JVC Everio GZ-HD300 Camcorder Review

JVC GZ-HD300 versus Sanyo VPC-HD2000
• The Sanyo has better performance in most categories—especially in low light sensitivity and video sharpness. • The JVC GZ-HD300 has a simpler design and is far easier to use. • Sanyo VPC-HD2000 records to SD/SDHC memory cards and has no internal memory.
	Canon HF20 Comparison	(Page 14 of 17)	Conclusion

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 isn't like the rest of the camcorders we used as comparisons throughout this review. First of all, it has an upright design that gives the camcorder the appearance of a futuristic ray-gun or a common hose nozzle. Secondly, it has a number of awkward design issues and some cheap construction. Thirdly, it produced some incredible results in our video testing and put up some of the best low light numbers we've seen this year. The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 isn't available in the US yet, but it is expected to retail somewhere between $600 and $800 dollars. The camcorder doesn't include any internal memory, however, so you need to factor in the cost of a couple of SD/SDHC cards into that price.

The Sanyo clearly has better video performance than the JVC HD300. Its still features are more abundant, its low light performance is far superior, and it can capture much sharper video at bright light. The GZ-HD300, however, is much easier to use and its design is far more intuitive. The menu system on the Sanyo is difficult and confusing, its navigation joystick is unresponsive and cheap, and many of the controls are aggravating to manipulate. While the Sanyo may appear more portable because of its upright design, it isn't really the case. The large lens on the Sanyo HD2000 is bulky and makes the camcorder difficult to squeeze into a pocket. On the whole, it is just as easy to transport as the JVC GZ-HD300, although the Sanyo is a bit lighter.

If you can deal with the intricacy of the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, it is a very strong camcorder overall. It has better video performance than the JVC GZ-HD300, but its awkward design may be enough to dissuade many would-be consumers. If you want a simple camcorder that is easy to use, and you don't care too much about high-end video performance, the JVC GZ-HD300 is the better buy.

Update: The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2000 was ultimately selected as our 2009 Best Value of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

	Comparison Specs
	JVC GZ-HD300	Sanyo VPC-HD2000
Price	$699.95	Approx $600 - $700 (not released in US yet)
Primary Recording Media	60GB internal hard drive	SD/SDHC memory card
Secondary Recording Media	MicroSD Memory Card	None
Image Sensor	1/4.1-inch CMOS	1/2.5-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	3.05 Megapixels	5.31 megapixels (video) 8.0 megapixels (stills)
Mic Input	None	Yes, 3.5mm
LCD	2.7-inch with 123,000-pixel resolution	2.7-inch with 230,000-pixel resolution
Viewfinder	None	None
Weight	370g with battery	311g with battery
Dimensions	53mm x 68mm x 113mm	90 x 112.6 x 54.4mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	1080/60i	HD: 1080/60p, 1080/60i, 1080/30p, 720/30p SD: 240fps (448 x 336), 600fps (192 x 108) (native progressive)
Compression	AVCHD	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Maximum Bitrate	24Mbps	24Mbps
Optical Zoom	20x	10x
Stabilization	Digital	Digital

Closeups at 60 lux Auto
JVC GZ-HD300 100% Crop	Sanyo VPC-HD2000 100% Crop

Required Illumination *

* the lower the lux required, the better the performance