Introduction

At a price of only $700, the JVC GZ-HD300 is a decent little high definition camcorder. It can't come close to the performance offered by more expensive models from other manufacturers, but it's a simple—and adequate—entry-level model. By forgoing the powerhouse performance, alternate frame rates, robust manual controls, and extra connectivity, you can save yourself some valuable money. The HD300 also has one thing that many other similarly priced camcorders lack: a 60GB internal hard drive. If you're shopping for a camcorder in this price range, you'll simply have to decide whether simplicity and affordability outweigh the few sacrifices you'll need to make.

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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In the Box

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Color

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The JVC GZ-HD300 doesn't have the sharpest image or the best low light performance, but it did put up very accurate color results in our bright light testing. The camcorder measured a minuscule color error of only 2.13, which is one of the best color scores we've seen this year. The camcorder registered a saturation level of 98.41% in this same test. More on how we test color.

In the color error map above, you can see how well the JVC GZ-HD300 did with each individual color patch. The camcorder managed to register nearly all the colors in our test chart very accurately. Some of the greens were a bit more off than other colors, but the HD300 did an excellent job overall.

An unfortunate aspect with the GZ-HD300 is the camcorder's complete lack of additional color modes or color adjustment controls. There are no options for adjusting color saturation, sharpness, or for enhancing skin tones. Still, the camcorder's video image in auto mode (as seen above, with a manual white balance) offers strong, deep colors that are very accurate.

The rest of the camcorders in this testing set didn't fair as well with color accuracy in bright light. The worst was the Panasonic HDC-HS20, which posted a rather high color error of 5.41. Both the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 and Canon HF20 had decent color accuracy in bright light, but their numbers were no match for the JVC GZ-HD300. Check out the close-up color comparisons below for a better idea of how each camcorder rendered particular colors in our test.

Above, you probably noticed how the HD300 color patches appear significantly darker than the patches labeled as Ideal. This darker color on the HD300 is due to its high saturation level (approx. 98%), which gives the colors a deep, vivid tone. The camcorder's colors are still very accurate, it's just that they are a bit more saturated than the ideal. This is a very common occurrence in consumer camcorders, as most manufacturers tend to push the saturation levels so the products will capture bluer skies, greener grass, and a more vivid image.

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Low Light Color

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The GZ-HD300 didn't capture colors nearly as accurately in low light as it did in bright light. The results weren't too bad—5.15 color error with 55.87% saturation—and they are fairly average for a camcorder of its class. The Canon HF20 had a very similar color error in low light, while the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 did much better. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 was the worst low light color performer in this set of camcorders. More on how we test low light color.

You can see in the error map above, how poorly the JVC did with low light color accuracy. The camcorder's image appeared somewhat faded and dull in low light, although it wasn't as dark as the Canon HF20 or Panasonic HDC-HS20. Colors lacked pop and depth, especially when compared to how vivid the JVC's image looked in bright light.

The only camcorder that really stands out in this group is the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which produced very strong colors in low light and offers an excellent low light capability all-around. Notice how much richer its colors look compared to the other camcorders in this bunch.

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Noise

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The JVC GZ-HD300 measured fairly low noise levels in bright light. The camcorder averaged approximately .72% noise in this test, which is average for a consumer camcorder of its class. The close-up comparison images below will give you a better idea of how sharp an image the HD300 is capable of capturing, as well as show you the presence of artifacting and noise in its bright-light image. More on how we test noise.

The JVC GZ-HD300 is clearly not the sharpest camcorder of this set. The Canon HF20 has far more detail and a far better picture than the JVC in bright light. The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 also produces a sharper image, although it isn't on par with the Canon. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 is quite similar to the JVC in its ability to capture detail and sharpness. In the close-up of the HD300 you can notice some slight discoloration in the vertical trumpets, especially as the lines get smaller and narrower. There is also some color-fringing around the edge of the black box in the top-middle of the image. The brown patch shows some strong artifacting and color bleeding as well.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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When the lights get dim, the JVC GZ-HD300 starts having some very real problems. The camcorder's low light sensitivity is simply awful. In our test, it required 29 lux of light to measure 50 IRE on the waveform monitor. This abysmal performance means the camcorder won't be able to deliver the goods unless you're filming with an adequate light source. Now, to be fair, both the Panasonic HDC-HS20 and Canon HF20 also showed poor low light sensitivities in our test, but the results of those two camcorder's weren't quite as bad as what the GZ-HD300 gave us. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

The only camcorder in this set that offers a good low light sensitivity is the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which needed only 9 lux to peak at 50 IRE. This is a very good score and it makes the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 one of the best low light performers we've tested this year. Unlike the other camcorders in this set, the JVC GZ-HD300 does not have a 24p or 30p record mode. These alternate frame rates usually boost a camcorder's low light performance by a significant margin because the slower rates allow more light to enter through the lens. The JVC GZ-HD300 does have a slow shutter option, which allows the camcorder to drop down to a shutter speed of 1/30 of a second, but we don't use this setting in our testing as it produces motion trails and choppy images.

