JVC poised to kill its microdrive camcorders

DESPITE THE fall in prices and the ever growing storage capacity of CF microdrives, JVC has told the INQUIRER that the days of microdrive models of its "eVerio" camcorders are numbered.

This scribbler learned about the amazing microdrive based JVC camcorders about a year ago, thanks to HTML guru and former Netscape coder Daniel Glazman, who commented on the JVC GZ-MC500 on his blog. Since then, I have been watching the camera fall down in price, at the same time that microdrives became larger and cheaper as well.

The JVC Everio models with a CF slot allowing the user to insert either a microdrive or a compactflash memory card include the compact, two-megapixel GZMC100, the more robust and also two megapixel GZMC200 and their high-end sibling, the GZMC500, which adds a triple CCD for superb image quality and five megapixel resolution. To make these cameras even more enticing, web retailer Amazon has been offering as of last month a $300 "instant rebate" on the GZMC500, making it cheaper than the two megapixel version. Unfortunately, the promotion seems to be no longer in effect.

Recent promotion offering $300 off on the five megapixel, triple-CCD, ~$900-$1000 Everio with microdrive/CF slot

So, imagine my surprise when I inquired JVC UK about the microdrive camcorders and was told by Terry Shea, general manager of corporate communications for JVC America: "our one remaining Microdrive camcorder (GZ-MC500) is about to be discontinued, so I don't think it makes much sense to review it". Apparently, JVC is replacing the microdrive camcorders with models featuring an internal 30 GB or higher hard disk, like the GZMC500. Internal hard disk camcorders sell for approximately $1100 instead vs $900-$1000 for the Microdrive versions. The microdrive-flavoured GZMC500 also includes a 4GB microdrive worth around $100 in its $900-$1000 sale price, it should be noted.

I told JVC execs that I thought this was a horrible move. In my view, a camera with a CF slot like any of the Microdrive-flavoured Everio(s) let the owner use its existing CF media -from compactflash memory cards to affordable Seagate Microdrives in capacities of up to 8GB and beyond.

Yet, another JVC executive disagreed and defended the move. Niomi Jayasinghe PR officer for JVC UK told the INQUIRER "We don't see it that way. An embedded hard disk drive is much more beneficial to the consumer as you can store more footage on it than a microdrive. It's very expensive keeping spare microdrives".

Well, gee, what if I already have plenty of spare microdrives and CF cards? What if I want the flexibility of recording several projects on several media for quick "on the field" data transmission the old way - in other words handing over a CF card or microdrive to a colleague immediately after taping something?.

In other words, with a CF microdrive camcorder, you have the flexibility of separating the content from the camera, immediately. On the other hand, on the new models with an internal hard disk, you have to "download" video using the included USB 2.0 connector and cable when the internal storage fills up, and although USB 2.0 is fast, you certainly need to carry a laptop around to offload content. JVC says the new GZ-MG505 allows recording up to 10 hours at "DVD camcorder quality", and apparently -to paraphrase Bill Gates' famous "640 Kbytes ought to be enough" quote of MS-DOS fame, the electronics manufacturer things 30GB is all the recording capacity you will ever need.

I certainly hope JVC reconsiders and keeps the microdrive camcorders alive. At the $600-$700 promotional price it has been selling recently, the everio MC-500 was (is) very attractive. So, if this camera looks enticing to you as well and it's on your "wish list", get it while you can, because JVC clearly thinks otherwise. µ

See also
Seagate makes waves in Microdrive market
Seagate's Photo Hard Drives are True Microdrives
Former Netscape HTML guru comments why he's in love with his JVC GZ-MC500 Everio