JVC Everio GZ-HD300 Camcorder Review

The GZ-HD300 is one of JVC's numerous mid-range HD camcorders that were released in 2009. Similar to other JVC camcorders in the same range, the HD300 is compact, relatively affordable ($700 MSRP), and well-suited for novice videographers. The camcorder records full 1920 x 1080 HD video to a 60GB hard drive, compressing the video using the popular AVCHD codec. Also packed into the small body is a 2.7-inch rotatable LCD screen, a MicroSD/SDHC card slot for expanding the camcorder's storage capacity, and a 20x optical zoom lens, which is a bigger zoom than you'll find on most compact HD camcorders.

The best thing about the GZ-HD300 is its simple interface and easy-to-use menu system. All the camcorder's settings can be found under one menu, and it was courteously designed to explain what each option does. The HD300's automatic controls were generally reliable, although exposure adjustments took a bit longer than we're accustomed to seeing from a consumer camcorder. There are a number of manual controls on the HD300, including shutter speed, white balance, and exposure adjustment, but you have to put the camcorder into Manual Mode before they can be accessed.

As with all new JVC camcorders, the HD300 offers the mildly outdated-sounding "Laser Touch," a touch-sensitive strip on the left side of the LCD panel. This strip, called the Laser Touch by JVC, is used to navigate menus, make manual adjustments, and select options. The Laser Touch, much like Sony's touchscreen, is a love-it-or-hate-it type of system. It doesn't offer precise control when you're trying to adjust things like exposure or focus, but it is helpful if you have to scroll through a long list of menu items. Overall, we found the Laser Touch strip to be more frustrating than helpful.

The GZ-HD300 is a solid, compact camcorder, but it has some handling issues. Weighing roughly 370g (0.8 lbs) fully loaded, the camcorder is light enough to lug around in a purse or small bag, but it is definitely too large to fit in a pocket. The camcorder's curved edges and smooth body make it fit easily in your palm. The biggest problem, however, is the thin, flimsy hand strap located on the right side of the camcorder. The strap, which is one of the worst we've seen in the consumer market, and it's equipped on nearly every JVC Everio this year.

The GZ-HD300 does have the ability to take still photos, but the maximum image resolution is a measly 1920 x 1080. The camcorder doesn't have much in the way of ports either: no headphone jack, external mic input, or accessory shoe. The HD300 does include a set of JVC's "one-touch" features on the inside of the LCD cavity. The buttons are meant to provide seamless interaction between the camcorder and a computer or DVD burner. Unfortunately, the "one-touch" systems aren't as simple or intuitive as they sound.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The video performance of the GZ-HD300 was often lackluster, especially in low light, but there were some positives. Its color accuracy in bright light was very strong, measuring as one of the best scores we've seen from a consumer camcorder. Video sharpness wasn't nearly as good as you'd find on a high-end HD camcorder, but it was still decent in bright light. Low light performance, on the other hand, was poor.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
The JVC GZ-HD300 is definitely not a high-end HD camcorder, owing to its limited sharpness and struggles with low light sensitivity. With a price tag of less than $700, however, the camcorder offers a decent value compared to much of the competition. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 is the most direct competitor to the HD300 when you consider portability, performance, and price. The Panasonic does have a few more manual controls and settings, while the JVC is easier to use, which makes it a better product for beginners.

The Canon HF20 costs roughly $200 more than the GZ-HD300, but it also has much better video sharpness and improved still image capability. The Canon has some extra features that the JVC lacks (like 24p and 30p alternate frame rates) and it also records to 32GB of internal flash memory instead of an internal hard drive. The Sanyo VPC-HD2000, a unique camcorder with an upright design, is another option in the sub-$700 price range. While the Sanyo has much better video performance than the JVC GZ-HD300, it also has a poorly designed interface and some awkward construction.

The basic point is, if you want a camcorder that is easy to use, and you don't need top-notch video quality, the JVC GZ-HD300 is a compelling option.

For a more in-depth review, visit the JVC Everio GZ-HD300 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com