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Low Light Noise

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has a very fuzzy image in low light. The camcorder's image is dull and captures little detail (see crop below). This fuzziness isn't entirely made up of noise, although the camcorder did average 1.315% noise in our low light testing. The soft image also comes from the HD300's inability to capture a sharp image and its poor low light sensitivity. It simply isn't showing as strong an image as some of the other camcorders in this set. More on how we test low light noise.

Of the camcorders shown above, the one with the most noise in low light is the Canon HF20. It has a fine layer of noise over an otherwise sharp, crisp image. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 has the least amount of noise, although its image isn't very detailed or sharp (it also has a lot of artifacting). The JVC and Sanyo camcorders both measured similar amounts of noise, although the Sanyo has a far better image in low light.

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Low Light Color

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The GZ-HD300 didn't capture colors nearly as accurately in low light as it did in bright light. The results weren't too bad—5.15 color error with 55.87% saturation—and they are fairly average for a camcorder of its class. The Canon HF20 had a very similar color error in low light, while the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 did much better. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 was the worst low light color performer in this set of camcorders. More on how we test low light color.

You can see in the error map above, how poorly the JVC did with low light color accuracy. The camcorder's image appeared somewhat faded and dull in low light, although it wasn't as dark as the Canon HF20 or Panasonic HDC-HS20. Colors lacked pop and depth, especially when compared to how vivid the JVC's image looked in bright light.

The only camcorder that really stands out in this group is the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which produced very strong colors in low light and offers an excellent low light capability all-around. Notice how much richer its colors look compared to the other camcorders in this bunch.

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Motion

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The JVC GZ-HD300 only has one frame rate for recording video—1080/60i. All the other camcorders in this set offer at least one alternate frame rate in addition to 60i recording. Still, footage is smooth on the HD300 and trailing isn't much of a problem. There is more artifacting present on the HD300's footage compared to other camcorders (like the Canon HF20), but the overall motion is pretty good. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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Video sharpness isn't the JVC-HD300's strong point. It simply doesn't capture video with the same level of detail as, say, the Canon HF20 or Sanyo VPC-HD2000. In our testing, the camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of approximately 550 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical sharpness of 600 lw/ph. These are the same numbers we measured on the Panasonic HDC-HS20.

This year, we've been seeing some strong improvements in video sharpness. While the HD300's results aren't terrible, they're clearly not keeping up with the high standards being set by other manufacturers. Many new camcorders have very high effective pixel counts, which is definitely resulting in sharper, more detailed images. The Canon HF20 has an extremely detailed image in bright light and it outscored the JVC-HD300 by a wide margin in this test. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Ease of Use

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The JVC GZ-HD300 should be relatively easy for beginners to use. The camcorder doesn't have too many complicated buttons or settings and its menus are easy to navigate and understand. There's even a little info box in the menu system that gives you some extra information about each option as you select it. The camcorder doesn't have a dedicated 'easy' mode like you'll find on Sony camcorders, but it does have an auto mode setting, which turns off access to manual control options.

The most difficult feature to get used to on the HD300 is probably its Laser Touch navigation controls. The system can be difficult to get used to and often results in downright frustration for those who are not used to the Laser Touch's unresponsive design. Once you get the hang of using the Laser Touch, it can be a useful tool for making adjustments and navigating menus. Getting used to the strip, however, can take a good deal of time and learning how to deal with its awkward design can be aggravating.

Inside the LCD cavity, there are a number of one-touch buttons that are meant to help with uploading, exporting, and burning recorded video to DVD. While these buttons are excellent ideas, their implementation is poor and they end up being more of a nuisance than an actual time saver.

The menu system on the JVC GZ-HD300 is a huge relief after wading through the complex layered mazes presented on many of the industry's flagship camcorders. On the top models from several other manufacturers, there are different menus that pop up depending on which button you push. And it's often not obvious which menu might house the particular feature you want. The JVC is as straightforward as they come.

On the HD300, everything is packed neatly into a single menu, which is accessed via the Menu button on the LCD panel. Most of the important features are right there in the main menu, while some things are filed into a handful of submenus. The most commonly used submenu for many users will be the Manual Settings submenu, which is located right at the top of the main menu—as long as you're not in Auto mode, which hides the Manual Settings completely. In Manual Settings, you have access to every kind of manual image adjustment you would want to make, including full manual controls (like shutter speed and manual focus) and more automated features (like scene modes and Auto Gain Control).

The one drawback to the menu interface is the Laser Touch controls, which lack the precision needed to breeze through a list of items and stop quickly on the item of your choice. Once you're accustomed to the system, it's actually quite simple and fun to use, but the learning curve is quite steep. The Laser Touch simply isn't as responsive as you think it should be, causing a lot of choices to fly by when you least expect them to. Keeping the operation sounds activated helps quite a lot, since the beep can help you tell when to stop scrolling.

If you're looking for the operation sounds option or any other administrative function, you'll need to check out the other submenus located at the bottom of the main menu. Display Settings, Basic Settings, Connection Settings, and Media Settings all hold the options you'd expect to find there. The one option we might have put somewhere else? Changing the peaking color for focus assist is in the Display Settings submenu, instead of gathered with the manual controls. Everything else is logically and intuitively organized. What a welcome departure from the convoluted menus we've seen on most of the competition.

