JVC GZ-HD7 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on Apr 26, 2007 10:00 AM
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Ease of Use (8.25)
One thing you’ll notice about the HD7 is that it looks like a miniature prosumer camcorder. It’s a delight to hold, despite its bulky frame. When compared with the HV20, HC7, and SD1 one thing becomes clearly evident: the HD7 is equipped with buttons and dials that do not exist on any of the three camcorders. The manual focus ring is smooth like WD40 in a hot crank shaft, and the focus assist button makes the experience even more enjoyable. You’ve also got your manual aperture priority and shutter speed buttons located at the back of the camcorder for instant modifications, controlled by the value adjustment lever that rests just below. The auto/manual button is straightforward and sits next to the BLC (backlight compensation button) right above the LCD cavity. JVC has a designed a solid camcorder with a friendly control layout.
The LCD-mounted joystick is quick, responsive, and gets the job done. Playing back videos is easier than rewinding or fast-forwarding though MiniDV tapes, though the playback controls are unclear. Exporting footage and editing is a royal pain. Be prepared to set aside hours of your time in order to deal with the circus of import/export hoopla required just to convert the footage into an NLE-suitable MPEG-2 or AVI file. Take a look at our editing section. Overall, this camcorder is nice to look at and feels great.
Handling (7.5)
The JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 is the Ford Mustang of consumer HD: it’s heavier than the other contenders, but just as fast as the Canon roadster, if a bit less urbane than Sonys and Panasonics. Shooting with this camcorder has the feel of a prosumer cam because of the focus ring and dedicated buttons for controls like aperture and shutter speed. This ability to make adjustments to image parameters without entering the menu is one of the handling advantages of prosumer camcorders. Buttons are faster than menus (literally one-touch brings up the relevant options) and the set dial separates adjustment of aperture, shutter speed and EV compensation from the camcorders other functions. Not having to think in terms of a menu when making common adjustments helps to keep your mind on the shoot.
The focus ring is also a pleasure to use because rings are by far the best control for making manual focus adjustments. Unlike aperture and shutter speed, which are often treated as discrete steps, focus happens on a continuum. Very fine control over the lens element as you search for the focal plane is vital, and a large ring makes this possible. Smaller dials are operated with much smaller fingertip movements, and therefore lack the sensitivity of a bigger ring. Joysticks and (horrors!) touch screens are even less sensitive than dials. For this reason, we applaud focus rings whenever they make an appearance on a consumer camcorder. Used in tandem with the HD7’s Focus Assist, the ring is a terrific manual control.
The HD7 feels great in the hand, and though its slightly bigger and heavier than other HD camcorders, it feels balanced. It’s not portable for a consumer model, but the extra heft adds some stability during hand-held shooting. That’s a good thing, because the OIS system is a good deal less effective than the HV20’s or the earthquake-beating HDC-SD1. Another liability is the lack of a headphone jack. Without that simple terminal, you’ll have no way to monitor audio without an external mixer.
On balance, though, we like the way the JVC GZ-HD7 handles enough to moderate some other criticisms of the camcorder, notably video performance and editability. The fact that this camcorder has some of the feel of a prosumer model makes you feel like you’re in the drivers seat. It’s a feeling we like, and encounter all too rarely in consumer video.
Menu (5.25)
The JVC HD7 has three distinct menu-based interfaces, the main Administrative Menu, a Program AE menu, and a Function Menu. The Admin Menu is accessed via the Menu Button in the LCD cavity, and it contains the majority of the camcorder’s settings. The Admin Menu structure is intuitive, without the odd item placements we sometimes come across. The Panasonic HDC-SD1 for example places some settings in submenus that strike us as arbitrary. On the HD7, the only menu item that seems misplaced is the Focus Assist color setting, which is in the General submenu rather than Video where it belongs, along with other video recording settings. There are two core problems with this menu, though. First, the response time is very slow. It shouldn't require much processing power to produce immediate response to a joystick touch, but apparently JVC could not spare the milli-watts. The delay is both noticeable and annoying. Secondly, the menu scrolls ad infinitum, scrolling in a circular pattern without ever giving you a sense that you've hit the bottom of the list. Thus, if you're not paying close attention, you may think that the options list is enormous.
