JVC GZ-HM400

Manual Focus (8.00)

Miscellaneous Controls (7.50)

x.v. Color

Enables the camcorder to record using the xvYCC expanded color gamut. The larger color gamut will only be noticeable when viewed on xvYCC-compatible televisions.

Sharpness

Sharpness can be set from -5 to +5. This is a new feature that is not found on other HD camcorders from JVC.

Tele Macro

Tele Macro allows you to take close up images that the camcorder normally wouldn’t be able to focus on. This feature only works with still images—it makes no difference when shooting video (even though it can be turned on and off in video mode).

Grid

Divides the screen into nine sections by using two vertical and two horizontal lines. Grid is used to assist with framing and the lines will not appear in the recorded video.

Zebra

This feature displays striped patterns on overexposed portions of the screen. The sensitivity can be set to either 70% or 100%. This feature is commonly found on pro camcorders and is not present on the JVC GZ-X900.

Audio Controls (3.75)

The GZ-HM400 has a few additional audio features that are not found on other consumer camcorders from JVC. It offers an audio level display that can be turned on and off and microphone level adjustment from -2 to +2 (in one-level increments). This isn’t as good as full audio level adjustment (like you get on the Canon and Panasonic models), but it is better than just offering a high/low setting for the microphone.

The GZ-HM400 also has an external mic and headphone jack, both located on the back of the camcorder. Neither of these ports are found on the GZ-X900, nor any of JVC’s mid-range 2009 models. The headphone volume output can also be adjusted in the camcorders menu. Wind Cut is still an option on the GZ-HM400, which is also featured on JVCs other models.

The biggest problem with the GZ-HM400’s audio features may be the placement of its built-in microphone. The mic is top-mounted near the front of the camcorder. Depending on how thick your fingers are, your pinky may cover the entirety of the mic or rub up against it when you hold the HM400 in your right hand. This can be avoided by squeezing your fingers together, but the fact remains that the mic can easily be rubbed or bumped by your pinky while you’re recording.

The camcorder comes with a screw-in shoe adapter that allows you to connect shoe-mount accessories to the GZ-HM400. The shoe adapter is not powered and its plastic design feels cheap and breakable. Also, if you lose the adapter then you have no way of connecting shoe-mount devices to the camcorder.

New on the HM400 is something called K2 technology that supposedly enhances audio quality during playback. According to JVC, the K2 feature restores sound details that are lost during the compression process. The K2 audio option is a feature exclusive to JVC and it can be turned on and off in the camcorder’s playback menu.

Editing (7.50)

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.

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.

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. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder.