JVC Everio G-MS120 ($270.00 to $300.00 online) is a nice, cheap standard-definition camcorder. A lot of the features are pretty standard, including the 35x zoom lens. It’s also pretty YouTube compatible with some bundled software like many are within the price range to target the ever-growing popularity of this video-sharing site. You can get resolution up to 800K pixels with this standard camcorder.
One problem with the software bundle for YouTube is that it needs to be installed from a computer. So, you won’t be able to stop at some random computer to upload your videos. It will have to be the one where you installed your software.
| Features | Rating  |
But, the major thing that sets this little camcorder apart is the dual SD/SDHC card slots. As a way to stay competitive against the market, JVC has decided to skip the internal hard drive and went with the two card slots, which allows you to expand up to 64GB of storage space if it’s necessary. The camcorder will also automatically switch to the next card (if you installed two) when you run out of space on the first one. While it can take a few seconds to switch between the two, meaning that you’ll miss a few clips, it does happen without you having to do it.
For a cheaper-end camcorder, it takes surprisingly good pictures, even in Auto mode. There are some recording effects, including Strobe, which makes the clips look like non-sequential shots. The Ultra Fine recording setting takes pretty crisp shots, but you’ll probably want to stick to only this setting. The other settings are not quite as crisp though they give you more recording time.
| Usability | Rating  |
The dimensions of this machine are 2.1x2.6x4.4 inches, comes with a 2.7 inch LCD screen and weighs only 10.2 ounces, which is again pretty standard. One of the reasons for being so lightweight is that it’s made entirely of plastic. It sits nicely in the hand and comes in one of the following colors: black, blue or red. You can record up to 14 minutes per 1GB when capturing clips at the highest quality setting. There’s a button located on the left-side of the machine that allows you to take 640x480 photos, which is rather standard for this type of camcorder.
Another nice feature is that you can set your camcorder to turn on and off automatically when you open or close the LCD screen. This should definitely save you battery life if you forget to manually shut it off. There’s plenty of space for the record button despite the fact that the battery occupies most of the rear end of the camcorder. The strap can be a little frustrating to use since it’s rather small and sits rather low on the camcorder.
| Bang for Your Buck | Rating |
While there are some minor flaws with the body, the usability of features on the MS120 are quite nice. The quality of clips are rather good. The bang for your buck can’t be beat.
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