JVC Everio GZ-MG505

alaTest has collected and analyzed 172 reviews from magazines and websites. Views about the design and zoom are generally positive. The color and image quality also get good feedback. Many are critical about the connectivity and value for money, while opinions about the resolution and memory are mixed.

usability, image quality, color, zoom, design

battery, viewfinder, features, value for money, connectivity

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the JVC Everio GZ-MG505 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 82/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 172 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Showing 95 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 95 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (80)

RECOMMENDED PRODUCT

Expert review by:

JVC GZ-MG505

 

We've made no secret of the fact we've been disappointed by the quality of the hard-disk drive camcorders reviewed so far for DigitalTrends.com including the new Toshiba gigashot and JVC Everio models. Camcorders record memories and if the video...

Three 1.33MP CCDs; 30GB storage

Expensive; colors have no "pop

You may be a tape purist but nothing beats the playlists that instantly appear when you put a HDD camcorder in playback mode.

Expert review by:

JVC Everio GZ-MG505

 

Review: When it shipped last year, JVC's Microdrive-based Everio GZ-MC500 was the first of its kind to produce decent video, and it took a year for another manufacturer to match it--Sony's DCR-SR100. For this year's JVC Everio GZ-MG505, the company...

Generally satisfying video and still-photo quality; light and compact design; appropriate and usable manual controls

No eye-level viewfinder; requires a pass through the manual to understand operation; no internal lens cover; renders reds poorly; video looks washed out on computer

A well-designed hard-disk-based camcorder, the JVC Everio GZ-MG505 produces video and stills that look great on TV. But its price might make you hit Pause.

Expert review by:

JVC Everio-G Hybrid Camera GZ-MG505

 

Video recorders are a great way to capture those special times in your life, but their lack of recording time can get frustrating. It's no time to be running out of space when that key moment of the celebration is unfolding. Start recording everything...

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Expert review by:

Camcorder Review: JVC Everio GZ-MG505 Hard Drive Camcorder

 

JVC's GZ-MG505 is an update to its predecessor, the GZ-MG500. It still continues to be a user-friendly camcorder for beginning shooters while adding a few new features that will entertain shooters with a little more ambition. But the shooters who will...

Compact 3 CCDs 30GB HDD

No headphone jack Mediocre image stabilization Short battery life

The JVC GZ-MG505 is a convenient camcorder with a sleek look. Its improvements over its predecessor are notable enough to pique interest of beginning shooters who want a little bit more than the bare bones. For people looking for a simple point and...

Expert review by:

JVC's Everio: User-Friendly Only in Hand

 

The compact Everio GZ-MG505 camcorder captures quality video with ease, but transferring that footage to a PC can be tedious and confusing.

I learned a few things on my recent vacation to Hawaii. Laid-back island life is way nicer than the Silicon Valley rat race. Opening a coconut is harder than it looks on TV. Oh, yeah, this too: I really don't have a lot of use for a camcorder.Some...

Expert review by:

JVC GZ-MG505 Camcorder Review

 

The JVC GZ-MG505, long-awaited after several delays, represents the best of what their Everio series has to offer. This top of the line model has an impressive set of specs: 3 CCDs, pixel shifting for higher resolution, 5MP stills, 3D Noise Reduction,...

Consumer review by:

Been a good camera

 

Many people complain about the .MOD file format, but its just standard MPEG-2!!! Some editors will allow you to drop it straight in and recognize its a MPEG video stream, but for those that don't you can easily get around it by renaming the file...

Compact, lightweight, good battery life (I carry two batteries with me), quick transfer to computer, good automatic mode but not lacking in manual adjustments if needed

Problem with cutting out when exposed to loud noises, presumably due to vibrating the hard drive

Consumer review by:

JVC Everio GZ-MG505

 

Many people complain about the .MOD file format, but its just standard MPEG-2!!! Some editors will allow you to drop it straight in and recognize its a MPEG video stream, but for those that don't you can easily get around it by renaming the file...