NTSC models can be set to one of seven different languages, including French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Auto Mode

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As with most compact HD camcorders, the JVC GZ-HD300 is likely to attract a variety of beginner and novice users. This makes its auto features all more important. The auto system on the HD300 is a bit different than on other camcorders. There is no simple 'easy' mode that locks you out of accessing any of the camcorder's controls. Instead, there is a regular auto mode, which simply hides all the manual control features from the menu system. You can even switch over to manual mode and still run the camcorder entirely automatically. All controls must be individually set to manual in addition to being in manual mode before they can be adjusted by the user.

As far as the basic manual controls go, some of them were very good, while others didn't perform as well as we expected. Autofocus is very good and it works quickly and accurately. Subjects don't appear to awkwardly snap into focus, nor does the system work slowly—it simply works very well. The camcorder is also equipped with face detection, which we found to also work well.

Auto exposure was another story. It worked very slowly, often taking up to 3-4 seconds before the camcorder finishes its adjustment. When in manual mode, you can set the exposure metering mode to Whole Screen or Spot. In Spot mode, a target appears in the center of the screen and exposure adjustments are made based on the level of light that the target is pointed at. Using Spot mode definitely increases the speed of auto exposure adjustments, although it can be difficult to use if you're filming in a mixed-light situation. Also buried in the camcorder's menu is a backlight compensation feature, which will help expose a subject that has strong illumination behind them.

Auto white balance on the GZ-HD300 worked better than it did on the standard definition JVC GZ-MG670, but it still wasn't anything terrific. In some of our bright light testing, we noticed a yellow hue and some awkward color balance issues when using auto white balance settings. The manual white balance works well, but it is hard to use and is definitely not intuitive.

Low Light Modes - The GZ-HD300 doesn't have a true dedicated low light mode (like Sony's infrared NightShot system). What it does have is a slow shutter option and a Night scene mode. The slow shutter setting is a bit confusing, as it is part of the Auto Gain Control (AGC) menu. Setting the AGC to Auto allows the camcorder to drop to a 1/30 of a second shutter speed in low light situations. It probably would have made more sense for JVC to simply call this a slow shutter setting, rather than grouping it with AGC. The Night scene mode is essentially the same setting, except it allows the camcorder's shutter speed to drop to even slower speeds. Yes, this will boost the light levels when you film in the dark, but it also produces an intensely choppy slow-shutter effect that completely alters the video image.

Scene Modes - Scene modes can be set only when the camcorder is in Manual mode. The HD300 has scene options for Night, Twilight, Portrait, Sports, Snow, and Spotlight.

Other Auto Features

Handling

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All the 2009 consumer camcorders from JVC have a very similar design. They all feature a compact, boxy design with a slick coating of smooth gloss. Since the JVC GZ-HD300 has a 60GB internal hard drive built into its body, it has a slight bump on its right side—a design that should be familiar to anyone who has used a hard drive camcorder before. The thing is, the HD300 actually has less of a right-side bump than most internal hard drive camcorders (especially ones loaded with a huge hard drive). It's really personal preference as to whether this design is good or bad. If you like having a tall protrusion on the right side of the camcorder to wrap your hands around, the JVC GZ-HD300 may not give you enough to grab hold of. If you like a more streamlined design, on the other hand, the HD300 may be the fit you are looking for.

One of the biggest problems with the GZ-HD300 is its thin, flimsy hand strap. The strap doesn't provide much support, is terribly uncomfortable, and doesn't accommodate very well for people with large hands. This hand strap issue is a problem with all JVC consumer camcorders in 2009, as they all feature poor designs. This doesn't bode well for a long day of shooting, where a good hand strap can be a life saver. On the bright side, the GZ-HD300 is quite light, so it shouldn't be too difficult to wield for long periods of time.

There's also the issue of the Laser Touch control system on the HD300. The system, which is unique to JVC camcorders, utilizes a touch sensitive strip on the left side of the LCD panel. The strip is used to navigate menus, make manual adjustments, and control many aspects of the camcorder. While the strip can be useful for quickly scrolling through menus or making wide-range adjustments, it can also be very difficult to control precisely. We found ourselves fumbling over the Laser Touch numerous times as we tried to set exact controls like focus and exposure settings.

Portability

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JVC has created a small, compact design on all its new HD camcorders this year. Yes, they still have the traditional horizontal shape, but everything is quite portable and light. Of course, by making things small you also have to cut out a number of features. The hand strap on the GZ-HD300 is thin and flimsy, the camcorder offers no viewfinder or accessory shoe, and connectivity options are limited. Still, at 370g fully loaded, the HD300 is smaller than most camcorders in its class. This is saying a lot, especially when you consider the camcorder has a built-in 60GB hard drive. The GZ-HD300 is both lighter and thinner than the Panasonic HDC-HS20, although the HS20 does have a larger internal hard drive (80GB).

Looking at the numbers, the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 is a bit lighter than the JVC HD300. That camcorder, however, includes no internal memory. This means you have to invest in a collection of memory cards before you can use it to shoot or take it with you on vacation. The HD300's 60GB hard drive is a terrific asset as far as portability is concerned, and it is perfect for people who always forget to pack tapes or memory cards in their camera bag.

