JVC Gzmg21u Instruction Manual

							EN 61
IndicationMeaning

NUMBER OF FOLDERS 
OVERFLOW●Appears when the number of folders exceeds the limit for 
file copy/move operation.–
MEMORY CARD ERROR! 
REINSERT CARD OR CHANGE 
CARD.●Appears when the camera does not recognize the loaded 
SD card. Remove the card once and insert it again or 
replace with another card. 15
FILE SYSTEM MAY HAVE 
PROBLEM. FORMAT IS 
RECOMMENDED AFTER 
COPYING WANTED DATA.●The file system of the recording medium may have a 
problem. It is recommended to copy the data for backup 
purposes, then format the medium. 39
VIDEO MANAGEMENT FILE IS 
BROKEN. TO RECORD/
PLAYBACK VIDEO, 
RECOVERY IS REQUIRED. 
RECOVER?●The video management file is broken. Recovery is 
required to record or play back video files. Press  /  to 
select [YES], then press 49 to recover the video 
management file. If the desired video file is not displayed 
on the video index screen in spite of the file recovery, the 
file has been moved to the [EXTMOV] folder. Press the 
REC/SNAP button on the index screen to display [MPG], 
and then select the desired file.29
NO VIDEO MANAGEMENT FILEVIDEO FILES HAVE BEEN 
MOVED TO MPEG FOLDER●The data cannot be recorded properly, or the video 
management file has been deleted or cannot be found. 
Video files have been moved to MPEG (EXTMOV) folder.29
CAN NOT READ EVENT 
INFORMATION●Appears when the event information cannot be read.–
PLAYLIST’S MANAGEMENT 
INFORMATION IS BROKEN. 
REMAKE PLAYLIST AGAIN.●The management information of the playlist is broken. 
Create the playlist again.42
NO REGISTERED SCENES IN 
PLAYLIST. SOME OF SCENES 
MAY NOT BE PLAYED BACK.●The video files registered in the playlist do not exist. Some 
of the scenes may not be played back.–
REGISTERED SCENES IN 
PLAYLIST IS EMPTY. THIS 
PLAYLIST WILL BE DELETED.●There are no scenes registered in the playlist. The playlist 
will be deleted.–
CAMERA TEMPERATURE IS 
GOING UP. TURN CAMERA 
OFF, PLEASE WAIT.●The temperature of the camera is too high. Turn off the 
power, then wait for a while.–
CAMERA TEMPERATURE IS 
TOO LOW. KEEP CAMERA 
POWER ON, PLEASE WAIT.●The temperature of the camera is too low. Keep the power 
on and wait for a while.–
FURTHER INFORMATION
M6E3US.book  Page 61  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							62 ENWarning Indications (Continued)
Before cleaning, turn off the camera and remove the battery pack and AC adapter.
To clean the exterior
Wipe gently with a soft cloth. If the camera is particularly dirty, dip the cloth into diluted mild soap 
and wring it out well before wiping. Then wipe again with a dry cloth.
To clean the LCD monitor
Wipe gently with a soft cloth. Be careful not to damage the monitor.
To clean the lens
Wipe gently with lens cleaning paper.
IndicationMeaning

RECORDING FAILURE●Performance of recording medium is poor. Use the 
Cleanup function [CLEAN UP] in the menu.
●The writing speed of recording medium is slow, or the 
recording medium is corrupted. Use an SD card that is 
guaranteed to operate.
●The recording medium was subjected to vibrations or jolts. 
Be careful not to subject the recording medium to 
vibrations or jolts.
●Appears when the built-in hard disk is full and recording is 
not possible. Delete unnecessary files.
●Appears when the SD card is full and recording is not 
possible.
Replace with new recording medium or delete 
unnecessary files.40
3
15
–
36
36
RECORDING MAY NOT BE 
CORRECT ON THE MEMORY 
CARD●The data may not be recorded on the recording medium 
correctly. Try recording again.
●Otherwise, clean up the recording medium.–
40
MEMORY CARD CANNOT BE 
PLAYED BACK CORRECTLY●The recording medium cannot be played back correctly. Try 
playback again.–
CANNOT USE IN VIDEO MODE●The operation is not available in the video mode.–
DROP DETECTION WORKED 
AND THE POWER IS TURNED 
OFF●The drop detection function operated, and the power was 
turned off. The file that was being recorded may have been 
saved into the [EXTMOV] folder.29
51
Cleaning the Camera
NOTES:●Avoid using strong cleaning agents such as benzine or alcohol.
