP10 is the camcorders 3-inch touchscreen LCD. Before you get all giddy about the large touchscreen, we must warn you that the camcorder only makes full use of the screen in playback mode. When you're recording video or snapping photos, only around 1/3 of the screen is filled by the actual video frame. The rest of the touchscreen is taken up by touch-sensitive buttons, which is the exact same thing we saw on the Flip SlideHD and its touchscreen. In playback mode, you must rotate the screen horizontally and watch your videos (in full widescreen) in that manner.

We don't like this because we feel JVC is wasting that valuable LCD real estate. In video mode the frame for recording is very small and we just wish the camcorder would use more of that luxurious LCD space to give us a large view of what we are recording. This would also help make the AE Touch features easier to use. To make matters worse, the touchscreen on the WP10 isn't all that responsive in the first place and it attracts fingerprints like no other.

Many new ultracompact models are featuring large touchscreens these days and all of them seem to have a different way of doing things. We like what we've seen from Sony's new Bloggie Touch models, as those camcorders allow you to shoot video with the entire LCD being filled (you can even rotate them to shoot horizontally or vertically, your choice). The GC-WP10, on the other hand, feels handcuffed by the design of its LCD—just like we saw with the Flip SlideHD.

Playback & Connectivity

**Playback***(3.0)*


The setup of playback mode on the GC-WP10 looks just like any other camcorder that records to flash memory. Clips are arranged in the standard thumbnail form and you tap on them to display at full screen. The full screen display is a bit unique, however, as you must turn the camcorder horizontally so the clips can play back in widescreen. It is in this playback mode that the GC-WP10 finally makes full use of its large, 3-inch LCD... we only wish you could also shoot video this way.

 

The VCR controls appear on the LCD during playback and they are not very responsive. We had to tap the screen numerous times to get some of the controls to respond and with our repeated tapping we mucked up the LCD with plenty of fingerprints. There is a built-in editing feature in playback mode, but the combination of the unresponsive touchscreen and the confusing button layout make it nearly impossible to use. If you want to trim or edit your clips, we recommend doing it after you've imported your videos to a computer.

**Connectivity***(3.0)*


All of the ports on the GC-WP10 are grouped in a single file on the left side of the camcorder. These ports are covered, of course, by a long door that locks into place with a sliding button at its top. This door has a rubbery material on the inside, which is meant to keep these valuable ports free of water or residue when the camcorder is submerged in liquid (the WP10 is waterproof up to 10 feet, remember?).

 

We like the fact that GC-WP10 has all its ports in one place, and the ports are labeled very well on both the outside and the inside of the flip-down door. All in a row, you'll see the ports on the WP10 include an HDMI terminal, USB port, SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, and an AV output that also doubles as a headphone jack. All the ports are easy to access and are located well.

 

Now for our few gripes about the GC-WP10's connectivity options. There's no DC-input, so you have to charge the camcorder via its USB terminal. This means you can't use the GC-WP10 when the battery is dead by plugging it into a wall outlet or anything like that. You have to let the camcorder sit and charge (while connected to a computer or USB charging adapter) before you can use it to record again. We also aren't crazy about the length of the USB cable that ships with the camcorder, as it is only a foot long or so. Still, we like this setup better than some of the built-in USB arms we've seen on other ultracompact models.

Audio & Other Features

**Audio Features***(3.4)*


The JVC Picsio GC-WP10 has a few interesting audio features that aren't very common on ultracompact camcorders. In addition to recording video and taking photos, the WP10 can also be used as an MP3 recorder to capture audio clips only. Audio captured in this MP3 mode is recorded in 16 bit stereo at 128 kbps, and a left/right channel audio level display appears on the LCD when this mode is activated. This audio-only recording feature is also found on the Kodak Zi8 camcorder.

In addition to this MP3 audio mode, the WP10 also has a headphone output (also doubles as the AV-out port). You can adjust the headphone volume in both video mode and audio mode, but you cannot adjust the audio recording levels. This is somewhat confusing, actually, as the camcorder makes it appear as if you are adjusting the audio levels. You get no inclination that you are just setting headphone volume until you listen to your clips during playback. JVC needs to label this feature better to avoid confusion (maybe use a headphone icon instead of a speaker?).

Lastly, there is a basic wind cut feature on the GC-WP10 that can be turned on and off in video mode (strangely, it cannot be activated in the MP3 audio record mode).

**Other Features***(2.5)*


Digital Effects
**You can turn on a few digital effects when recording video or taking photos with the GC-WP10. The effects include: black and white, sepia, solarize, negative, classic film, and strobe. The classic film and strobe options are only available in video mode, and both of them create choppy video clips by skipping recorded frames (kind of like a slow shutter effect).

