The completely tapeless Microdrive format lets you choose higher video quality or longer shooting times.

Store more photos than you ever thought possible on the included 4GB Microdrive card.

Until now, tapeless formats have been severely limited in the length and quality of video capacity, but the Everio's Microdrive lets you shoot up to 60 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 video--and even more in lower resolution modes. A selection of recording modes lets you choose more quality or more shooting time. The highest quality ULTRA mode records at a constant bit rate of 8.88 Mbps with AC 3 audio -- comparable to the DVD data rate (average 4 Mbps video/9.8 Mbps maximum). Essentially what you get is DVD quality, with the same video and audio format as a movie DVD. And the number of still photos that will fit on the Microdrive card is nothing less than awe-inspiring: More than 5000 of the highest resolution images (1600x1200 fine).

2.12 Megapixel CCD
This 1/3.6" CCD with a total of 2.12 million pixels (effective: 1.23 million for moving pictures, 2 million for still pictures) offers the high resolution capabilities needed for high quality digital videography and photography. And the Megabrid Engine applies separate, optimized processing to moving and still images, for videos with a high signal-to-noise ratio, and high-resolution still pictures.

Versatile, Lossless Data
Store what you've shot on the provided Microdrive card, optional CompactFlash or SD Memory Cards. size as a CompactFlash card, but with many Gigabytes of capacity. You can eject the Microdrive card, just as you would a CompactFlash or SD Memory Card, and load data into your PC via optional card adapter. Or simply connect the camera via its USB2.0 interface for quick downloading to a PC. All transfer is digital-to-digital, so you won't lose any quality in the process.

DVD Creation & Sharing

Three advanced applications are provided: Power Producer offers easy saving (authoring) of your video clips in any order to DVD, even right from a USB-connected camera, so you can share your original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player. Power Director offers feature-rich non-linear editing so you can flex your creative muscle with titles, effects, and even mix still with videos. Power DVD for easy video clip and DVD playback with AC 3 audio.

Multi-Format Support
In addition to making it easy to create DVDs, the supplied software converts to a variety of file formats for distribution via the Web or by e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed over the Internet.

Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.0

Rating - 1 Date: 2007-11-19
Content: I bought this camera to video my new born, and catch him in all his new stages. I now have a lot of video I can only view on my computer. It records ok in full sun and very badly in poor light. But the biggest problem is that all files are MOD files and most software will not recognize MOD, so you have to convert it. Now, I am not super techno savvy but I am not a dolt either, and I had a good deal of trouble managing this. Then if you want to add music or anything the software bundle that they include is truly pathetic. And then it is nearly impossible to take what you have made and play it on anything else. Do not buy this camera unless you know exactly what and how to do things. Look for a more layman-friendly product.


Summary: product just ok - using it is a nightmare

Rating - 5 Date: 2007-01-14
Content: It does have excellent video quality - without the hassles transfering video that I've seen on my older dvdcam (card reader = video download)

It doesn't shoot the quality of photos that my old Lumix will. Great for snapshots when you just need a portable camera and camcorder and just don't feel like packing two.

Low light conditions have limitations, but similar to regular camcorders in darkness of video.

No mount for external camcorder light.

Very small, fits the hand better than the MC100 by JVC.

Similar in size to JVCs hard drive only camcorders, but you can access video and photos without connecting to this camcorder (by removing the CF and SD cards).
Summary: Small, Portable, Great If You Accept The Limitations

Rating - 1 Date: 2006-07-03
Content: it's just to small. good video and small camera do not go hand in hand.
Summary: to small

Rating - 5 Date: 2006-06-20
Content: This is a great camcorder. Ray Price is incorrect on the 4 gig limit as I am running a high speed 8 gig cf card and it works fine. I get 2 hours 9 minutes out of the card on ultra fine and about 30% less battery drain than the micro drive. I really like this camcorder.
Summary: Please be accurate with you information on the GZ-MC200

Rating - 5 Date: 2006-04-16
Content: Of course you've already read the con's about low light performance, but you can fix this by setting the "M" mode (manual) to "Cloudy" and selecting 1/30-1/60th shutter speed. I use 1/30th - and it's works like a charm.

Honestly, anyone who complains about low-light problems must be referring to shooting in near total darkness because with 1 20 watt bulb in the room, the lighting is sufficient.

It's true it gets warm... but so does my PocketPC when it's writing to its media card or when it's processing a large application continuously. That's to be expected. If you're going to be shooting something long (like a wedding) then it might be a problem -- but for the average 10-30 minute shooting, it's not a problem at all.

The video quality is EXCEPTIONAL, DVD-quality video. You'll be amazed that, despite the size of this camcorder (it literally does fit in the palm of your hand... 3 1/2 inches in length... tiny), it really produces exceptionally clear footage that you wouldn't expect from such a tiny camera! All in all, an excellent unit eventhough JVC has come out with 40 GB camcorders now for $300 more. Why bother? Just get this cheaper camera and a few extra microdrives or SD cards (they're not THAT expensive like people are saying... prices have really dropped on media). You'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you're not keeping all of your video footage in "one basket" -- and you can spread out your footage. A superb camcorder (and an excellent 2 megapixel camera, too!)
Summary: Excellent! More than pleased... and still just as good as the newer, more expensive larger-capacity JVC models.