I have always been a big fan of GoPro cameras – well the Everio Quad Proof video camera is sort of the GoPro of “camcorders.” Unlike the GoPro, which has a separate case that makes it waterproof, the Everio Quad Proof camera is so durable that the camera as it is can go underwater, in snow, dust storms, and won’t get damaged if it is accidentally dropped. A great camera for all you outdoorsy types that don’t want the elements to prevent you from getting the perfect shot. I had a chance to test drive one and here’s what I found.
I already have a Panasonic SDR-H100 camcorder which is almost identical in size with the Everio, plus I have used a GoPro several times so I have something to compare the Everio to. My son has a GoPro for all his action adventures, which I have borrowed a few times when scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or cycling. It is a great camera for all those activities. I was amazed at how clear the picture was regardless of how fast I was moving, and it shot awesome under water scuba video with very good sound. Because of the wide-angle lens on it I did have trouble taking the still pictures I wanted – but I guess it wasn’t designed for that.
The JVC Everio Quad ProofIt doesn’t look much different than my regular Panasonic camcorder, so you wouldn’t know its rugged nature by simply looking at it. Like most modern camcorders, it is nice and small so easily fits in the palm of your hand. Upon closer look, the Everio has a lot fewer buttons, which helps keep it waterproof. It essentially has two controls, the record button and zoom in/out button, and a touch screen for everything else.
Features
The best feature is how rugged this camera is. Totally waterproof down to 5 meters. Dustproof so you can survive the odd wilderness safari or dust storms. I like the fact it is shockproof so if you accidentally drop it, or it gets banged around while traveling the camera will survive without expensive repair bills. They say it is freeze proof to -10° Celsius, but the trouble is my hands aren’t and it is harder to operate the camera with my winter gloves on. I usually don’t think of cameras not functioning in the cold, but then again I haven’t taken too many shots in a real deep freeze. I think more to the point is you can drop it in the snow and it won’t hurt it.
There are other noteworthy features worth mentioning like the zoom. It has a 40X optical zoom, which they enhance to 60X through a digital zoom. I tested out the zoom on the camera and it worked pretty well, not losing any clarity as the camera zoomed in and out. The thing I didn’t like about it was the zoom button itself. The zoom button is a toggle on the top. I could easily reach it but it took a little bit of practice before I was able to push it back and forth with jerking the camera a bit at the start. My Panasonic is a lot easier because the toggle is a smaller button that requires a lot less force to move back and forth.
Another good feature is what JVC calls Super Lo Lux, which is a fancy way of saying it can handle low light conditions and still take a clear picture with good colour. It is also a full 1080p HD and has image stabilization which will keep the picture clear even if you are a little shaky holding it. You can also take still pictures with the JVC Everio Quad Proof with a 10 megapixel image size which is more than adequate to get a nice shot. The nice thing about stills with the camcorder is the fact you can zoom in or out to get exactly the shot you want, which is something you can’t do very well with your Smartphone or even the GoPro that I raved about earlier.
Battery life on the Everio claims to be up to 4.5 hours with its lithium-ion battery. I didn’t get a chance to test out the exact life of my unit but I have to say the battery didn’t appear to be draining quickly. The only issue is that the battery is self-contained so you can’t buy a extra spare battery to plug in when your battery dies. I guess another one of the costs of being waterproof. With the GoPro, because the waterproofing is from the external case, you can carry spare batteries that allow you to keep shooting when one dies.
Sound
The Everio Quad Proof has a microphone in the front of the camera, right underneath the lens. I found the sound was adequate, but not that great. I felt it was slightly muffled compared to my Panasonic, but the sound is clear enough to understand which is more than adequate for home movies. One nice feature is what they call “auto wind cut” that automatically turns on when the conditions are windy. It eliminates that background hiss that can be associated with wind blowing across the microphone. I tested that out and thought it was pretty effective at getting rid of any wind hiss.
Picture Quality
I filmed a variety of different videos, nothing fancy, but was able to test it indoors in low light, and in a variety of changing lights, and outdoors in different conditions. In comparison to my Panasonic the picture quality was about the same – decent but not super clear. I did find that it isn’t up to the same standard as the GoPro films that I have shot in the past.
I noticed a few other things. When I was walking around my house with it, a little movement caused a slight loss in clarity. The same held true in low light. The camera did a great job of making a dark scene lighter but there was a slight loss of clarity – kind of like going from HD to standard definition. In other words, not blurry but not crystal clear if that makes sense.
The camera has a few special effects, besides being able to record under water. For instance, it can do time-lapse recordings – which you can set at 1, 5, 20, and 80 second intervals. It also has three other recording effects: a grainy monochrome that basically films in a rougher black and white; a food mode that accents the colours to make the food look more appetizing (Merry Xmas!); and a baby mode which brings out the skin tones.
What I liked and didn’t like
I loved the durability of the Everio and the fact it films under water. If you snorkel or dive or just don’t want to worry about filming in the rain or under a waterfall, this will work well. I remember many a time with my Panasonic huddling over it so it doesn’t get too wet in a rain shower. I also really liked the touch screen control. The interface on it is very easy to use as the menus are intuitive making navigation simple. The screen has a tougher film on it so it isn’t as sensitive as most touch screens but that is no problem.
I didn’t like the design of the zoom button, although after a while I could use it without jostling the camera. I would like the picture and sound to be slightly better, as it isn’t nearly as good as the GoPro. Having said that, it is about the same as my Panasonic so if I was to compare camcorders the Everio is a better, more versatile machine.
Overall, if you are in the market for a camcorder, this is very good value. It is reasonably priced, performs well, and has better durability than you will find in most machines. It is not totally fair to compare it to a GoPro as that it is designed for a bit different market – the action adventurer that needs to mount it on a surfboard, helmet, chest strap, etc. Although the GoPro has a better quality picture, it won’t zoom or take as good still shots like the Everio camcorder. If you are looking for an adventure camera, get the GoPro – it is awesome. If you are looking for a durable family camcorder with lots of outdoor flexibility, the Everio is an excellent choice.
