JVC next week launches a digital media camera that delivers both digital picture and movies at very high quality. Most new digital video cameras can take digital stills, but quality is poor.

The Everio (http://www.jvc.com/presentations/everio) is also the first camera that comes with a large-capacity, card-type removable hard disk drive or Microdrive. There is also a separate SD card slot.

The Everio lineup consists of two models: the Cube Style GZ-MC200 has a rotation grip, while the cheaper Vertical Style GZ-MC100 is just a slim and pocket-sized camera with no moving parts (except for the LCD screen). Technically, however, they're identical.

Both models (costing from € 1199) are equipped with a 2.1-Megapixel CCD and a Megabrid Engine, the main image processor. The newly developed 9-group 11-element structured lens, which offers 10x optical zoom, includes a glass-molded aspherical lens.

The DVD-quality MPEG-2 pictures can be recorded for one hour in ultra fine mode or up to five hours, while up to 5595 JPEG stills can be saved.

Biggest drawback: the camera won't work with a Mac. Apple's QuickTime format has no support yet for AC 3 audio, which JVC uses for its camera.

The Everio won't be the only fully integrated digital still and video camera on the market, but JVC seems to have a head start. The Reg experimented with two early models, and in particular the anti-hand shaking correction had an almost Skycam type of quality.

The cameras make their public debut at Photokina 2004 (http://www.photokina.de), the leading trade fair for the photographic and imaging sector which opens next Tuesday in Cologne. ®