JVC’s new Everio, the GZ-HM550BUS comes with the trappings that we’ve come to usually expect from, well, JVC’s Everio line of compact camcorders: 32GBs of internal flash memory to keep it light, an SDHC card slot for quick and easy—not to mention cheap—expansion, a 10.6 megapixel sensor, and 1080p HD-quality video recording at 60 frames per second that’s way better than the basic 720p you’d normally get from a cheaper pocket camcorder. What’s interesting with this new model is the addition of a Bluetooth connection that lets you control the cam’s functions wirelessly with a smartphone.
The Controller App will let you wirelessly control the cam from a short distance away.
That Bluetooth connection will work with a paired smartphone (after installing the Everio Controller App), letting you use it as a remote. That means you don’t have to be the faceless cam-touting character at the beach party anymore, since the “remote” will let you put down the camera and control the shutter/record/zoom functions as well as show you what’s framed on-screen with a preview that’ll also show up on your phone from a short, Bluetooth-ranged distance.
The Bluetooth connection will also support A2DP profiles and geotagging, so that wireless connection will let you monitor sound while shooting or record your own voice using a paired BT headset. Pairing it with a GPS device will let you record location data on movies that you can later sync with Google Earth. And yes, it’ll also act like a regular BT connection for file transfers, which means you can transfer images straight to the paired phone.
Otherwise, it’s a solid HD camcorder all around, with the ability to snap 9MP (3520 x 2640) stills and in-cam tech that includes face detection, image stabilization, and a “dynamic” 16x zoom. Other highlights include time-lapse recording, a “Super LoLux” feature for shooting clear videos in low-light conditions, and a dedicated One Touch button for doing quick YouTube and iTunes uploads.
The Everio GZ-HM550BUS is now available for $800.
Tags: Bluetooth, Digital Camcorders, Everio, JVC, Smartphones
