Sony HDR-TG5V

Even though it has a horizontal design, the JVC GZ-X900 has a very similar size and weight to the HDR-TG5V. The two camcorders are almost perfectly rectangular, which makes them easier to slip into a pocket than most traditional camcorders. The GZ-X900 is also the same price as the HDR-TG5V ($999), so these two models make for an excellent comparison.

The biggest fault of the JVC GZ-X900 is its dismal low light performance. The camcorder simply cannot capture a usable image in low light unless you use a slow shutter, which creates motion trails and choppy footage, or you somehow boost your light source. The Sony HDR-TG5V wasn’t a spectacular low light performer in its own right, but it did way better than the JVC GZ-X900. In bright light, the JVC GZ-X900 captured stellar video, although the Sony HDR-TG5V wasn’t too far behind.

Both of these camcorders have some handling flaws. The Sony has its annoying touchscreen and its inability to precisely adjust manual controls. The JVC uses a Laser Touch strip system that can be just as finicky and annoying as a touchscreen. The GZ-X900 does have a few more manual controls than the Sony—including an aperture-priority and shutter-priority mode.

In our opinion, the Sony TG5V is the better overall camcorder here, mainly because of its stronger low light performance. We also think the Sony gives you more bang for your buck because it costs the same as the JVC, but it includes 16GB of internal flash memory (the JVC only records to memory cards). If you like the GZ-X900, but are looking for a more versatile product, check out the JVC GZ-HM400. It has similar specs to the X900, but its performance was much improved. It also has 32GB of internal memory, costs the same as the X900, and handles way better.