Genius G-Shot HD575T Digital Camcorder Review

In this technology rich world we live in, there is no shortage of ways to capture those spontaneous or special moments in your life. The reality is that many of us carry devices (smartphones, tablets, etc…) capable of capturing still pictures and motion video at some level. Where these devices excel in being extremely portable, the quality, feature, and functionality of capturing these moments in your life is generally limited due to their inherent small form factor. So, the video camera market is still very much alive and kicking!

Today we have a chance to look at the G-Shot HD575T from Genius. This is Genius’s latest edition to their slimline HD camcorders and promises to pack a lot of function and value in an extremely small package. Here is a short marketing blurb on the G-Shot HD575T:

Genius G-Shot HD575T: Full High-Definition Smart Touch Screen Camcorder. The G-Shot HD575T from Genius is capable of shooting breath-taking 1080p FHD video with the 5.0 Mega Pixel CMOS camcorder in FHD resolution. Its portable, slimline design incorporates an innovative 3″ touch panel with an easy-to-use menu so you can easily access features like the 5X optical zoom. And with a single button, the G-Shot HD575T can even take videos or photos in dimly-lit environments without compromising the contrast balance of your subjects. The Genius G-Shot HD575T smart touch screen camcorder lets you capture, preserve and cherish all of life’s precious moments in stunning HD!

Before we get started, let’s take a look at the manufacturer specs:

Image Sensor – 5.0 Mega Pixel CMOS
Lens – f: 5~25mm, F: 3.5
LCD monitor – 3″ LTPS Touch Screen
Storage Media – Built-in 32MB internal memory; Dual SD slots for Micro SD and HCSD up to 32GB
Zoom – Optical Zoom: 5X, Digital Zoom: 4X
Image Resolution – 16MP; 8MP; 5MP
Movie Resolution – WEB, WVGA, HD (1280 x 720p/30fps), FHD (1920 x 1080/30fps)
Flash/LED – LED On/Off
Shutter Speed – Electronic, 1/2~ 1/4000 second
File Format – Picture: JPEG, Movie: MOV (H.264)
Interface – HDMI
Battery type – Li-ion battery

Packaging:

Looking at the packaging when I first received the G-Shot HD575T, my first thought was…wow this camera has to be small. Upon opening the box, which was extremely easy to get into, I was greeted with the following contents:

G-Shot HD575T Camcorder
CD-ROM
- Arcsoft Total Media Extreme
- Multi-language user manual
USB cable
RCA cable
HDMI cable
NP-60 rechargeable Li-ion battery
Li-ion battery adapter
Pouch/Strap

So, not only is the camera in there, but Genius has included a plethora of accessories which should be everything you need to start getting the most out of your new camcorder. I was especially surprised to see there was an included HDMI cable, “atta-boy” Genius. Other vendors should take note and stop being so cost conscious about including all the required accessories.

Initial Impressions:

With initial impressions high, after seeing all the included accessories, the word “feather” immediately sprung to mind handling the G-Shot HD575T for the first time. Boy, this thing is shockingly light…and that is still true with the battery installed! Aside from it being thicker, the overall dimensions are the same as my android smartphone. After the shock and awe subsided, I immediately began having a fear that its small footprint and ethereal inspired weight may be warning indicators as to its overall quality and the quality of the resulting media it produces. Can something this small and light buck the trend and deliver the “goods” too? Let’s find out!