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JVC Picsio GC-FM2
Review: JVC Picsio GC-FM2 (MPEG-4)
The Flip video camera kick-started the trend for pocket-sized USB video cameras, and now all the main brands are in the same space. Not to be left out of this expanding market, JVC now pitches in with the Picsio GC-FM2. Here’s what we think of it.
Which colour is you? JVC's Picsio GC-FM2 range
Despite the fact that so-called HD pocketcams have been in the marketplace for quite some time now, we’ve tended to ignore them on SimplyDV. That’s not only a pity but is perhaps a bit silly given the demand for products that easily fit into a pocket or bag and which are not only easy to use but facilitate the recording of full high definition video and stills to solid-state memory cards.
So, to redress the balance, we decided to check out JVC’s latest addition to its Picsio sub-brand range – the GC-FM2.
First Impressions
It’s small, it’s slinky and it looks easy to use. If you’re particular about things like the colour of the camera matching that of your favourite bag or shoes then you have a choice of three colours – black, green or yellow. And if you’ve got used to using a touch-screen LCD panel on a smartphone, you’ll find the FM2′s screen to your liking.
The JVC Picsio GC-FM2's 3-inch touch-panel LCD screen
You can shoot still pictures and HD video in a range of quality settings. These are stored on a suitable SD, SDHC or even SDXC memory card and uploaded to a Windows PC or Apple Mac either by removing the card and inserting it into a separate reader or by simply plugging the camera into one of the computer’s USB sockets. Having done so, you’ll be able to import video and stills prior to tidying them up in an editing program, burning them to CD or DVD and even uploading them to YouTube.
The camera charges up quickly and it’s really easy to be recording decent quality HD video in a matter of seconds – which, for many, is the way it should be.
Features
The GC-FM2 uses a 1/3.2″ CMOS image sensor to generate 5.13 megapixels video and stills images. Video is encoded as MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and written to optional SD, SDHC or SDXC memory cards. Audio and still pictures are encoded as AAC and JPG respectively.
The camera’s 3″ touch-panel LCD screen on the rear makes it easy to select options and users of smartphones will be able to adapt to shooting video and stills with the FM2 with ease. It has a 4x digital zoom, fixed focus 39mm lens with an f-stop rating of F2.8. Full auto and manual control of White Balance and Face Priority (AE/Touch AE) is provided for.
The recording modes offered by the JVC Picsio GC-FM2 are as follows:
- HD 1080 (25fps): 12Mbps
- HD 720 (50fps): 12Mbps
- iFrame (25fps): 24Mbps
- QHD (25fps): 5Mbps
All modes use the MPEG-4/AVC H.264 video compression system. Stereo audio is compressed using the AAC codec. All video compression rates are VBR (Variable Bit Rate).
The camera can accomodate the highest-capacity SDXC memory cards, meaning that the user has access to up to 64GB of memory storage on a single card. This would provide 11 hours and 40 minutes of recording at the highest quality when using the HD 1080 setting (1920×1080, 12Mbps VBR, 25fps). If a 4GB card were to be used instead, the recording time drops to 40 minutes.
Alternatively, users can select the HD 720 (1280×720, 12Mbps VBR, 25fps) setting – which will provide 5 hours 50 minutes on a 64GB SDXC card – or QHD (960×540, 5Mbps VBR, 25fps) which provides for 1 hour 40 minutes of recording time.
Interestingly, JVC has now seen fit to incorporate Apple’s iFrame (960×540, 24Mbps VBR, 25fps) option which makes it much easier to import and edit video clips with Apple’s own range of computers. The FM2 is compatible with iTunes in order to facilitate easy import and sharing of clips, as well as making it easy to upload clip sequences to YouTube. Simple timelapse recording is possible, as is in-camera editing of clips within the camera itself when using the camera’s touch-screen menu system.
JVC Picsio GC-FM2 touch-panel screen plus USB plug
Connectivity with external PCs and Macs is achieved thanks to a built-in USB 2.0 plug. This is concealed during general usage and storage but which slides out of the lower body when needing to plug it in. To help with physical connectivity, JVC conveniently provides a short USB extension cable for this purpose.
Finally, a mini HDMI socket is provided for direct connection to a suitable HDTV display in addition to a Yellow, Red and White analogue cable is provided to enable playback as standard definition video and audio.
General Handling and Useability
As you’d expect from a model whose maker is claiming ease-of-use and a fun experience as the primary selling points of models in this category, the FM2 is indeed very easy to handle and use. In fact, things could hardly be easier; simply pull it out, switch it on, frame your picture and hit the red button in the middle of the LCD screen.
That said, there’s a problem inherent with the LCD touch-panel itself. As we found when using the camera at a sunny Norfolk beach location in early September, it’s incredibly difficult to see the screen when the sun’s light is strong. When you’re actually recording, the red button (or, perhaps, the image of a red button in the centre of the screen) pulsates in a red hue. However, it’s not always possible to see anything at all – with the result that you’ll find yourself recording when you didn’t think you were and not recording when you assume that you are. It’s very frustrating. In approximately 40 mins of footage overall, we counted over 6 minutes of “gash” clips – usually of feet walking along a path or beach – which is not good for someone who’s been shooting video professionally for more than 30 years.
If you use an iPhone or Andriod phone you’ll no doubt be used to a touch-screen that’s still reasonably clear in bright sunlight; unfortunately, the JVC screen here is no match and needs a rethink.
That apart, we found the menu system and overall graphical user interface to be highly user-friendly – and we liked certain touches like the “Coverflow”-like navigation and clip search tool as is commonly found in iTunes and the like.
The FM2 makes transfer of video clips and still pictures to PC and Mac very easy – simply plug it in and follow the prompts. The ease with which the camera now interfaces with Apple Macs is commendable; not only do we like the ability to interface easily with iTunes on Windows and Mac but the inclusion of Apple’s iFrame codec is a definite plus that allows easy import to Apple-based video editing applications like iMovie, Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro.
Conclusion
It’s a great little video camera that lives up to its promises. Complete beginners will love the ease with which they can be shooting full 1920×1080/25p HD video in an instant, and the resulting quality at the highest resolution is very good indeed – especially when playing out via mini HDMI cable (not included with the camera) to a good HDTV display.
The camera itself tends to lift the colours to a level which – in the case of reds, particularly – is a little bit high, and you’ll notice some blocky image compression artefacts when the camera is moved quickly during recording. However, resolution is generally good when light levels are high and shots are reasonably static. Certainly, the pictures and microphone sound of the clips we recorded on the beach were very good – even the sound was crisp and clear despite a very light wind of a kind that normally batters built-in microphones. Of all the recording options, we actually preferred the HD 720p mode to the full HD 1080 option simply because the images were a bit more mellow and pleasing to the eye when viewed on a 42″ HDTV display.
Verdict: Very good and good value for money overall – but JVC really needs to take a second look at the LCD screen.
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Summary: JVC Picsio FM2
- 1920 x 1080P Full HD Video with HDMI Output
- 1/3.2″ CMOS image sensor
- iFrame Mode compatible with Apple Macs for editing and sharing
- 5 Megapixel Digital Stills
- Digital Image Stabiliser
- 4x Digital Zoom
- Time-Lapse Recording Mode
- SD/SDHC/SDXC Card Slot
- USB Battery Charging
Reviewed by Colin Barrett, SimplyDV. Text copyright Colin Barrett/SimplyDV Ltd 2010. Main product images courtesy JVC UK Ltd.
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