JVC Announces New High-End HD Camcorder In Japan: The GZ-HM400

July 30, 2009 – JVC revealed a new top-of-the-line camcorder in Japan today, the GZ-HM400. The camcorder, which captures Full 1920 x 1080 HD video and contains 32GB of built-in memory, appears to contain the same 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor as JVC's previous top-line camcorder, the GZ-X900. The GZ-HM400, however, has a much larger body design and offers a variety of handling features—including a manual control dial—that are absent on the GZ-X900. Click here to see more photos of the GZ-HM400.

Additional new features on the GZ-HM400 include a revamped zoom rocker that looks like it was lifted straight from JVC's prosumer line, a 10x optical zoom with the Konica Minolta HD lens, and a new K2 technology that JVC claims will produce more faithful, higher-fidelity audio.

Like the GZ-X900, the GZ-HM400 can capture native 9-megapixel still images with a 3456 x 2592 image resolution. The camcorder also includes the same high speed shooting modes featured on the GZ-X900 (600fps, 300fps, and 120fps), as well as multiple continuous shooting modes for still images. The GZ-HM400 will be one of the largest and heaviest members of JVC's Everio HD lineup. According to JVC, the camcorder weighs 485g (including the supplied battery pack), which is roughly 200g more than the JVC GZ-X900 and the GZ-HM200.

Akihabara news has reported the GZ-HM400 will be available in Japan soon (likely the beginning of August) for 110,000 Yen (approx. $1,154 US dollars). The camcorder will be available in black or silver models. No news on a US release date has been verified. 

The control dial (left) and zoom rocker are two of the GZ-HM400's new features.

Click here to see our photo gallery of the JVC GZ-HM400