The JVC GZ-HD300 could fit into a large pocket if you force it to, but it really isn't designed for that kind of transportation. This puts the camcorder into a middle category—it's a good deal smaller than your average camcorder, but it's still too big to be considered an ultra-compact.

Battery Life

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The JVC GZ-HD300 lasted for 99 minutes, 57 seconds in our battery life test. This is a good performance for the little camcorder, especially compared to some of the competition. The Panasonic HDC-HS20 couldn't crack the 80-minute barrier, while the Canon HF20 did about the same as the HD300. The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 lasted for the longest time (112 minutes), but that camcorder has an enclosed battery pack, which means you cannot upgrade to a larger, longer-lasting battery if you desire such things. More on how we test battery life.

The battery on the JVC GZ-HD300 loads from the back, with the DC-input resting just above the battery compartment. This open-compartment design makes it simple to upgrade to a larger battery in order to give the camcorder more life. All the camcorders in this set, other than the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, are compatible with larger batteries.

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LCD

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The JVC GZ-HD300 comes with a 2.7-inch, 123,000-pixel LCD. As is customary on most consumer camcorders, the LCD panel can be rotated up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, including self-recording. You can manually set the brightness of the LCD within the menus. A slider will appear, giving you a choice of eleven different increments. There is also a Monitor Backlight feature that can be set to auto, standard, or brighter. As we so often remind our readers, always take care when tampering with the brightness setting of your LCD. On a camcorder with no viewfinder, brightened LCDs often give a false impression of what the final footage will look like.

The JVC GZ-HD300 does not have a viewfinder—unlike some more expensive models from Panasonic and Sony. That means lining up your shots has to take place with the LCD. Fortunately, JVC hasn't switched over to touch screen operation just yet. That should keep your LCD relatively fingerprint-free. The Display button inside the LCD cavity will clear up some of that valuable LCD real estate if you feel the screen is too cluttered.

On the down side, no touch screen means that you're relying entirely on JVC's Laser Touch operation. It's a system that takes some acclimation (see Ease of Use and Handling, above), but it works well and keeps your fingers and fingerprints out of the way.

Stabilization

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has a digital image stabilization system. This means you might notice some loss of image quality when you have stabilization turned on (unlike optical image stabilization, which shouldn't degrade your image). Despite all this, the GZ-HD300 did rather well in our stabilization testing. With our lower shake setting, the camcorder reduced the shake by 61%. With the higher shake test, the GZ-HD300 managed to cut shake by 50%. These results are similar to what the Panasonic HDC-HS20 put up, but that camcorder uses optical image stabilization. More on how we test stabilization.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Here, again, the JVC is somewhat lacking. Certainly nothing as advanced as noise reduction (like you'll find on the Sanyo VPC-HD2000) or even as simple as guidelines, which you find on virtually every other comparable camcorder.

Tele Macro

Allows you to focus on items close to the camcorder (focal distance is approximately 1cm to 1m)

Audio Controls

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has the bare minimum of audio features. It doesn't have an external mic input or headphone jack, it has no accessory shoe for mounting a microphone, and its manual audio controls are very limited. All it does have is a built-in, 2-channel mic on the front of the camcorder. The mic is placed well, in the sense that it is out of the way from wandering fingertips or noisy straps.

The only audio control featured on the camcorder is a wind-cut option that is designed to limit the amount of rustle produced by wind noise. There are no audio level adjustment options, level displays, or microphone controls. The other camcorders in this set aren't stupendous audio devices either, but they all do offer some manual audio controls. The Canon HF20 and Sanyo VPC-HD2000 also include external mic and headphone jacks.

Editing

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The GZ-HD300 offers more internal editing options than your average camcorder. There's the basic options, like making playlists and dividing or trimming clips, but there's also some fancy post-production faders (white or black) as well as transition wipes (slide, door, scroll, or shutter). Now, using these tools to create a little video isn't the easiest process in the world, but it is a nice feature to play around with a few times.

For people who want more control over their videos (as well as an easier platform for editing them) the camcorder ships with the Everio Media Browser HD software. The program's main function is to assist with video importing and organization so you can get your clips onto a computer. Other features include DVD creation, video exporting, and uploading to YouTube. The software is also compatible with the HD300's one-touch features that allow you to quickly upload, export to iTunes, or burn your videos to DVD. Unfortunately, these one-touch systems weren't as easy to use as they sound, and the software made things more difficult than they needed to be. The Media Browser software is also not compatible with Macs.

Media Browser HD does a good job organizing your clips. Videos can be arranged as thumbnails and there's also a nifty calendar view that displays videos by the date they were recorded. At the bottom of the screen are buttons for creating a disc, exporting, and uploading videos to YouTube. Using these features was relatively easy and simple, although video files captured at the highest quality setting cannot be burned to a regular DVD.

Oddly, we found that the use of the one-touch buttons inside the camcorder's LCD cavity. In order to use these features, you must press the buttons before you start recording. So, if you know that you're going to be burning your footage to DVD later, you can push the Direct Disc button and record away. Then, when you connect the camcorder to your computer and select burn disc, the Media Browser software will open with those files ready to burn. What we didn't like about this setup was the fact that you had to press the one-touch buttons before you record anything. It appears all the one-touch buttons do is tag your videos for the Media Browser software so it knows which ones to automatically select when you pick an option (like upload, export, create disc).

