JVC GZ-HM1 High Definition Camcorder Reviews

Review by Ryan Maclean for JVC GZ-HM1 High Definition Camcorder
Rating:
I felt I had to write a review for this camera due to the overwhelming lack of reviews I’ve found elsewhere. While I normally make a purchase like this based on reviews, I took the leap and bought it based on it’s specs and reviews of last years models.

The first thing I’ll get to is the question everybody seems to be asking, how is it in low light. Well, I have to say, fantastic. This camcorder has the largest sensor I’ve found available in the consumer class, and coupled with the new backlit sensor it takes very good low light video with a minimal amount of grain. The last camcorder I had was a Sony with the nightshot mode, and I was hoping for something similar in this, the ability to take video in complete darkness, but unfortunately the sensor is not THAT good. You won’t get anything in complete darkness, but if there is just a little bit of light, the video will look great.

The 2.8″ screen is a little on the small side, but I like it hands down in usability compared to touchscreens. There are for selection buttons at the bottom and the Laser Touch strip on the side. Like many reviews have said about the Laser Touch strip, it is a bit of a hassle to use; it is similar in function to scrolling down a page on a laptop. It works, but it’s not the easiest thing to use, and I often find myself overshooting menus. It also functions as up to 4 buttons depending on what mode the camera is in. In normal shooting, you can use it to zoom and enable or disable the image stabilization.

That leads me to my favorite feature, the image stabilization. It’s excellent, and it’s the feature I find myself showing off the most. With it enabled, you can look at the lens and see these two little rings moving like crazy, smoothing out your video. I was very surprised at how much shake it actually removes. If you have a steady hand, it will look almost like you’re on a tripod, that’s how clear it is.

The camera will focus down to about a foot, so you wouldn’t be able to get any really close shots without a macro lens. The camera accepts standard 46mm lenses, and I highly recommend purchasing a quality UV filter to protect the lens and keep debris out.

Using the camera couldn’t be easier. In automatic mode, you just open the screen and hit record. It turns on by itself and there is only a 3-4 second delay until you can start using it. The zoom rocker is very smooth, autofocus works well, and I didn’t find myself rubbing my finger against the microphone like some have reported.

Another thing I have to mention is the battery life. The reviews I had read before had misled me into believing it included the BN-VF808 730 mAh battery. It actually includes a 1460 mAh battery, which gives you just over 2 hours of shooting time. Had I known that, I most likely would not have ordered the extra BN-VF823 2190 mAh battery, which offers over 4 hours of recording, although I’m still happy I did.

This camera has loads of features, most of which I’ll probably never use, but if you’re interested I recommend going to JVC’s website and reading the manual. This is a great camera, even considering it’s high price, and I look forward to using it for my intended purpose; my upcoming first born.