●Cleaning should be done only after the battery pack has been removed or other power units have been 
disconnected.
●Mold may form if the lens is left dirty.
●When using a cleaner or chemically treated cloth, refer to the cautions for each product.
M6E3US.book  Page 62  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							EN 63 Cautions
When using the AC adapter in areas other than 
the USA
The provided AC adapter features automatic 
voltage selection in the AC range from 110 V to 
240 V.
USING HOUSEHOLD AC PLUG ADAPTER
In case of connecting the unit’s power cord to an 
AC wall outlet other than American National 
Standard C73 series type use an AC plug adapter, 
called a “Siemens Plug”, as shown.
For this AC plug adapter, consult your nearest JVC 
dealer.
The supplied battery 
pack is a lithium-ion 
battery. Before using 
the supplied battery 
pack or an optional 
battery pack, be sure 
to read the following 
cautions:
●To avoid hazards
 ...do not bur n.
 ...do not short-circuit the terminals. When 
transporting, make sure the provided battery 
cap is attached to the battery. If the battery cap 
is misplaced, carry the battery in a plastic bag.
 ...do not modify or disassemble.
 ...do not expose the battery to temperatures 
exceeding 60°C (140°F), as this may cause the 
battery to overheat, explode or catch fire.
 ... use only specified chargers.
●To prevent damage and prolong service life
 ... do not subject to unnecessary shock.
 ... charge in an environment where temperatures 
are within the tolerances shown in “Temperature 
range specifications” (
pg. 63). This is a 
chemical reaction type battery — cooler 
temperatures impede chemical reaction, while 
warmer temperatures can prevent complete 
charging.
 ... store in a cool, dry place. Extended exposure to 
high temperatures will increase natural 
discharge and shorten service life.
 ... fully charge and then fully discharge the battery 
every 6 months when storing the battery pack 
over a long period time.
 ... remove from charger or powered unit when not 
in use, as some machines use current even 
when switched off.
NOTES:●It is recommended that only genuine JVC 
batteries are used in this camera. Using generic 
non-JVC batteries can cause damage to the 
internal charging circuitry.
●It is normal for the battery pack to be warm after 
charging, or after use.
Temperature range specifications
Charging: 10°C to 35°C (50°F to 95°F)
Operation: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Storage: –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F)
●The lower the temperature, the longer the 
recharging takes.
DANGER! Do not attempt to take the batteries 
apart, or expose them to flame or excessive heat, 
as it may cause a fire or explosion.
WA R N I N G ! Do not allow the battery or its 
terminals to come in contact with metals, as this 
can result in a short circuit and possibly start a fire.
To resume the original function of the accurate 
battery power indication
If the battery power indication differs from the 
actual operating time, fully charge the battery, and 
then run it down. However this function may not 
work properly if the battery was used for a long 
period of time under extremely high/low 
temperature condition or charged too many times.
●Be sure to follow the guidelines below to 
prevent corruption or damage to your 
recorded data.
 Do not bend or drop the recording medium, or 
subject it to strong pressure, jolts or vibrations.
 Do not splash the recording medium with water.
 Do not use, replace, or store the recording 
medium in locations that are exposed to strong 
static electricity or electrical noise.
 Do not turn off the camera power or remove the 
battery or AC adapter during shooting, 
playback, or when otherwise accessing the 
recording medium.
 Do not bring the recording medium near objects 
that have a strong magnetic field or that emit 
strong electromagnetic waves.
 Do not store the recording medium in locations 
with high temperature or high humidity.
 Do not touch the metal parts.
●Copy the recorded files to your PC. JVC shall 
not be responsible for any lost data. (It is 
recommended that you copy the data from 
your PC to DVD or other media for storage.)
●A malfunction may cause the recording 
medium to fail to operate properly. JVC shall 
not provide any compensation for any lost 
contents.
AC Adapter
Battery Packs
Plug Adapter
Te r m i n a l s
Recording Medium
FURTHER INFORMATION
M6E3US.book  Page 63  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							64 ENCautions (Continued)
●Do not strike or shake the hard disk.