Uploading to YouTube is the same deal as creating a disc. You can use the one-touch buttons on the inside of the LCD cavity, but they don't really save you much time. It is easy enough to simply drag and drop your videos (any of your videos, not just ones that have been recorded with the one-touch upload button engaged) from Media Browser's window onto the Upload to YouTube panel. Then, you need to enter your YouTube account info and you're on your way to internet stardom.

While we think the one-touch buttons are a great idea, they really aren't as simple as they sound. We would have liked them much more if you could easily tag videos after they had been shot. This way, you can go through your recorded clips and select what you want to burn, what you want to upload, and what you want to export to iTunes. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Compression

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The JVC GZ-HD300 uses AVCHD compression (based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec), which is essentially the standard for consumer HD camcorders that capture video to flash memory or an internal hard drive. While AVCHD compression has improved over the years to a point where it produces very good video, it also comes with a standard warning: AVCHD footage can be very difficult to edit using non-linear editing software. Clips are large and full of information, which makes editing the video sluggish and problematic on old or weak computers. Check out the Editing section of this review (below, after Media) for more information on this topic.

The camcorder can record video in 4 quality settings, ranging from 5Mbps bitrate on the lowest to 24Mbps at the highest quality. 24Mbps is actually the highest bitrate allowed for AVCHD footage, so the HD300 is pushing the codec to its far end with its highest quality setting. HD camcorders from Canon and Sanyo can also record at 24Mbps, while models from Sony and Panasonic top out at 16Mbps and 17Mbps respectively. While many people make a big deal about maximum bitrates, the truth is we've noticed very little difference between a camcorder that records at 17Mbps versus one that does 24Mbps. All video recorded on the GZ-HD300 is captured at a 1920 x 1080 resolution using the AVCHD codec. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has a 60GB internal hard drive, which will hold approximately 5.5 hours of the highest quality footage. If that enormous hard drive still isn't enough space for you, there's always the JVC GZ-HD320, which has the same form factor but comes with 120GB of internal hard drive space. (Though, the HD320 comes only in black—not blue or red.)

A lot of manufacturers seem to be in this race for high capacity hard drives, all based on the fundamental idea that bigger is better. Look at the Sony HDR-XR520V, with its 240GB hard drive. However, we think there might be a relationship between the capacity of the camcorder and the consumer's capacity for complacency: the larger your hard drive, the longer you're likely to go without backing up or transferring your files. The delicate moving parts of a hard drive are still no match for the durability and reliability of flash memory. So, if you are going to buy a big hard drive, make sure your videos are safely stored as often as possible. And before you spend money on another 60 to 180GB of storage space, make sure it's really necessary.

As an added bonus, the JVC GZ-HD300 has a microSD/SDHC card slot on the bottom of the camcorder, which will let you transfer or backup files without connecting to your computer. MicroSD isn't as popular as regular SD/SDHC, but the cards can be purchased at a lot of stores and are sometimes used as removable media storage for cell phones. You also need a small converter to read the cards, since PCs and even most card readers don't have a slot for microSD. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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While the JVC GZ-HD300 can take still photos, it is rather limited in the qualities and sizes available. The maximum still image resolution on the camcorder is only 1920 x 1080. In an age where 10-megapixel still cameras are common, a 1920 x 1080 (just over 2 megapixels) is simply not going to cut it. Photos can be captured in regular video mode (even during recording) by pressing the shutter button, or you can switch over to still mode by flipping the tiny blue button inside the LCD cavity. In still mode there are more options for controlling photographic settings.

Along with 1920 x 1080 images, the camcorder can also take photos at 1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480—both of which are 4:3 aspect ratios. There is no flash on the JVC GZ-HD300, although the camcorder does have a video light that could help brighten your subject if you're in a pinch. The shutter button is easily accessible on the top of the camcorder, just behind the zoom toggle.

In still mode the same set of manual controls that are available in video mode are also applicable. Scene modes, manual focus (with focus assist), brightness adjustment (exposure), shutter speed, white balance, backlight compensation, photometry area, and digital effects can all be selected and applied to still images. There are also a few settings that control still images only. There's a self timer, which can be set at two or ten seconds, or it can be programmed to take a photo when a new face is detected within the frame. A continuous shooting mode is also available, and it will consistently snap photos for as long as you hold the shutter button down (at a rate of roughly four photos per second).

The GZ-HD300 didn't do as well in our still color testing as it did in our video color tests. At best, the camcorder measured a color error of 4.11 in the still image test. Its saturation level was 110.4%. This is still a decent color accuracy, it's just not as good as the camcorder's results in our bright light video testing.

The JVC HD300 has limited photo capability to begin with, so the color accuracy of its still images probably won't be much of a concern for anyone. The JVC GZ-HD300 actually looks quite good in comparison with the Panasonic HS20, Canon HF20, and Sanyo VPC-HD2000.

The JVC GZ-HD300 registered roughly the same percentage of noise in its still photos as it did in its bright light video. The camcorder averaged 0.7% noise in its photos, which is an average score. Keeping in mind the fact that the HD300 doesn't take high-quality still photos in the first place, this presence of noise is unlikely to bother most users. If you really care about capturing quality photographs, you're better off using a dedicated still camera.

