In the world of video, high definition reigns supreme. Shooters of all descriptions have more affordable high-quality image capturing products at their fingertips than ever before. So who would choose to still go with a standard definition cam in these days of visual media utopia?
At the risk of sounding like an old-school stand-up comedian: take my sister, for one. Having just entered the hallowed institution of motherhood she likes nothing more than firing off a few hundred stills and a couple of digital features’ worth of footage at the weekly coffee group.
Within minutes of the maternal horde vacating her lounge, the evidence of collective nurturing expertise has been uploaded to YouTube, Facebook and über-mum.com.
The budget-conscious, enthusiastic amateur demographic is precisely the market that JVC’s MG630 is designed to appeal to. And it does a pretty good job of it. This compact, lightweight cam features a 60GB hard drive, allowing for more than 14 hours of record time at the highest quality setting and a massive 75 hours at the lowest. And if that isn’t enough, users can also store video and stills on either a microSD or SDHC card. That’s a whole lot of treasured childhood memories.
A big sell for the MG630 is the Upload mode. The cam’s labelling even features the YouTube logo; JVC is in no doubt as to where much of its customers’ output is going to end up. With Upload mode selected, the MG630 will stop recording automatically after 10 minutes, thus keeping files to an uploadable size. Then it’s just a matter of connecting via USB to your PC and, using the supplied MediaBrowser interface, in a few simple clicks your masterpiece is on its way to the worldwide web.
The One Touch Export function is similarly effortless for getting files into iTunes, and it goes without saying that burning a DVD or archiving movies to free up space is a breeze. The MG630 is the cam voted least likely to inspire technophobia (by this reviewer, at least).
The JVC’s controls are fairly standard in their layout, with all the basics for shooting within easy reach. The wrist strap/hand strap combination looked a little flimsy at first but actually does the job well and is a clever piece of design. The foldout LCD screen features the Laser Touch scrolling bar for smudge-free navigation/operation (potential Sony converts take note). Manual controls are at a minimum, but the MG630’s automatic functions do an adequate job of auto-iris and focusing.
The Konica Minolta 35x optical zoom lens delivers plenty of bang for the buck but, as usual, digital zoom is best left alone.
Potential buyers should be absolutely sure before deciding on this product (or any SD device) that they are prepared to forgo the colour depth and low-light performance of HD cams. Having said that, the MG630’s 800,000-pixel CCD image sensor does a passable job and is aided by an onboard LED.
All in all a cleverly targeted device for price (and image) conscious shooters who want to maintain their web presence with a minimum of fuss.
JUSTIN REDDING
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Display Size: 6.9cm
Optical Zoom: 35x
CCD Quantity: 1
Effective pixels: 800k
Microphone: Stereo
Media: HDD, microSD/micro SDHC
Storage: 60GB
Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable.
Dimensions: 53 x 68 x 113mm
Weight: 350g (incl battery)
This Review is from Tone Issue #76.
There are a few changes to this issue of Tone. We’ve said farewell to our fine cover girl in favour of some lads in white (it’s not a statement of preference, but the World Cup only comes around once every four years). In order to stimulate maximum creativity, our designer hasn’t slept since the last issue went to print, resulting in some crazy new fonts and unbelievably sleek breakout boxes possessing a level of sophistication not previously imagined. Like Saruman forging his army of fighting Uruk-Hai, we’ve dug new writers from the earth’s very gut, who now swarm across the world’s gadgets, crafting their infernal reviews. Though we’ve changed a little on the outside, we’re still the Tone you know and love on the inside. As always, we’re committed to providing the latest technology news and the best, unbiased, independent reviews of hot new products – and that’s never going to change. Enjoy.
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