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The sleek and intuitive Everio GZ-MG155 ($600 as of April 26, 2007) fits comfortably in your hand, in part because it stores files on a 30GB hard drive rather using a bulky DVD drive. Of course, that arrangement means that you have to transfer files to a PC for backup in order to make room for newer video on the camcorder. No problem: The GZ-MG155 supports one-button transfer to of video files to your PC. You can also hook it up directly (via USB cable) to a computer-based DVD burner to create backups, bypassing the PC entirely.
The GZ-MG155's controls include a switch for toggling between video and camera modes, a play/record button on the side, a joystick, and function and index controls on the LCD panel. The basic controls are quite intuitive. Entering Play mode gives you easy access to recorded movie and still-image files; as with any other hard drive model, there's no rewinding or waiting for data to be written.
Switching to manual operation gives you more options, of course, though you must navigate some tricky nested menus to activate that mode. Manipulating a delicate miniature joystick on the LCD bezel lets you adjust white balance, add certain effects (such as sepia or strobe), manage files, or adjust zoom settings. The zoom lever atop the body controls the optical 32X zoom, which is fine for most purposes; the additional 64X and 800X digital zoom extensions cause images to devolve quickly into severely pixelated and unrecognizable images.
The GZ-MG155 earned a rating of Very Good for its video quality, with accurate colors under various lighting conditions. The camcorder comes with five white-balance presets, including a manual setting you can use to calibrate the white balance under difficult lighting conditions. If you don't need top-notch resolution, you can switch to one of the four lower-quality settings to save disc space. Still images left a lot to be desired, unfortunately, earning an overall score of Poor.
The GZ-MG155's low-light assist lamp worked almost perfectly in informal testing when the camcorder moved from bright to low-light areas. It has a single USB port in the front, and composite-out in the back, but you also get a well-designed docking station with outputs for USB, composite, FireWire, and S-Video. This dock reduces cable clutter when you want to set your camcorder up at your PC, and you can use it to charge the GZ-MG155's battery. (Alternatively you can charge the battery without using the dock.) The handy remote control gives you access to all functions.
Bundled software includes CyberLink's PowerCinema, PowerDirector, and PowerProducer programs (for playing and editing video), as well as programs for managing video and still-photo files and for creating DVD and hard-drive backups (all of which support Windows XP, but not Vista). This camera is an excellent choice for users who want a versatile camcorder that won't require them to burn DVDs constantly, and who want access to manual controls for more precise videography.
John Poultney
