Name: JVC GZ-R10A Quad Proof Everio Full HD Camcorder
What it is: a camcorder that is dustproof, freeze-proof (14 degrees Fahrenheit), shockproof (to 4.9 feet) and waterproof (to 16.4 feet), so it’s built for adventure. With a Konica Minolta lens, it features advanced image stabilization, face detection, etc. The 40x optical zoom and 60x dynamic zoom make it ideal for capturing wildlife or sports action from afar. It offers ultra-high-quality recording at 24 megabits per second, with a digital still mode of 2 to 10 megapixels. The LCD monitor is a touch screen, and the 4.5-hour internal quick-charging battery adds convenience.
The good: Apple CEO Tim Cook was wrong last fall when he said that the iPhone 6 makes video cameras obsolete. I love my iPhone 5s, but the Everio can withstand conditions my iPhone can’t, and it can zoom in on action my iPhone misses. Based on how well Everio performed in snow and frigid temperatures at Lake Louise and Niagara Falls last winter, Everio really is freeze-proof. It also withstood chilly rain in the Quebec wilderness, where I zoomed in on moose, bear and caribou. I have dropped it in parking lots, but nothing keeps this baby from shooting, including rough seas photographing humpback whales off the Boston shore. It has floated with me in swimming pools, and I’ll bet it would work in zero gravity.
The bad: I wish I could import stills and video directly to iMovie on my iMac from the SD card rather than needing to connect the camera to my Mac.
Cost: $399
Available from: http://www.bestbuy.com, http://www.bhphotovideo.com and http://www.cameta.com.
Gardner is a freelance reporter.