●When the camera is repaired or inspected, 
data may be erased, and the hard disk may be 
formatted. Back up all data before requesting 
repair or inspection.
●Play back your trial recording to make sure the 
video and audio have been recorded properly.
●When formatting or erasing data using the 
camera, only the file administration 
information is changed. The data is not 
completely erased from the hard disk. If you 
want to completely erase all of the data, we 
recommend either using commercially 
available software that is specially designed 
for that purpose, or by physically destroying 
the camera with a hammer etc.
●To prevent damage to the LCD monitor, DO 
NOT
 ... push it strongly or apply any shocks.
 ... place the camera with LCD monitor on the 
bottom.
●To prolong service life ... avoid rubbing it with coarse cloth.●The following phenomena for LCD monitor 
use are not malfunctions.
 ... While using the camera, the surface around the 
LCD monitor may heat up.
 ... If you leave power on for a long time, the surface 
around the LCD monitor becomes hot.
●For safety, DO NOT ... open the camera’s chassis.
 ... disassemble or modify the unit.
 ... short-circuit the terminals of the battery pack. 
Keep it away from metallic objects when not in 
use.
 ... allow inflammables, water or metallic objects to 
enter the unit.
 ... remove the battery pack or disconnect the power 
supply while the power is on.
 ... leave the battery pack attached when the camera 
is not in use.
 ... place naked flame sources, such as lighted 
candles, on the apparatus.
 ... expose the apparatus to dripping or splashing.
●Avoid using the unit ... in places subject to excessive humidity or dust.
 ... in places subject to soot or steam such as near a 
cooking stove.
 ... in places subject to excessive shock or vibration.
 ... near a television set.
 ... near appliances generating strong magnetic or 
electric fields (speakers, broadcasting antennas, 
etc.).
 ... in places subject to extremely high (over 40°C or 
104°F) or extremely low (under 0°C or 32°F) 
temperatures.
●DO NOT leave the unit ... in places of over 50°C (122°F).
 ... in places where humidity is extremely low (below 
35%) or extremely high (above 80%).
 ... in direct sunlight.
 ... in a closed car in summer.
 ... near a heater.
 ... in high places such as on a TV. Leaving the unit in 
high places while a cable is connected may result 
in a malfunction if the cable is caught and the unit 
falls onto the floor.
●To protect the unit, DO NOT ... allow it to become wet.
 ... drop the unit or strike it against hard objects.
 ... subject it to shock or excessive vibration during 
transportation.
 ... keep the lens directed at extremely bright objects 
for long periods.
 ... expose the lens to direct sunlight.
 ... swing it excessively when using the hand strap.
 ... swing the soft camera case excessively when the 
camera is inside it.
Recording Medium (Continued)
LCD Monitor
Main Unit
M6E3US.book  Page 64  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							EN 65
●Take care not to soil or scratch the mirror surface 
(opposite to the printed surface). Do not write 
anything or put a sticker on either the front or 
back surface. If the CD-ROM gets dirty, gently 
wipe it with a soft cloth outward from the center 
hole.
●Do not use conventional disc cleaners or 
cleaning spray.
●Do not bend the CD-ROM or touch its mirror 
surface.
●Do not store your CD-ROM in a dusty, hot or 
humid environment. Keep it away from direct 
sunlight.
Serious malfunctioning
How to Handle a CD-ROM
If malfunctioning occurs, stop using the unit 
immediately and consult your local JVC dealer.
When requesting repairs for malfunctioning by 
your dealer or JVC service center, be sure to 
bring your camera together with the recording 
medium. If one of them is not included, the 
cause cannot be diagnosed, and the repair 
cannot be made properly.
The camera is a microcomputer-controlled 
device. External noise and interference (from a 
TV, a radio, etc.) might prevent it from 
functioning properly. In such cases, first 
disconnect its power supply unit (battery pack, 
AC adapter, etc.) and wait a few minutes and 
then re-connect it and proceed as usual from 
the beginning.
Declaration of Conformity
Model Number : GZ-MG21U
Trade Name : JVC
Responsible party : JVC AMERICAS 
CORP.
