JVC GZ-HM200

Miscellaneous Controls (3.00)

Tele Macro

Changes the camcorder’s focal range to let you focus clearly on close-up subjects.

Audio Controls (1.75)

If you’re looking for a camcorder with special audio features, stay away from the JVC GZ-HM200. As far as audio controls, all the camcorder really has is its built-in, 2-channel microphone that is located just under the lens. In its defense, the microphone is well-placed and out of the way from wandering fingers or noisy controls. The only other audio control on the camcorder is a wind cut feature that reduces noise from rustling wind. It has no external mic jack, headphone output, or manual audio controls.

While it is common for mid-range camcorders to lack many audio controls, the comparison models listed below all offer more audio features than the GZ-HM200. The Canon HF20 includes an external mic jack, a headphone output, manual audio level adjustments, and a Canon-proprietary accessory shoe. The JVC GZ-HM400 has nearly the same features, although its audio level adjustment range isn’t as extensive as the HF20’s. The Panasonic HDC-SD20 has good audio level controls, but it doesn’t have an external mic jack. The chart below lists all of the audio features found on these four camcorders:

Editing (7.50)

The GZ-HM200 ships with Everio Media Browser HD—the same editing software that comes with all of JVC’s consumer HD camcorders. The software only works on Windows computers, but it allows you to do a variety of actions with your video footage. You can upload to internet sites like YouTube, export files to iTunes, create DVDs (if you have a DVD burner), and organize your media.

Since the HM200 records HD video using AVCHD compression, you’ll need to use some kind of software to transfer the video from your memory card to a computer. The video files cannot simply be ‘dragged and dropped’ from the card into a media player, but the Media Browser HD software can handle the transfer process for you (as can any professional editing program and numerous other video converting programs). This is probably the most important function of the Everio Media Browser HD program and it handles the task quite well.

The software’s advanced features, including the ability to export files and upload to YouTube, are also quite simple to use. We did run into some problems, however, with the software crashing on a number of occasions and failing to recognize our connected camcorder a few times. With the software, you can select which files you’d like to upload to YouTube, export to iTunes, or burn to a DVD—it is a simple drag and drop system of selecting which clips you’d like to apply these actions to. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder.

JVC’s included ‘one-touch’ features on the HM200 are designed to make these processes even simpler, but we found they didn’t help all that much. The ‘one-touch’ features on the body of the camcorder require you to press buttons before you start recording video. Also, even if you remember to press the Upload button before you shoot your video, you still need to connect the camcorder to a computer and open the Media Browser HD software. So, all the ‘one-touch’ buttons do is save you the few seconds it takes to select what clips you want to upload, export, or burn to disc while you’re using the Media Browser HD software.

In addition to the Media Browser HD software, the GZ-HM200 has a few internal editing features. In playback mode you can make minor edits, add wipes/faders, and create or edit playlists. These features are a bit difficult to use with the camcorder’s limited navigation system (the Laser Touch), but they are more extensive internal editing features than are usually found on consumer models.