JVC releases its new WiFi-enabled Full HD digital camcorder, the Everio GZ-EX250 that is one of the company’s four WiFi-enabled 2012 Everio camcorders. The new model is equipped with a 1.5 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor with Super LoLux for enhanced low-light performance, a 40x optical zoom KONIA MINOLTA HD lens, and a 3-inch touchscreen LCD display.
With built-in WiFi, the camcorder includes several useful functions – Video Email allows 15-second video clips (640 x 360 pixels) to be sent directly from the Everio to up to eight email addresses; Live Monitoring allows real time monitoring on a smartphone or computer of images taken with the Everio; and Auto Photo Email automatically emails stills taken using Everio’s movement detection function to a computer or smartphone. Using the free apps for Android and iOS, you can transfer photos and videos to a smartphone for quick sharing via the internet. Smartphones with the app can pair with the camcorder and serves as a remote control, and even geotag photos and videos using the phone’s GPS.
The Everio EX250 records Full HD 1920×1080 videos in AVCHD format and does high quality recording in UXP mode with a 24 Mbps sampling rate. It includes Advanced Image Stabilizer for reducing camera shake, Intelligent AUTO mode, Smile Meter and Smile Shot, Pet Detection and Pet Shot, Time-Lapse REC & Auto REC and High-Speed Video Recording for Super Slow Motion Playback. There is a Silent Mode that lets the user mute camcorder sounds and darken the LCD for those times when unobtrusive recording is advised, such as when recording school plays or lectures. It sports built-in zoom mic.
In addition to internal 16GB memory, JVC’s EX250 WiFi camcorder also provides a SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot for expansion. It also has HDMI output for you to bring HD content to large-screen HDTVs. The JVC Everio GZ-EX250 is priced at $399.99.
You’re just reading from the promo literature. NONE of this works on this camera – I’ve had one for 3 days now. The WiFi does a windows-only interface with 17 drivers, and crashes every 30 secs. It does not show a normal shared drive so you can download/upload videos. The email interface is flaky, and fails most of the time. The movement based security feature crashes the camera when it tries to send an alert email. There is a 3 (three) page manual (4″x5″) that comes with it in 7 languages, and covers nothing of the unit’s operation. There are no further docs online. Some of the camera menus are still in Japanese. Low light filming doesn’t work because it cannot focus in low light. The camera’s built-in web server is broken, and takes over your network with it’s own configuration. It does not grab a typical IP address from your router like all other network equipement, and you cannot force an IP address. This camera is locked into 192.168.1.1 forever. The touch screen is an ugly ultra-low res, circa 1999. The touch screen itself requires enormous pressure for function, and it won’t be long before I push through the screen. JVC Tech Support has no clue about this new camera, and I was cut off 5 times in a row within a 1 hour period. One agent said “we don’t know anything about it either – it’s too new”. This camera will NOT work with a Mac. The included PC drivers will crash your PC. This camera follows no standards for WiFi, using instead proprietary protocols with non-existent functionality. There is no Bluetooth. The “Pet” function does not work, and controlling autofocus is impossible. The “Face Recognition” does not work. The Android app does not work – it’s made for JVC car stereos, and gives options for the camera like “switch to FM”. The iPhone app does not work with this camera. Other than that, this is a nice camera.