Since the GZ-HD300 has a maximum still image resolution of only 1920 x 1080, it should come as no surprise that the camcorder's still image sharpness scores are fairly low. At best, the HD300 managed a horizontal sharpness of 868 lw/ph with 7.8% oversharpening and a vertical sharpness of 614 lw/ph with 0.1% oversharpening. This limited oversharpening is a good sign, as it means the camcorder isn't trying to boost the sharpness using digital processing. Still, these are rather mediocre scores compared to what any decent digital camera is capable of. There are also plenty of HD camcorders that produce much larger, sharper still images—like the Canon HF S100, Sanyo VPC-HD2000, and JVC's new GZ-X900.

Lens & Imaging System

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has a small Konica Minolta HD lens, with a 20x optical zoom and a 30.5mm filter diameter. The lens features an automatic cover that opens and closes as the camcorder is turned on and off. The camcorder utilizes a 1/4.1-inch CMOS imager with a total pixel count of 3.05-megapixels. This is roughly the same size sensor and pixel count featured on the Canon HF20.

LCD

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The JVC GZ-HD300 comes with a 2.7-inch, 123,000-pixel LCD. As is customary on most consumer camcorders, the LCD panel can be rotated up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, including self-recording. You can manually set the brightness of the LCD within the menus. A slider will appear, giving you a choice of eleven different increments. There is also a Monitor Backlight feature that can be set to auto, standard, or brighter. As we so often remind our readers, always take care when tampering with the brightness setting of your LCD. On a camcorder with no viewfinder, brightened LCDs often give a false impression of what the final footage will look like.

The JVC GZ-HD300 does not have a viewfinder—unlike some more expensive models from Panasonic and Sony. That means lining up your shots has to take place with the LCD. Fortunately, JVC hasn't switched over to touch screen operation just yet. That should keep your LCD relatively fingerprint-free. The Display button inside the LCD cavity will clear up some of that valuable LCD real estate if you feel the screen is too cluttered.

On the down side, no touch screen means that you're relying entirely on JVC's Laser Touch operation. It's a system that takes some acclimation (see Ease of Use and Handling, above), but it works well and keeps your fingers and fingerprints out of the way.

Connectivity

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The JVC GZ-HD300 doesn't have the plethora of connectivity options you'd find on most larger, high-end consumer camcorders. It has no headphone or mic jack, no accessory shoe, and it offers a MicroSD/SDHC card slot rather than the standard SD/SDHC. It does have your basic video outputs, however, like the HDMI and Component-out ports found inside the LCD cavity. These two ports are both uncovered, although the LCD panel provides them with protection when it is closed. On the right side of the camcorder, near the back, is a covered AV-out port. This is good to have if you plan on connecting the camcorder to a standard definition television.

Moving over to the front of the camcorder, you'll find the HD300's USB port. It, like the AV-output, is covered by a rubberized piece of plastic that provides adequate protection. At the back of the camcorder, just above the battery compartment is the DC power input. All these ports are well-placed and easy to access.

On the bottom of the camcorder is the HD300's MicroSD/SDHC card slot. Here, you can insert a MicroSD/SDHC card to give the camcorder the option of recording to memory card rather than its internal hard drive. While it is great to see a flash-memory option on the HD300, MicroSD cards are more expensive and harder to find than standard SD/SDHC cards.

Battery

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The battery on the JVC GZ-HD300 loads from the back, with the DC-input resting just above the battery compartment. This open-compartment design makes it simple to upgrade to a larger battery in order to give the camcorder more life. All the camcorders in this set, other than the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, are compatible with larger batteries. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The JVC GZ-HD300 has a 60GB internal hard drive, which will hold approximately 5.5 hours of the highest quality footage. If that enormous hard drive still isn't enough space for you, there's always the JVC GZ-HD320, which has the same form factor but comes with 120GB of internal hard drive space. (Though, the HD320 comes only in black—not blue or red.)

A lot of manufacturers seem to be in this race for high capacity hard drives, all based on the fundamental idea that bigger is better. Look at the Sony HDR-XR520V, with its 240GB hard drive. However, we think there might be a relationship between the capacity of the camcorder and the consumer's capacity for complacency: the larger your hard drive, the longer you're likely to go without backing up or transferring your files. The delicate moving parts of a hard drive are still no match for the durability and reliability of flash memory. So, if you are going to buy a big hard drive, make sure your videos are safely stored as often as possible. And before you spend money on another 60 to 180GB of storage space, make sure it's really necessary.

As an added bonus, the JVC GZ-HD300 has a microSD/SDHC card slot on the bottom of the camcorder, which will let you transfer or backup files without connecting to your computer. MicroSD isn't as popular as regular SD/SDHC, but the cards can be purchased at a lot of stores and are sometimes used as removable media storage for cell phones. You also need a small converter to read the cards, since PCs and even most card readers don't have a slot for microSD. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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While the JVC GZ-HD300 can take still photos, it is rather limited in the qualities and sizes available. The maximum still image resolution on the camcorder is only 1920 x 1080. In an age where 10-megapixel still cameras are common, a 1920 x 1080 (just over 2 megapixels) is simply not going to cut it. Photos can be captured in regular video mode (even during recording) by pressing the shutter button, or you can switch over to still mode by flipping the tiny blue button inside the LCD cavity. In still mode there are more options for controlling photographic settings.

