| JVC GZ-HM550 High Definition Camcorder |  | Brand: JVC
Category: Photography
List Price: $799.95
Buy New: $481.09
as of 9/5/2010 16:22 MDT details
You Save: $318.86 (40%)
New (22) Used (1) from $467.99
Seller: Big VALUE Inc
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 188
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Optical Zoom: 10
Display Size: 2.7
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 4.3 x 2.2 x 2.4
Legal Disclaimer: We do not in any way represent that any part we sell is legal to possess in your jurisdiction. Check with you local authorities to ensure it is legal for you to possess before buying!
MPN: GZ-HM550
Model: GZ-HM550
UPC: 046838042362
EAN: 0046838042362
ASIN: B0032FPYHY
Release Date: March 3, 2010
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | Bluetooth® Wireless Technology | | • | 32GB Internal Flash Memory | | • | One Touch Upload to YouTubeTM | | • | Records up to 3520x2640 Digital Stills | | • | Record location data with GPS |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Everio GZ-HM550BUS is an elegant Full HD memory Everio with dual memory of 32GB internal Flash memory/SD card featuring 10.62M Back-illuminated CMOS, Real 9.3 Megapixel Stills with no interpolation, recording up to 3520x2640 digital still images.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Great camcorder September 3, 2010
James
I've had this camera for 2 weeks now and and love it. You can't get this much quality and features for any less that I've found. Video is smooth and focuses good on auto, as long as you don't go past 10x optical stabilization is good. I like the manual ability if it doesn't get it right for certain types of shooting. The LCD is viewable, better than some, in the daytime. There is no shortcuts like Sanyo models have so you will have to push more times on buttons but It's OK. If I had my way I'd do away with the LCD and put on a viewfinder and some manual wheels on it. They want thousands for that so it is what it is and quite fine just the same. The extra features actually sold me like (Time Lapse). That is beautiful. I've only seen that with JVC. Also (High Speed) at 600fps 10x, 300fps 5x, and 120 fps, double speed. Great with some drawbacks on the resolution but still serves the purpose. Sony has a golf shot also at 600fps but resolution is low there also. I didn't like the software and just copy to computer. They are .mts files which only a VLC player can play but can be converted to anything with a free converter program. If you can get a still shot in the still mode pics will be about 5x better (9mp) but extracts from the video are also good quality. They claim stills shot in the video mode are better than 2mp but it's hard to shoot at the right time so I can't comment on that quality yet. Overall a great camera. You will probably need an extra battery which I will buy shortly. Also wide-angle and 2x-converter lenses (37mm) would be nice. You can edit with the camera by dividing and trimming and deleting unwanted parts but doesn't combine except with the software it comes with, but I don't know how to get the files with that program so I use another one to combine them. Tight, but will fit in a shirt pocket. I have no cons yet.
 Consumer Reports rates highly, but watch out for details August 3, 2010
Michael Davis (near San Diego, CA)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I'm taking this piece of junk (JVC GZ-HM550) back. I'm writing this review to save others from making my mistake.
This is sort of raw info. I apologize. Don't have much time, but want to get this posted ASAP to warn others.
I am not at all a professional videographer. I'm coming back to video after a hiatus of many years. First time I've ever used a high def camcorder. My standards are high, but this camera should have done better when matched against my standards.
I'm going to try a Canon camcorder next. It's got to have some passing resemblance to the quality of my Nikon D70! If I'm still not satisfied with the image quality, especially color, I'll try an SLR video solution.
Back to the JVC GZ-HM550...
Worst problem? : Nearly constant clicking noise in audio. Is almost certainly that the autofocus is seeking constantly.
Had tons of trouble getting their MediaBrowser Windows app to launch.
Eventually launched, but player is only fair. Maybe will be better after reading instructions. Maybe I can use another player.
Though quite good overall, the user interface on the camera sometimes falls down badly. For example, there's a screen (called Info?) to show how much memory you've used. I think the lovely three-dimensional pie chart that takes up 50% of the screen has nothing to do with the memory used. It's just there to look pretty! Now that's dumb!
Video from a class I'm taking. It's a video of computer code projected on screen:
The good: can clearly read the code projected onto the screen. This is exactly why I purchased an HD camera.
The bad: Seems like autofocus brings image in and out of focus. The focus fiddling makes noise as well. Brightness and color balance change too.
Also, since I'm videoing a long lecture, camera breaks video into 4 GB .mts files. Where is this disclosed?
Probably is the same as other cameras, but why do this? What is max .mts file size? Hard to believe that it's only 4 GB.
Still problems getting MediaBrowser to see videos on camera, even though I can clearly see them as .mts files in Windows Explorer !!!
Wide angle is not very wide! Is almost like a telephoto on wide! This makes it difficult to shoot a time lapse of my cats on the stairs, one the main reasons I wanted time lapse.
Pixela, maker of MediaBrowser, seems to have no clue about user interfaces or polishing anything! Ergonomics are horrible. Must have been the first GUI program written by the developer.
Perhaps the last straw: no date anywhere in the two MediaBrowser manuals .pdfs I have, not even a copyright date! How am I supposed to tell which is the most recent?