Compact, lightweight, good battery life (I carry two batteries with me), quick transfer to computer, good automatic mode but not lacking in manual adjustments if needed

Problem with cutting out when exposed to loud noises, presumably due to vibrating the hard drive

Consumer review by:

JVC GZ-MG505

 

Last week I played with an HV10 at an Electronics retailer here in Tokyo, along side the MG505 and Sony HC3. The JVC cam did not impress me, except for its form factor. Considering you can get an HDV cam for not much more money, the MG505 seems a hard...

Consumer review by:

JVC GZ-MG505

 

A spare battery or longer life battery is strongly recommended with this camcorder,This is a great product by JVC. Im very happy with it.

Product Specifications

The new JVC Everio G Series GZ-MG505, like all Everio G Series camcorders, eliminates the need to carry tapes, discs or any media at all, yet can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video or more than 10 hours at DVD camcorder-quality. In Eco mode, over 37 hours worth of video can be shot without any need to eject or reload recording media. The GZ-MG505 sits at the top of the Everio G Series line because of its superior image quality, made possible by a 3-CCD imaging device that uses pixel-shift technology to deliver 5-megapixel quality. In addition to native full resolution 16: 9 (1173 x 660 x3 effective pixels) and 4: 3 DVD movie quality video with superior color rendition, this high-performance image sensor enables shooting of high-resolution JPEG photos of up to 2560 x 1920 pixels. And best of all, the hard disk's high capacity means that nearly 10, 000 photos can be shot without a second thought, with plenty of room left for hours of video, even at the highest quality settings. To take this many snapshots would require 416 rolls of 24-exposure film on a film camera, making the GZ-MG505 the ideal camcorder for vacations where traveling light is the priority. Despite the enormous storage capacity, the GZ-MG505 weighs-in at barely more than a pound (510 grams) including the battery and lens cap. It's small enough to easily take anywhere. Its classic camcorder-style design is topped off by a 2.7" widescreen 16: 9 LCD that accurately displays native 16: 9 videos while they are being shot, as well as during playback. A microphone input and accessory shoe provide flexibility to capture sound and attach lighting. And with multiple interfaces, high speed 12x USB 2.0 data transfer, and supplied software (Macintosh and Windows), it's easy to view and share all those wonderful memories.

Audio Input

Microphone Operation Mode:Stereo
Microphone Technology:Electret condenser
Type:Microphone

Battery

Battery Form Factor:Manufacturer specific
Manufacturer Battery Name:JVC BN-VF707

Camcorder Features

Widescreen Video Capture: Yes

Camera Flash

Type:Built-in flash

Digital Camera

Supported Flash Memory:SD Memory Card

Digital Storage Media

Type:Hard disk drive

Dimensions & Weight

Depth:4.9in
Height:2.9in
Weight:14.3oz/15.9oz
Width:2.9in

Display (Projector)

Diagonal Size:2.7in
Diagonal Size (metric):6.9cm
Display Form Factor:Built-in/Rotating
Technology:TFT active matrix
Type:LCD display

Exposure Parameters

Shooting Programs:Back light / Night mode / Spotlight / Twilight mode/Portrait mode/Snow / Sports mode / Spotlight / Twilight mode

Header

Manufacturer:JVC
Model:GZ-MG505/GZ-MG505EX/MG505US
Packaged Quantity:1
Product Line:JVC Everio/JVC GZ

Lens System

Lens Aperture:F/1.8-2.4
Max Focal Length:32mm
Min Focal Length:3.2mm
Optical Zoom:10
Type:Zoom lens

Optical Sensor

Camcorder Sensor Resolution:1.33Mpix/5Mpix
Optical Sensor Size:1/4.5"
Optical Sensor Size (metric):5.6 mm ( 1/4.5 ) / 5.6 mm ( 1/4.5" )
Optical Sensor Type:3CCD/CCD
Sensor Qty:3CCD

Optical System

Image Stabilizer:Electronic

Video Input

Analog Video Format:PAL
Digital Video Format:MPEG-2
Digital Zoom:300
Light Sensitivity:ISO 100 / ISO 200 / ISO 400
Media Type:Hard disk drive
Shooting Modes:Digital photo mode
Still Image Format:JPEG
Type:Camcorder

Viewfinder

Viewfinder Type: None
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