JVC GZ-HM320 Review

Some of the worst video quality I’ve seen in a HD camcorder too late, the best I can say about JVC’s entry-level HD Everio camcorder models is that they are small and cheap. Although they are $ 60 to $ 100 less than HD competitors, they are determined by a small, insufficient resolution for HD-sensor, a 20x zoom lens with no optical stabilization (only electronically) and the lowest resolution LCD screen in its class.

Maybe JVC’s goal is to provide opportunities customers: the company offers 10 HD models for less than $ 800, these four nearly identical versions that list between $ 400 and $ 550 alone. Three different models are flash-only built-in memory, and the fourth is a 80 GB hard drive-based model that microSD cards instead of ordinary SDHC / SDXC cards take. It bears pointing out that the confusing lineup of JVC and unlike any other manufacturer out there, the same HD300 and HD320 are not products sibling to the HM300 and HM320, they have larger, higher resolution sensors and their flash The HM200-based brother.

JVC GZ HM320 CLosed JVC GZ HM320 Review

One thing is the entry-level models JVC have going for them is great: they are the lightest and smallest in their class. The length of the body of the flash models is approximately the width of the palm a big man, the hard drive version is slightly longer and wider, which can provide comfortable shooting for big-handed people. Though made of shiny plastic, the camcorder feels reasonably well built.

Under a door on the bottom right is a pair of SDHC card slots, the models with a built-in memory only a single slot. I find this map location is better than most of the other designs I’ve seen, it’s out of the way and not block the thin grip strap. I also like the location of the USB connector, which shares a spot above the battery with the DC input. To the front of the camcorder, the tire grip handle, which turns into a wristband. The top controls include the photo shutter button and zoom lever.

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The recess accommodates LCD and playback controls, uploading (YouTube, via the computer), and an on / off button that also goes through three different screens of information. I’m not a big fan of the multi-duty power button, for me, it’s a surefire way to finally turn off the camcorder accident. The component, AV, and mini-HDMI out jacks take the recess.

The touch-sensitive buttons on the LCD ring, only OK and the menu to fix the other three are context sensitive. You navigate through menus via a slider on the left lane, which lights up when you use it. The demo’s probably good in retail and gives you something beautiful to watch as the camcorder boots, but it is only modestly effective as a navigation technique – it’s too inaccurate for that or for manual focus, which leads to accidentally slide-bys along your desired options.

JVC GZ HM320 Side JVC GZ HM320 Review

The feature set is fairly typical. Most notably, there is face-priority AE / AF, video categorization, interesting time-lapse video, and a faux motion sensor mode which records when it detects changes in brightness. Unfortunately, none of this makes for the lack of optical image stabilization. JVC not between optical and electronic stabilization (EIS) can be distinguished on its website, referring to both the “Advanced Image Stabilizer”, but the HM300/320 manual refers to it as the “digital image stabilizer”. Unfortunately, MER degrade video quality, and the camcorder just does not have the extra pixels to spare for the EIS to work well.

On the upside, the autofocus works quite intelligent, and seems accurate distinction between subject and background without significant delays. 1400 mAh battery and a reasonably long time, somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes.

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Which brings me to video quality. Although I do not expect much for $ 450, I’ll admit I’m probably just a little harder JVC competition for marketing this as an HD camcorder when to adhere to the letter but not the spirit of the definition of HD ( Canon HF plays the same game with his R series). The sensor is small and its native resolution is somewhat mysterious.

It varies with the zoom, that’s another trick that I stumble, it’s a now-common method of gaming the zoom range of your camcorder lens, but it can only be accepted if the effective pixel count is still above the minimum needed to get a native HD capture, about 2.1 megapixels. But the HD500 HM300/320/340 and effective resolution ranges from 1.1 megapixels down to 750,000 pixels, which then interpolate the camcorders up to 1920×1080 HD.

JVC GZ HM320 Open JVC GZ HM320 Review

The low-light video looks surprisingly decent, as long as you play them finished. Full size is quite soft and noisy.

Although $ 450 sounds cheap for an HD camcorder, if the selection or budgetary need that you are willing to sacrifice image quality, you might as well pay less for a decent standard-definition model. Otherwise, I suggest you get a bit more for a true HD format as the Panasonic HDC-SD60. Of the four options, JVC, only if it is cheapest at the moment is even worth considering, and the HD500 is simply overpriced.

JVC GZ HM320 Amazon JVC GZ HM320 Review
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