JVC Everio GZ-X900 Camcorder Review

by Jeremy Stamas
Published on Jul 17, 2009 2:00 PM

 
Intro Product Tour
Color & Noise Performance Motion & Sharpness Performance
Low Light Performance Compression & Media
Manual Controls Still Features
Handling & Use Playback & Connectivity
Audio & Other Features Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison
Panasonic HDC-TM300 Comparison JVC GZ-HD300 Comparison
Conclusion
 Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


Conclusion
The JVC GZ-X900 ($999 MSRP) seems like the tale of two camcorders. It was truly excellent in much of our bright light testing—specifically motion and sharpness—but once the lights went down the camcorder produced atrocious video. Its image was dark, noisy, and often unwatchable even in moderately low light conditions. For this reason, it is impossible to recommend the camcorder to anyone who is planning to use it in low light situations.

Even with its terrible low light performance, there were a lot of things we liked about the GZ-X900. Its unique design was quite comfortable and it allowed for the camcorder to be held in numerous ways, and the array of manual controls featured on the GZ-X900 were impressive. The still images shot with the camcorder were good, although they too were a bit disappointing. We expected sharper photos coming from a camcorder that boasts a 9-megapixel still image capability.

The GZ-X900's high-speed shooting modes are fun to use, but the image quality of the produced clips is terrible. It is hard to imagine using the high-speed shooting for anything but simple entertainment purposes. We also weren't crazy about the camcorder's button design, specifically the flat buttons located on the inside of the LCD cavity. Then there's the issue with the camcorder's laser touch strip, which, while easier to use and more responsive than on previous models, still takes some time to get used to.

We simply can't justify spending $1000 for the GZ-X900, especially in this economy. If only JVC could improve the GZ-X900's low light capability, the model could go from being a mediocre camcorder to a top-notch performer. For now, alas, we must recommend to stay away from the GZ-X900 if you're planning to do any shooting in darkly-lit environments. If you're just looking for something to take to the beach or record picnics, the GZ-X900 is a phenomenal camcorder. Its motion is superb and it produced some of the sharpest video we've ever seen. Just make sure you turn it off when the sun goes down.
Comparisons (Page 15 of 17)    



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