Address : 1700 Valley Road 
Wayne, N. J. 07470
Telephone Number : 973-317–5000
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions: (1) This device may not cause 
harmful interference, and (2) this device must 
accept any interference received, including 
interference that may cause undesired 
operation.
Changes or modifications not approved by 
JVC could void the user’s authority to operate 
the equipment. This equipment has been 
tested and found to comply with the limits for a 
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of 
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to 
provide reasonable protection against harmful 
interference in a residential installation. This 
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate 
radio frequency energy and, if not installed 
and used in accordance with the instructions, 
may cause harmful interference to radio 
communications. However, there is no 
guarantee that interference will not occur in a 
particular installation. If this equipment does 
cause harmful interference to radio or 
television reception, which can be determined 
by turning the equipment off and on, the user 
is encouraged to try to correct the interference 
by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the 
equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a 
circuit different from that to which the 
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/ 
TV technician for help.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with 
Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est 
conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
FURTHER INFORMATION
M6E3US.book  Page 65  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							66 ENSpecifications
Power supply
DC 11 V (Using AC adapter)
DC 7.2 V (Using battery pack)
Power consumption
Approx. 3.9 (4.1)* W
* When using the LED light
Approx. 6.5 W (Maximum; when charging a 
battery)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
68 mm x 69 mm x 109 mm
(2-11/16 x 2-3/4 x 4-5/16)
Weight
Approx. 340 g (0.75 lbs)
(without battery, lens cap and strap)
Approx. 400 g (0.89 lbs)
(incl. battery, lens cap and strap)
Operating temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Operating humidity
35% to 80%
Storage temperature
–20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F)
Pickup
1/6 (680,000 pixels) CCD
Lens
F 2.0 to 4.5, f = 2.3 mm to 73.6 mm, 32:1 power 
zoom lens
Filter diameter
ø30.5 mm
LCD monitor
2.5 diagonally measured, LCD panel/TFT active 
matrix system
Speaker
Monaural
LED Light
Within 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
(recommended shooting distance)
Format
SD-VIDEO
Recording/Playback format
Video: MPEG-2
Audio: Dolby Digital (2 ch)
Signal format
NTSC standard
Recording mode (video)
ULTRA FINE: 720 x 480 pixels, 8.5 Mbps (VBR)
FINE: 720 x 480 pixels, 5.5 Mbps (VBR)
NORMAL: 720 x 480 pixels, 4.2 Mbps (VBR)
ECONOMY: 352 x 240 pixels, 1.5 Mbps (VBR)Recording mode (audio)
ULTRA FINE: 48 kHz, 384 kbps
FINE: 48 kHz, 384 kbps
NORMAL: 48 kHz, 256 kbps
ECONOMY: 48 kHz, 128 kbps
Format
JPEG
Image size
One mode (640 x 480)Picture quality
2 modes (FINE/STANDARD)
AV
S-Video output:
Y: 1.0 V (p-p), 75 Ω, analog
C: 0.29 V (p-p), 75 Ω, analog
Video output: 1.0 V (p-p), 75Ω, analog
Audio output: 300 mV (rms), 1 kΩ, analog, stereo
USB
Mini USB type B, USB 2.0 compliant
Power requirement
AC 110 V to 240 Vd, 50 Hz/60 Hz
Output
DC 11 V , 1 A
Power supply
DC 3 V
Battery life
Approx. 1 year (depending on the frequency of 
use)
Operating distance
Within 5 m (16.4 ft)
Operating temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
45 mm x 13 mm x 105 mm
(1-13/16 x 1-1/2 x 4-3/16)
Weight
Approx. 40 g (0.09 lbs)
(incl. battery)
Design and specifications subject to change 
without notice.
Camera
For general
For video/audio
For still image
For connectors
AC Adapter
Remote Control
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							EN 67
The tables below show the approximate recording time and number of storable images.
The number increases or decreases depending on the picture quality.
Approximate recording time (minutes) (for video)
Approximate number of storable images (for still image)
Recording Time and Number of Images
Quality[  ] = Factory-presetHDDSD Card
128 MB256 MB512 MB1 GB2 GB
[ULTRA FINE] 290 1 3 7 14 29
FINE 430 2 5 10 21 43
NORMAL 570 3 6 14 27 57
ECONOMY 1500 8 18 37 73 152
Quality[  ] = Factory-presetHDDSD Card
128 MB256 MB512 MB1 GB2 GB
[FINE]
9999520 1035 2060 4160 7750
STANDARD 1115 2225 4415 8915 9999
NOTE:For details on compatible SD cards, see “Check 
the compatibility of recording media” (
pg. 3).
FURTHER INFORMATION
M6E3US.book  Page 67  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							68 ENIndications on LCD Monitor
aSelected Operation Mode Indicator 
(
pg. 22)
: Auto Mode
: Manual Mode
bTele Macro Mode Indicator (
pg. 53, 55)cApproximate Zoom Ratio (
pg. 18, 21)dZoom Indicator (
pg. 18, 21)eIris Lock Indicator (
pg. 23)fWhite Balance Indicator (
pg. 23)gBrightness Control Indicator (
pg. 52)hBattery Indicator (
pg. 60)iDate/Time (
pg. 52)jSelected Medium Indicator (
pg. 15, 52)kDrop Detection Indicator (
pg. 51)lManual Focus Adjustment Indicator 
(
pg. 23)
mEffect Mode Indicator (
pg. 24)nProgram AE Mode Indicator (
pg. 24)oShutter Speed (
pg. 24)
: Nightalive Indicator (
pg. 25)
pLED Light Indicator (
pg. 18, 21)q±: Exposure Adjustment Indicator (
pg. 23)
: Backlight Compensation Indicator 
(
pg. 25)
: Spot Exposure Control Indicator 
(
pg. 25)
aMode Indicator (
pg. 16)bScreen Aspect Ratio Indicator (
pg. 18)cWind Cut Indicator (
pg. 53)dPicture Quality: [U] (ultra fine), [F] (fine), [N] 
(normal), [E] (economy) (
pg. 53)
eRemaining Time (
pg. 16, 67)fCounter (
pg. 52)g7REC: (Appears during recording.) 
(
pg. 16)
79: (Appears during record-standby mode.)
hDigital Image Stabilizer (DIS) Indicator 
(
pg. 53)
aMode Indicator (
pg. 20)bFocus Indicator (
pg. 20)cImage Size: 640 (640 x 480)dPicture Quality: FINE (fine) or STD 
(standard) (
pg. 55)
eRemaining Number of Shots (
pg. 67)f: Continuous Shooting Mode Indicator 
(
pg. 21)
gShooting Indicator (
pg. 20)hSelf-Timer Recording Indicator (
pg. 55)
During both Video and Still Image Recording
11:30AM
NOV.10.2006
During Video Recording Only
During Still Image Recording Only
[0h56m]16:9
640FINE
PHOTO
M6E3US.book  Page 68  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							EN 69
aMode Indicator (
pg. 26)b: Playlist Playback Indicator (Appears 
when playing back a playlist. 
pg. 44)
: Event Search Playback Indicator 
(Appears when playing back a video file from 
the event search. 
pg. 29)
: Date Search Playback Indicator 
(Appears when playing back a video file from 
the date search. 
pg. 28)
cPicture Quality: [U] (ultra fine), [F] (fine), [N] 
(normal), [E] (economy) (
pg. 53)
dPlayback Mode (
pg. 27)
U : Playback
9 : Pause
5 : Forward High-Speed Search3 : Reverse High-Speed Search
9U : Forward Slow-Motion
Y9 : Reverse Slow-Motion
(The number on the left shows speed.)
eCounter (
pg. 52)fVolume Level IndicatorgBattery Indicator (
pg. 60)hDate/Time (
pg. 52)iSelected Medium Indicator (
pg. 15, 52)jEffect Mode Indicator (
pg. 34)kWipe/Fader Effect Indicator (
pg. 34)
aMode Indicator (
pg. 30)bFolder/File NumbercSlide Show Playback Indicator (
pg. 31)dBattery Indicator (
pg. 60)eDate (
pg. 52)fSelected Medium Indicator (
pg. 15, 52)gEffect Mode Indicator (
pg. 34)
During Video Playback
NOV.10.200611:30AM
 2006
During Still Image Playback
NOV.10.2006
FURTHER INFORMATION
M6E3US.book  Page 69  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM 
						

							70 EN
M6E3US.book  Page 70  Friday, June 23, 2006  2:52 PM