Along with 1920 x 1080 images, the camcorder can also take photos at 1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480—both of which are 4:3 aspect ratios. There is no flash on the JVC GZ-HD300, although the camcorder does have a video light that could help brighten your subject if you're in a pinch. The shutter button is easily accessible on the top of the camcorder, just behind the zoom toggle.

In still mode the same set of manual controls that are available in video mode are also applicable. Scene modes, manual focus (with focus assist), brightness adjustment (exposure), shutter speed, white balance, backlight compensation, photometry area, and digital effects can all be selected and applied to still images. There are also a few settings that control still images only. There's a self timer, which can be set at two or ten seconds, or it can be programmed to take a photo when a new face is detected within the frame. A continuous shooting mode is also available, and it will consistently snap photos for as long as you hold the shutter button down (at a rate of roughly four photos per second).

The GZ-HD300 didn't do as well in our still color testing as it did in our video color tests. At best, the camcorder measured a color error of 4.11 in the still image test. Its saturation level was 110.4%. This is still a decent color accuracy, it's just not as good as the camcorder's results in our bright light video testing.

The JVC HD300 has limited photo capability to begin with, so the color accuracy of its still images probably won't be much of a concern for anyone. The JVC GZ-HD300 actually looks quite good in comparison with the Panasonic HS20, Canon HF20, and Sanyo VPC-HD2000.

The JVC GZ-HD300 registered roughly the same percentage of noise in its still photos as it did in its bright light video. The camcorder averaged 0.7% noise in its photos, which is an average score. Keeping in mind the fact that the HD300 doesn't take high-quality still photos in the first place, this presence of noise is unlikely to bother most users. If you really care about capturing quality photographs, you're better off using a dedicated still camera.

Since the GZ-HD300 has a maximum still image resolution of only 1920 x 1080, it should come as no surprise that the camcorder's still image sharpness scores are fairly low. At best, the HD300 managed a horizontal sharpness of 868 lw/ph with 7.8% oversharpening and a vertical sharpness of 614 lw/ph with 0.1% oversharpening. This limited oversharpening is a good sign, as it means the camcorder isn't trying to boost the sharpness using digital processing. Still, these are rather mediocre scores compared to what any decent digital camera is capable of. There are also plenty of HD camcorders that produce much larger, sharper still images—like the Canon HF S100, Sanyo VPC-HD2000, and JVC's new GZ-X900.

Other Features

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One Touch Upload, Export, Direct Disc

These 'one-touch' features are located inside the LCD cavity to make certain functions a little bit easier for the user. They all require you to have the JVC software installed first, so it's certainly not as easy as using a Flip MinoHD or the like.

Info

The Direct Disc button inside the LCD doubles as an Info button. Press this button to see information on remaining recording time (based on the available capacity of the HDD). There's also a tab for viewing remaining battery life.

Video Light

A weak pale light that might help you find your keys inside a locked broom closet. But it won't help in most ordinary low light shooting conditions.

Digital Effects

The HD300 comes with a small assortment of digital effects that can be used to alter the look of your video. Options include: Sepia, Monotone (black and white), Classic Film, Strobe. The strobe effect mimics a sort of slow shutter, but without any motion trailing. It's almost as if they've simply removed two-thirds of the frames. This could have a neat effect if you're at a club or concert, but that's about it.

Drop Detection

The JVC GZ-HD300 has built-in drop detection so that the camcorder will automatically stop recording when it detects a sudden shift in elevation. This feature lifts the physical needle so that the hard drive is less likely to be damaged in the drop.

Title / Register Event

During playback, there is a button that will allow you to assign a decorative title placard to each playlist. Many software editing programs allow you to do something similar, often with the same gaudy results.

Canon Vixia HF20 Comparison

Based on price, performance, and size the Panasonic HDC-HS20 is probably the most direct competitor to the JVC GZ-HD300. Both record HD video to internal hard drives (the Panasonic HS20 has a slightly larger drive at 80GB) and both are fairly compact camcorders—although they're not small enough to fit easily in a pocket. In our testing, the two also did quite similar. The JVC had the edge when it came to color accuracy, but the Panasonic had lower noise levels. The two camcorders both performed poorly in low light sensitivity and they had identical scores in our video sharpness test.

So, to decide between these two camcorders you need to investigate a little deeper. While both camcorders are easy to use, the JVC HD300 is actually a bit easier. It doesn't have as many options, all controls are located under one menu, and its interface is very simple. There are advantages to the Panasonic, however, as its touchscreen system is far more intuitive than the Laser Touch operation featured on the JVC. The Panasonic also has a number of Intelligent Auto (iA) features that are simple to use once you figure them out. But, when you get down to the basics of both camcorders, the JVC GZ-HD300 is the simpler product.

We also like the fact that the JVC is good for intermediate users. When in manual mode, any setting can be kept in auto control while other settings are being adjusted. This means if you only want to change the shutter speed but keep everything else in auto, you can. The Panasonic didn't handle this concept very well. For example, if all you want to do a manual white balance you need to switch everything over to manual control.