Time Lapse Record

You can record single video frames at intervals of 1/2 a second, 5 seconds, or 40 seconds. After recording for a period of time the subsequent video will appear sped up, so this mode is designed for condensing long clips into short, time-lapse videos. The icons on the camcorder seem to recommend the 1/2-second option for capturing video of someone walking around, the 5-second option for recording a cloudy sky, and the 40-second option for recording flowers in bloom.

Waterproof

The JVC GC-WP10 can be used under water up to a ten foot submersion (3 meters). JVC also recommends you don't use the camcorder underwater for more than 30 minutes at a time. The body of the WP10 repels water nicely and we like the sealed protection that the port cover provides to the terminals on the left side of the camcorder. The camcorder's touchscreen interface doesn't work all that well underwater, although you can lock it so water pressure doesn't accidentally make the screen malfunction.

Overall, we're happy to see JVC release a waterproof camcorder—it definitely gives the GC-WP10 some intrigue—but we think Kodak did the waterproof design better with the Playsport Zx3.

Kodak Playsport Comparison

Unless you have a strong affinity for touchscreens, we can't think of a good reason to go with the GC-WP10 over the Kodak Playsport. The Playsport Zx3 does waterproof better, feels more comfortable in your hand, and it costs $50 less than the GC-WP10. The only plus for the GC-WP10 is its aforementioned touchscreen, but we found the interface to be sluggish and cumbersome anyway (and the video frame only takes up a tiny portion of the screen during recording).

The Kodak Playsport also did better in our overall testing, although both camcorders had trouble white balancing properly in bright light. It is true that the GC-WP10 has more features—including a time lapse function and iFrame recording—but we don't think that's enough to push it over the Kodak Playsport.

What we'd really like to see is more solid competition in the waterproof ultracompact market. Sanyo has a few models, like the VPC-CA100, that may be able to give Kodak and JVC a run for their money, but it is hard to tell at this point because Sanyo camcorders cover a wide spectrum in terms of quality. For now, anyway, the Kodak Playsport is the best waterproof model we've reviewed (and perhaps the best ultracompact camcorder overall).

 

JVC GC-FM1 Comparison

The GC-FM1 was JVC's first member of the Picsio family, and we weren't fans of the camcorder at all. Still, based on our video performance tests, it seems like JVC may have taken a step back with its second-generation Picsio camcorders. The GC-FM1 produced a sharper image and had better color accuracy than the GC-WP10, although the WP10 did have significantly improved low light sensitivity. Obviously, the inclusion of a waterproof design on the GC-WP10 is very beneficial, but that feature only really applies to a specific customer base.

Basically, we think JVC got the touchscreen interface wrong on the GC-WP10. It is slow to respond to touches and the camcorder doesn't make use of the entire screen during video recording. These two things frustrate us enough that we actually like the smaller, non-touch-sensitive screen on the GC-FM1 more. Both camcorders have poor button designs, however, and neither provided a good amount of grip grip.

You should probably stay away from both of these models, as neither really provides anything special that you can't find elsewhere on better camcorders.

 

Flip SlideHD Comparison

The Flip SlideHD is our least favorite of the Flip camcorders, but it is the most apt comparison for the GC-WP10 because of its touchscreen LCD. Both JVC and Flip frustrated us by providing big, 3-inch LCDs, but only allowing a small portion of the screen to be used during recording. It's such a waste to have this big screen and only be able to use the whole thing during playback (luckily, the new Sony Bloggie Touch models let you use the whole screen during recording).

Our other main gripe about the Flip SlideHD is the camcorders cost. With a $279 price tag, the SlideHD is $80 more expensive than the GC-WP10 and it is also more expensive than the rest of the Flip lineup. We think this cost is a bit steep for an ultracompact "budget" camcorder. The SlideHD does succeed where most Flips succeed, however. By that we mean it is easy to use, the built-in editing software is well-designed (something we definitely can't say about the JVC GC-WP10), and it has a stylish design.

The Flip SlideHD is a far more limited camcorder than the GC-WP10 in terms of features. It has no still image capabilities, it only shoots in one video mode (1280 x 720 resolution), and it isn't waterproof. It is incredibly easy to break it out and start recording, however, and the touch-sensitive buttons on the SlideHD are far more responsive than those on the GC-WP10. We're not crazy about either of these two models, but the Flip SlideHD is the better product. We just don't think it's worth the $279 price tag. We recommend going with the Flip UltraHD or Flip MinoHD instead—they're less gimmicky (don't have touchscreens), and they're just as easy to use and will cost you less.

 

Conclusion

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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