JVC GZ-HD7 First Impressions Camcorder Reviewby James MurrayPublished on Jan 10, 2007 7:00 PM
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The Front
The Fujinon f3.3-33 mm 10x optical zoom lens monopolizes the front end of the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7. This lens includes a removable optional lens hood and accommodates 46 mm wide-angle telephoto lens adaptors. The wide, rubber manual focus ring is located directly behind the lens of the camera. Underneath the lens, on the right side of the camcorder body, is a small button labeled focus assist.
This control is a feature that displays the focus margin in color while the out-of-focus portions of the frame switch to a black and white display. This is a new spin on focus assist features that should provide a particularly user-friendly manual focus aide. Focus assist features are becoming widespread on HD camcorders because HD’s increased resolution over standard definition makes it unforgiving of soft focus. This tool makes the HD7’s ring a more approachable focusing device for beginning users and experienced shooters who want to ensure their images are crisp.
The Right Side
The JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 camcorder body is split into two sections with the lens on the left side and the hard disk drive bulging to the right side. The HDD is emblazoned with a silver “HDD” label. It looks as though it will fit comfortably into your right palm. A plush adjustable Velcro hand strap spans the right side horizontally and attaches to the camcorder body at the front and back edges. A switch is located directly behind the manual focus ring and the front hand strap connection point. On the other side of the hand strap connection point is a small port cover. This port cover protects the mic-in and AV-out ports.
The location of the mic jack could be a problem during hand-held shooting with an external microphone given its proximity to the strap. While we have not handled the camcorder, we’ve noted this problem in the past where a mic jack too near the strap experiences stress as the strap presses against the plug. Until we see a production model this spring, it’s unclear whether this placement will hinder external mic use.
Moving to the back of the camcorder, in the upper back corner, directly above the hand strap attachment is a power/mode switch. This switch has a small tab that must be depressed to toggle between off and on/standby modes. This switch is identical in design to the power switch found on the GZ-MG555 (Review, Specs, $626).
The Back
An electronic color viewfinder graces the back of the HD Everio GZ-HD7. Unlike some other HDD cams that lack a secondary monitoring device, including more novice-friendly JVC GZ-MG555, the EVF enables users to conserve battery life and provides a usable option in bright light when LCDs become solarized. The eyepiece for the electronic color viewfinder is larger and better than most, and should do a decent job of impeding light leak.
To the right of the viewfinder, on the other half of the camcorder, are three LED lights that indicate access/charge, video and still image shooting modes. Moving further to the right of these LEDs, users will find a well sized and raised, polished silver record button. This lozenge shaped button has a red center to indicate the function of this control. Beneath the record button are a series of small dots that function as a grip for the thumb of the right hand.
Underneath the viewfinder, and consuming a large portion of the back face,is a battery slot. The battery slides neatly into place and protrudes out slightly from the camcorder body. Beneath the battery and running horizontally along the bottom edge of the camcorder are four ports located underneath two port covers. These covers are opened via tabs located on their bottom edge. The port cover on the left side protects the i.LINK (IEEE 1394), HDMI and USB ports. The DC IN port is underneath the port cover on the right side. These port covers are embossed with the icons for each of the connection options on their exterior surface.
Four controls are positioned on the right edge of the back face and control a variety of parameters. The top two buttons are small and labeled “A” and “S” and we suspect they will engage shutter and aperture priority modes respectively on the GZ-HD7. Underneath these two controls is a button labeled “bright”. A partially rotating temporary jog wheel is located near the bottom of the camcorder in a vertical position and is labeled “M-menu”. This control, while obviously being able to move up and down through settings quickly, also appears depressible. We could not confirm this at CES, but it may improve upon the design of last year’s GZ-MG505 (Review, Specs, $829.95).
The Left Side
The 2.7-inch LCD screen for the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 can be flipped out from the camcorder body either by pulling the scalloped back edge, or the top or bottom edges of the LCD frame. The LCD flips out from the body of the camcorder and rotates through the standard 270 degrees. Like the hybrid HDD/SDHC GZ-MG555, the HD7 has three control features located along the left side of the LCD screen. The top button displays access to battery/index information, while the bottom control is a push-button that opens the function menu. The center control is a joystick controller that is similar in size and design the one found on the GZ-MG555, and may present a challenge to users like myself with larger than average hands. The joystick serves as the menu navigation tool, and in recording modes, offers access to Program AE modes and night shooting mode. Underneath the LCD screen in a label indicating this is a 16:9 display.
In the LCD cavity of the JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 are a number of controls and features for the camcorder. In the upper back corner is a small rectangular button for shooting info, while the menu button is located directly beneath and identical in size and shape. Moving forward from the info button is the select play/rec button for switching between shooting and playback/review modes. Beneath the select play/rec button a direct back-upbutton, offering one-touch archiving of video content to a PC.
Under these controls is a component port in the lower back corner of the LCD cavity, and a S-Video port is located in front and slightly above the component port. Above the component port is the onboard audio speaker for monitoring in playback mode. Above the LCD screen, on an angled face, between the left and top faces of the camcorder are two small controls. The back control will trigger the backlight on and off while the control to the front allows the user to switch back and forth between auto and manual shooting modes. In front of the hinge connecting the LCD to the body of the camcorder is a small button that is labeled focus. This button is likely a toggle for auto and manual focus modes.
The Top
On the top of the GZ-HD7, near the front of the camcorder, directly behind the manual focus ring is the in-camera stereo microphone. The right half of the GZ-HD7 is made from molded plastic and the grip for the right hand appears to provide a competent hold of the camcorder when shooting. A raised silver strip runs lengthwise along the ridge of the right side for extra grip. Behind the grip area of the right side is the zoom control for the camcorder. This zoom toggle has a raised lever design similar to those found on other Everios. We find JVC’s switches to be generally responsive and well-designed – better than the zoom sliders found on many Panasonic’s, but it is a touch less refined than Sony’s very nice rockers. The zoom toggle has additional control functions when not in playback mode, where it controls audio volume, display mode, and playback zoom. And finally, located directly behind the zoom toggle is the snapshot button for capturing still images. The cold shoe is positioned on the top of the lens barrel directly to the left of the zoom toggle and the snapshot button.