Color is truly mediocre. Just plain strange colors. Sort of washed out. Color balance in shadows is markedly blue. Perhaps that's what I should expect.
Tried Canons today. Much better image stabilizers! I'm no spring chicken, hence I shake too much for the JVC.
Wonderful camera July 7, 2010
izzy
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have the camera for a month. I enjoy using it very much.
JVC did a great job with the human interface so you don't have to touch the screen in order to chnage the modes etc.
it has a lot of features (manual and automatic).
You better read its manual before buying it if you want to see them all.
The software is nice and simple and you can easly create with it a hcdvd or other formats.
The battery life isn't long (45 min) but i don't worry about it. Even when I used it all day the battery had enought power because i used it for about a minute each time.
The vidio quality is fantastic.
I think that for that price you are getting the best video camera in the market today.
Simply Amazing May 22, 2010
R. Chase (Austin, TX United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This little JVC is fantastic! With my OCD of fingerprints on monitors, I love the menu control system. It's easy to learn, quick to use, and effective overall. The quality of this camera in all light conditions is incredible. With most other cameras, indoor photos and video are typically disappointing, but with the JVC back-lit processor, this camera rocks. I found myself wandering around the house at night, with a few lamps on taking pictures and gasping, "How'd it do that?"
Another SUPERIOR feature is the Bluetooth connectivity. Nobody has it. Hurray! I hate attaching, maintaining, and storing an assortment of cables. I purchased the stand alone battery charger and the larger battery as well, eliminating most all connections, short of hooking up to the HDMI connection of the TV. The time of use ratings appear to be accurate, at least with new batteries, fully charged.
Two more items I purchased were a polarizing filter and a 32GB Class 10 SDHC card. The filter makes a world of difference on the quality and clarity of full Sun, outdoor video and pictures. I highly recommend it. The camera does a really, really great job of seamlessly managing between the internal hard drive and the SDHC flash memory. You can set between fully shared, or push video to the internal drive, while still pictures to the SDHC flash memory, or visa-versa.
I highly recommend this little jewel. It has it all, is easy to control, has great features, and the video and still shots are simply amazing, even indoors in low light.
So far, really good! April 7, 2010
Thomas Bohlmann (Port Royal, VA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
To begin, I rank my own video experience as rookie... but I love the technical side of new gadgets. My HD journey actually began in Jan 2010 with the JVC Everio model GZ-HD320 from Best Buy. I promptly took this camera back primarily due to the poor low light performance. I did however like the feel and operation of the camera, and felt kind of sad that I was returning it.
I subsequently found out about the new line of low-lux models, and last month took my chances on the GZ-HM550. Low light recording (indoors) was really important to me, and this model had the largest backlit image sensor of the whole Everio line (0.429" diameter). While I have no comparison to any other makes of camera, the low-lux HM550 far outperformed its predecessor (HD320) in moderate/low light. In bright outdoor light, the video is totally crisp and clear.
As for physical features, the camera is really small and light. Almost too small as the buttons for zoom and record are situated about mid-palm making it not completely ergonomic for people with large hands or long fingers. The laser touch menu bar and associated buttons are easy to use and require only a very light touch to activate. There are LOTS of menu picks and options - and these can be tricky to find until you get some practice. Some menu screens can be difficult to navigate while recording in the heat of the moment - but practice and knowing what, where, and how to use the cameras settings is absolutely key. The time lapse and auto record features are totally cool! Having a clock in the field of view during time lapse adds a fun little twist. The high speed video (600 fps) sounds great, but is actually kind of lame - the resolution goes way down - to a point where most detail is completely gone. Nothing like you would see on MythBusters. I don't know if I'll ever use this functionality. The on-board flash is great for regular camera pictures! And due to certain lighting conditions, this is sometimes a better option than capturing a video still. However... the auto-focus for stills can be slow, sometimes one to two seconds before getting a "green light" to shoot. Unless you have a very patient photo subject, this delay can sometimes mean missing your shot. Bluetooth/GPS?? I have not used the features yet. Oh yea, and power up time is pretty fast, especially fast if the camera is still in sleep mode.
The video editing software (Pixela) that came bundled with the camera is completely bare bones and is only good for dumping "boring" unedited video to disk. I am using Pinnacle Studio Ultimate Version 14 for video editing and disc creation. The Pinnacle software runs $50-75. Professional editing software of this type allows you to trim video files, make title screens, montages, add sound effects, and music, add audio and video transitions from clip to clip, and all sorts of other cool stuff. The real "movie magic" is in the post processing. If you don't care to be artistic with your video, then the bundled Pixela software will do just fine.
I've realized that modern digital cameras are not as simple as the older analog (VHS) style. I've had to buy the camera, then a new (faster) computer, and then special editing software to get the video I wanted. Not recommended for the faint at heart. But for the gear-head techno geek, this camera is rockin! I totally love it - and while the camera has its annoying little quirks, to me there are just "little". Being effective with this camera all boils down to knowing the equipment. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it holds up and lasts mechanically and electrically.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Copyright 2007-2009, JVCquery | |
