JVC Everio GZ-HM400 Camcorder Review

Compression & Media Summary
• Records Full HD video at 1920 x 1080 with a 60i frame rate • The low-quality slow-motion modes can shoot at 120fps, 300fps, and 600fps. • The camcorder is loaded with 32GB of internal flash memory as well as an SD/SDHC memory card slot. • JVC's Everio Media Browser HD software works quite well for uploading to YouTube and performing basic edits.
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Compression (7.0)

As with most new HD camcorders, the GZ-HM400 records high definition video using the AVCHD codec. This is the same codec used by Panasonic, Sony, and Canon—only Sanyo and Samsung continue to hold using a different variation on the MPEG-4 codec. While AVCHD has become a popular choice for manufacturers, it still has its quirks and issues. For one, AVCHD files are difficult to work with on a slow or old computer since the files are large and full of information. Editing the footage can slow down your computer or cause it to crash, and importing the files can take an incredibly long time (especially if you have a lot of clips). If you plan on doing extensive editing of your AVCHD footage, make sure you have a strong computer that is up to the task.

The GZ-HM400 doesn't have any alternate frame rate options that can record Full HD video, but it does have three high-speed settings that can be used to capture low-quality slow-motion video. The first setting records at 120fps, which stretches out your footage to half speed. The second setting does 300fps (5x slower) and the third setting does 600fps (10x slower). Each slow motion option has strict record time limits. The 120fps and 300fps modes can capture 4 seconds of video, while the 600fps mode is limited to 2.4 seconds (these clips are then lengthened during playback due to the slow motion).

Media (8.52)

In addition to having an SD/SDHC card slot for recording to a memory card, the JVC GZ-HM400 includes 32GB of internal flash memory. This internal memory is good to have because it allows you to record close to three hours of video at the highest quality setting. So, if you're on vacation and you use up all the space on your memory cards, you'll have something to fall back on.

The GZ-HM400 can record to SD/SDHC memory cards or its 32GB of internal memory.

The SD/SDHC card slot is located inside the camcorder's LCD cavity, behind a flip-down door. This placement isn't bad, although it means you must have the LCD panel open to insert and eject memory cards. It does provide excellent protection to your memory card slot, however.

The camcorder appears to have a clip length limit around 23 minutes. When you record for about 23 minutes continuously, the camcorder automatically generates a new clip where the old one left off—with no gaps or loss of data. This table below lists the approximate record times you can get with the GZ-HM400:

Editing (7.5)

The GZ-HM400 ships with Everio Media Browser HD, which is the same software that comes with JVC's other consumer HD camcorders. The software isn't too bad, especially when compared to the average video programs that ship with camcorders. It has a number of useful features including clip organization, YouTube upload capability, and DVD disc creation (additional DVD burner required). The software does not work with Macintosh operating systems, however, so if you have a Mac you'll have to stick with iMovie or a different editing program of your choosing.

Imported clips can be arranged as thumbnails...		... or they can be shown in calendar mode.

Since the GZ-HM400 records AVCHD clips, the Everio Media Browser software's main function is to import these video files so they can be viewed on your computer. AVCHD footage must be imported with some sort of software before it's workable—the files themselves cannot be simply dragged and dropped right from the camcorder and into an editing program or media player. This, along with their large file size and difficulty to work with, are the main problems with AVCHD video.

You can select files to upload to YouTube.		The software also allows you to burn footage to DVD (if you have a DVD burner).

Getting videos onto YouTube with the Media Browser software was relatively easy. You can select the videos you want to upload, enter your YouTube account information, and the program does the rest. In our time with the software we did get numerous error messages saying we didn't have the camcorder connected correctly—even though we did—and we noticed the program acting a bit buggy. Still, once you get beyond this bugs and error messages (which can be ignored) the program works quite well.

We didn't find JVC's "one-touch" features (located inside the LCD cavity) to be all that useful. The editing software already makes it easy to upload, export, or burn your clips by allowing you to select the videos you want right before you perform the uploading, burning, or exporting process. This means the "one-touch" buttons really don't save you much time—especially when you consider that you have to turn the "one-touch" modes on before you start shooting.

The JVC GZ-HM400 has a number of internal editing features that can be used to edit videos right inside the camcorder. Clips can be split and trimmed, faders and music can be added, or playlists can be created. Doing all this in-camera editing is a bit difficult with the Laser Touch control system, but they are mildly useful features nonetheless.

JVC GZ-HM400 Comparisons
JVC GZ-X900	Panasonic HDC-TM300	Canon HF S11