JVC Everio GZ-HM200 is a new midrange camcorder aimed at semi-professionals. The camcorder is extremely easy to use and offers plenty of features making it very good value for the money. Since it is available is three colors you can get the right one for you.
JVC Everio GZ-HM200 pros:
+ 2.7-inch screen
+ 20x optical zoom
+ Outstanding color accuracy
+ Dual SD/SDHC memory card slots
+ Good auto mode
+ Easy to use manual mode
+ Taking photos while recording videos
+ Excellent image stabilization
JVC Everio GZ-HM200 cons:
- No 24p or 30p frame rates
- Poor low light sensibility
- No flash for the still photos
- Port covers feel cheap
The design:
JVC Everio GZ-HM200 measures 54.5 x 65 x 122.5 mm and weighs 310 grams. The camcorder is available in blue, red and black. The Konica Minolta HD lens has 20x zoom and automatic cover. The front of the camcorder is dominated by the lens, but you can also find the video light and the microphone there. The right side of the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 houses the speaker, hand strap, USB port and the DC-input cover. The left side features the LCD chamber with plenty of controls and HDMI and Component-out terminals, SD/SDHC card slot and AV-out. The back of the camcorder houses the battery pack, strap adjuster, Start/stop record button, and lamps indicating memory card access and power status. On the top you can only see the zoom toggle and photo shutter button, whereas on the bottom merely the tripod mount along with the battery release switch.
Performance:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 records videos using the AVCHD compression and 24 Mbps bitrate so it is good that it keeps to the standards. Although the JVC camcorder has a selection of quality settings it cannot record videos in standard quality. The editing software that you get with the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has only some basic functions and is quite straightforward. The camcorder records videos to SD/SDHC memory cards and if you decide to use a 16 GB memory card you will be able to record up to 80 minutes of videos in the best quality. Features such as exposure, white balance, focus, or shutter speed may be controlled manually, but as most camcorders the JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has no manual control over aperture.
Video quality:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has very good color accuracy and equally good saturation levels. Only the lack of any color adjustment tools might be disappointing for more professional filmmakers. But as everything is fine just how you get it – including low noise levels – it should not bother amateurs. The motion is better than in comparable camcorders, such as JVC Picsio GC-FM1, or Sony HDR-TG5V. The sharpness of the videos is good, although high end camcorders may do better. Poor light performance was ok, but nothing special. Colors are still accurate, although not as much as in good light.
Still photo quality:
The JVC Everio GZ-HM200 has very little features for still photos and as it can take only up to 1920 x 1080 images (slightly over 2 megapixels) and mobile phones can do better it is hard to imagine that anybody would like to take photos with this camcorder. Especially that is lacks any ISO control, and has no built-in flash.
JVC Everio GZ-HM200 features and specifications:
- Still Image Format
JPEG
- Digital Video Format
AVCHD
- Exposure Modes
Program, automatic
- Shooting Programs
Spotlight, portrait mode, night mode, sports mode, twilight mode, snow
- Shooting Modes
Digital photo mode
- Digital Zoom
200 x
- Analog Video Format
NTSC
- Optical Sensor Size
1/4.1″
- Optical Sensor Type
CMOS
- Color Support
Color
- Media Type
Flash card
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution
3.05 Mpix
- Widescreen Video Capture
Yes
- Face Detection
Yes
- Enclosure Color
Onyx black
- Lens System
Konica Minolta
Filter Size
30.5 mm
- Zoom Adjustment
Motorized drive
Optical Zoom
20 x
Lens Aperture
F/1.9-3.2
- Auto Focus
TTL contrast detection
- Focus Adjustment
Automatic, manual
Focal Length
2.9 mm – 58 mm
Type
Zoom lens – 2.9 mm – 58 mm – f/1.9-3.2
- Features
Built-in lens shield
- Additional Features
Auto power save, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording, face detection, YouTube capture mode
Digital Still Camera Function
Yes
Low Lux / Night Mode
Yes
Built-in Light
Yes
- Display
Display Format
123,000 pixels
Display Form Factor
Rotating
Type
LCD display – TFT active matrix – 2.7″ – color
- Memory / Storage
Image Storage
JPEG 640 x 480 ¦ JPEG 1440 x 1080 ¦ JPEG 1920 x 1080
Supported Flash Memory
SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card
Other recently reviewed camcorders:
Panasonic HDC-TM300, Canon Vixia HF S11, JVC Everio GZ-HM400, Sony HDR-TG5V, JVC Picsio GC-FM1