We must say the hand strap on the JVC HD300 is very disappointing. Even though the Panasonic HS20 isn't a great handler, it still feels more comfortable in the long haul because of its superior strap. The JVC is a bit lighter than the Panasonic, however, so it may not tire out your arm as quickly. It is tough to pick a winner between these two camcorders, but we feel the JVC is a better choice if you're a beginner, while the Panasonic has better handling and more controls.

Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison

The Canon HF20 is roughly $200 more expensive than the JVC GZ-HD300 and it has a number of different specs. Instead of recording to an internal hard drive, the HF20 has 32GB of internal flash memory. The camcorder also includes an SD/SDHC memory card slot to expand its storage space. There are many benefits to flash memory—it is more efficient because it has no moving parts, it isn't as easily corruptible as a hard drive—but it is also a lot more expensive. Also, the Canon HF20 is still larger and heavier than the HD300 even though it doesn't have the added bulk of an internal hard drive.

In our testing, these two camcorders were wildly different. The JVC GZ-HD300 had the edge in most categories—with the notable exception being video sharpness. In bright light, the Canon HF20 is one of the sharpest, most detailed camcorders we have ever tested. The JVC, on the other hand, had more accurate colors and lower noise levels, but it did not produce a very sharp image. The Canon HF20 also had an edge in low light sensitivity, but the performance by both camcorders was rather poor. We have to give the Canon the overall edge in performance, simply because of its amazingly crisp, sharp image in bright light.

The JVC has a simpler menu system than the Canon, but the HF20 offers a navigation joystick instead of the awkward Laser Touch used on the JVC. If you are used to traditional camcorder design, the Canon HF20 will likely please you. It has a large, padded hand strap and a round, comfortable design that fits nicely in the hand. It doesn't have quite as many manual controls as the JVC GZ-HD300, but the two camcorders have approximately the same amount of features overall.

Update: The Canon HF20 was ultimately selected as our 2009 runer-up for Mid-Range Camcorder of the Year (behind the JVC GZ-HM200). To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

COMP 3

The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 isn't like the rest of the camcorders we used as comparisons throughout this review. First of all, it has an upright design that gives the camcorder the appearance of a futuristic ray-gun or a common hose nozzle. Secondly, it has a number of awkward design issues and some cheap construction. Thirdly, it produced some incredible results in our video testing and put up some of the best low light numbers we've seen this year. The Sanyo VPC-HD2000 isn't available in the US yet, but it is expected to retail somewhere between $600 and $800 dollars. The camcorder doesn't include any internal memory, however, so you need to factor in the cost of a couple of SD/SDHC cards into that price.

The Sanyo clearly has better video performance than the JVC HD300. Its still features are more abundant, its low light performance is far superior, and it can capture much sharper video at bright light. The GZ-HD300, however, is much easier to use and its design is far more intuitive. The menu system on the Sanyo is difficult and confusing, its navigation joystick is unresponsive and cheap, and many of the controls are aggravating to manipulate. While the Sanyo may appear more portable because of its upright design, it isn't really the case. The large lens on the Sanyo HD2000 is bulky and makes the camcorder difficult to squeeze into a pocket. On the whole, it is just as easy to transport as the JVC GZ-HD300, although the Sanyo is a bit lighter.

If you can deal with the intricacy of the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, it is a very strong camcorder overall. It has better video performance than the JVC GZ-HD300, but its awkward design may be enough to dissuade many would-be consumers. If you want a simple camcorder that is easy to use, and you don't care too much about high-end video performance, the JVC GZ-HD300 is the better buy.

Update: The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2000 was ultimately selected as our 2009 Best Value of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Conclusion

When you're shopping for an inexpensive, high definition camcorder, it usually comes down to making some sacrifices. With the JVC GZ-HD300, there are plenty of those: poor sensitivity in low light, mediocre noise levels, disappointing still photography, only the finicky Laser Touch controls for manual image adjustment, and no sign of a viewfinder, accessory shoe, or headphone/microphone jacks. What you gain with the HD300, however, might be far more important to this product's target demographic; the HD300 is incredibly small and compact, has excellent bright light color accuracy, is blessed with simple menus and control interfaces, and sports both a 60GB internal hard drive and an affordable price tag. If that sort of trade-off seems like it's right up your alley, then the JVC GZ-HD300 might be just the camcorder for you.

Photo Gallery

{{photo_gallery "Front Photo", "Left Photo", "Left Open Photo", "Back Photo", "Right Photo", "Top Photo", "Bottom Photo", "Lens Photo", "Lens Photo 2", "3D Lens Photo", "Media Photo", "Easy Mode Photo", "Manual Controls Photo", "Zoom Photo", "Zoom Photo 2", "Ease of Use Photo", "Battery Photo", "LCD Photo 1", "LCD Photo 2", "EVF Photo 1", "EVF Photo 2", "Mic Photo", "Mic Photo 2", "Ports Photo 1", "Ports Photo 2", "Ports Photo 3", "Ports Photo 4", "Ports Photo 5", "Ports Photo 6", "Handling Photo 1", "Handling Photo 2", "Handling Photo 3", "Handling Photo 4", "Box Photo"}}