The Program AE menu is accessed via the joystick: in manual mode, tapping right brings up a selection of AE options, including Portrait, Sports, Snow, Spotlight, and Twilight. Because these options are not buried in the Admin Menu, experimenting with AE settings can be done quickly. The Function Menu is accessed by pressing the Function Button on the LCD frame, and several key features used during video recording are found there including White Balance and Zebras. The Function Menu also contains Effects, TeleMacro, and “Custom Settings” with options for sharpness and color bars.
As mentioned previously, focus is controlled with a ring, while aperture, EV compensation, and shutter speed are all controlled via their own set dial. This means all of these frequently used manual controls are completely outside the menus, and its a choice that makes sense. It makes accessing these controls fast, and minimizes interruptions to your workflow.
The division of other functions between three menus also makes sense. The Function Menu contains assists and lesser-used picture options, the Program AE menu groups all the special scene modes together, and the Admin Menu contains all the options that are used less frequently. In aggregate, the total number of options available on the HD7 feels similar in extent to camcorders like the Panasonic HDC-SD1 and Canon HV20, but the 3-menu breakdown keeps the everything closer at hand than any other consumer camcorder.
Portability (5.0)
The HD7 measures in at 91mm x 77mm x 186mm with a weight of 665g (1.5 lbs.); 750g (1.7 lb.) with the included battery pack and strap. Don’t expect to pocket this thing, or slip it into a small bag. The HD7 needs room to breathe, and besides—what would be more badass than unsheathing this miniature prosumer-styled weapon from an all black camera bag? It can record up to 5 hours of footage in the highest quality (FHD) and 1440 CBR mode, and 7 hours in SP mode. That’s more than enough time to spend at the ole’ watering hole with the family. However, with a battery that lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes, you’re most likely going to have to breakdown and purchase a couple backup packs, which will set you back a couple hundred smackers.
The HD7 is highly comfortable to hold, thanks to the stress relieving padded handstrap and equalized weight distribution, so fatigue should not be an issue. The HD7 is also supplied with a shoulder strap, which should lighten the load on long soccer tournament days.
LCD and Viewfinder (6.7)
The HD7 features a 2.8 inch wide LCD screen that flips out from the left side of the camcorder body and rotates up to 270 degrees. The 207,000 pixel screen resolution is crisp and displays vibrant color. Although the HD7 is devoid of a rear-mounted joystick so popularized by Panasonic and Canon, its LCD-mounted joystick does the trick, and is conducive to two-handed shooting. The LCD hinge is bulkier than the Canon HV20’s, and will withstand more shocks during transport.
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The EVF extends out about 1" |
The LCD measures 2.8" |
The HD7’s electronic color viewfinder measures 0.57 inches and produces a 269,000 pixel display. The hefty rubberized eye cup is wide enough to fit most faces and comfortable for those who opt to save battery juice by utilizing the viewfinder. The viewfinder also extends a full inch, clearing the battery with ease. The dioptric adjuster is located along the left side of the viewfinder’s shaft. The Canon HV20’s viewfinder would be crushed to bits if it rumbled with the HD7’s.
Battery Life (7.7)
The JVC GZ-HD7 includes a BN-VF815U battery pack that slides into an open slot on the back of the camcorder body. The open battery slot allows for the use of an optional longer life battery, including the BN-VF856U which allows for a reported 5 hours and 25 minutes of continuous recording time using the LCD, or 5 hours and forty minutes using only the EVF.
We tested the included BN-VF815U battery pack for continuous recording in Manual mode to eliminate automatic adjustments that could affect battery life, the LCD screen set to on, and OIS set to off. The battery on our HD7 petered out after 76 minutes and 40 seconds (1 hour, 16 minutes, and 40 seconds). This recording time is just shy of the 1 hour and 20 minute recording time listed in the owners’ manual, and rates a bit below average for consumer camcorders we’ve tested this year. As with any camcorder, you should expect the typical recording time for this battery to be a good deal lower, taking into account your shooting style, stops and starts, and the number of manual adjustments you make.
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