Introduction

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-HM450 took a step backwards in our color accuracy test, at least compared to last year's JVC GZ-HM340 that is. The camcorder still managed a halfway decent color score of 4.57 and a saturation level of 81.5%. Despite these numbers being decent for an entry-level camcorder, it doesn't dismiss the fact that they are worse than the GZ-HM450's predecessor, as well as worse than other comparable entry-level models (like the Canon HF R21). More on how we test color.

Looking at the color error map above, you'll notice the HM450 did an excellent job rendering purple and blue tones, but had some terrible difficulty with green and yellow colors. Overall, the colors produced by the HM450 look good to our eyes, with the blues and darker colors looking rather deep and vivid. Unfortunately, the camcorder has no color modes or controls, however, so the colors you get in regular auto mode are what you're going to get for all your recordings.

It is worth comparing the hM450's video image to that of the JVC HM340. Notice how the HM340's colors look more saturated, slightly crisper, and deeper. The Sony HDR-CX160 and Canon HF R21 manged to capture lighter colors that are more similar to what the HM450 produced. Remember, color quality depends a lot on personal preference. Our numbers and test results are simply based on color accuracy formulas, If you like the way a camcorder produces color, it really doesn't matter how accurate these results are in the end. So, look at our sample images and decide for yourself what camcorder does the best job in this test.

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Low Light Color

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Low light color results for the GZ-HM450 were quite good, with the camcorder actually capturing more accurate colors in low light than in our bright light test. The camcorder managed a color error of 4.41 in low light, and a solid saturation level of just over 75%. These numbers are good for an entry-level model, although they aren't any different than what JVC managed on last year's GZ-HM340. More on how we test low light color.

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Noise

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Noise results for the GZ-HM450 were slightly better than average for an entry-level camcorder. In our testing, the camcorder averaged around 0.7% noise, which is less noise than the Canon HF R21 and Sony HDR-CX160 measured in this same test. The problem with this noise level from the HM450 is the fact that it is worse than last year's HM340—which is something we saw in our color test as well. It is always disappointing to see a camcorder manage worse performance than its predecessor. More on how we test noise.

Take a look at the crops above and you'll get a good idea of how well the GZ-HM450 is able to capture video, particularly in terms of sharpness. Cycling through the crops, you can see the Sony and Canon camcorders were able to produce slightly sharper video images than the two JVC models. Look at the bottom of the lines that run vertically down the left side of the crops to see what we're talking about.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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Our low light sensitivity test checks how much light a camcorder needs to record a decent image. The JVC GZ-HM450 didn't perform all that well in this test, with the camcorder requiring 19 lux of light to capture a usable image (we define "usable" as an image that registers 50 IRE on our waveform monitor). Without using any optical zoom, the camcorder needed just 15 lux of light to record an image with the same brightness levels (the 19 lux result was taken using zoom, which closes the camcorder's aperture a bit). More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Neither of these scores are fantastic, but they aren't much different from what we normally see from entry-level HD camcorders. The GZ-HM450 did do better in this test than its predecessor, the GZ-HM340, and its numbers were very similar to what the Sony HDR-CX160 showed us. The Canon HF R21, however, needed far less light than the competition (just 12 lux with zoom).

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Low Light Noise

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The GZ-HM450's best performance in low light came in our noise test. The camcorder averaged 0.87% noise in this test, which is a very good score for an entry-level model (better than both the Sony and Canon camcorders we compared it to). However, the HM450 again failed to best its predecessor (the HM340) in this test, although the noise results of the two camcorders were very similar. We're just saying that we like to see improvement each year, so when a camcorder is stagnant—like the HM450—we mark that as a disappointment. More on how we test low light noise.

Cycling through the crops above, you'll notice the JVC GZ-HM450 is clearly a worse camcorder in low light than the competition from Sony (HDR-CX160) and Canon (HF R21)—at least in terms of sharpness and clarity. The low light image from the HM450 is blurry and not very sharp, although it does have vivid colors and a fairly noise-free image (which you can't necessarily say about the Sony or Canon models). The cropped image above also looks very similar to what we grabbed from the GZ-HM340 last year, which confirms our suspicion that little has been made in way of improvements by JVC on the new HM450.

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Low Light Color

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Low light color results for the GZ-HM450 were quite good, with the camcorder actually capturing more accurate colors in low light than in our bright light test. The camcorder managed a color error of 4.41 in low light, and a solid saturation level of just over 75%. These numbers are good for an entry-level model, although they aren't any different than what JVC managed on last year's GZ-HM340. More on how we test low light color.

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Motion

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The motion performance from the JVC GZ-HM450 was decent, but we saw a lot of focus popping during our test. The camcorder would lose focus of our train as it went around the rear side of the track, pulling the entire video out of focus for a moment. Overall, the video looked smooth, however, and there wasn't a huge amount of trailing or ghosting. The camcorder records all video using a 60i frame rate—the HM450 does not have alternate frame rates like the Canon HF R21 (PF24 and PF30 frame rates) or the Sony HDR-CX160 (60p frame rate). More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The GZ-HM450 managed a fair, but not great, performance in our sharpness test. The camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 625 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 600 lw/ph. The disappointing factor in this score is the horizontal sharpness, which comes in as a bit worse than what we saw from last year's JVC GZ-HM340 camcorder. What is the reason for this sharpness downgrade? Perhaps it has something to do with JVC's redesign of the lens on the HM450 (an increase to 40x optical zoom, up from 20x on the GZ-HM340), or it could be a result of some tinkering to the processing or image sensor system. Either way, the results from this test put the GZ-HM450 in the lower-tier compared to other entry-level HD models in terms of sharpness. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Ease of Use

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With its iAuto mode, the JVC GZ-HM450 can be an easy camcorder to use, but we wouldn't say it's easier to use than any other entry-level camcorder on the market. Nearly all camcorders have dedicated auto modes that are simple to use and great for beginners, and there's nothing special about the one featured on the HM450 that we can say makes it better than the competition. In fact, the iAuto mode on the HM450 does leave a confusing set of options in the camcorder's menu system, while other dedicated auto modes (on camcorders from other manufacturers) often block out most of the menu options.

We do commend JVC's inclusion of standard definition recording options on the GZ-HM450, which is something that is becoming harder to find on HD models. How does this option help make the HM450 easier to use, you ask? Well, clips recorded in standard def are a whole lot easier to work with and edit on a computer compared to HD video. So, if you're recording something where quality isn't all that important, the SD recording modes can come in very handy. They're also great if your new to the video editing scene and you want to learn how to edit without the complications of HD video.

Auto Mode

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The JVC Everio GZ-HM450 isn't loaded with manual controls, so, unless you're comfortable using auto controls most of the time, this isn't the camcorder for you. You can put the camcorder into its dedicated auto mode button—Intelligent Auto—by pressing the iAuto button inside the LCD cavity. This mode makes the camcorder function with all automated controls, although you can still access the menu system (it just lacks as many options, like certain manual controls). The dedicated auto mode works well enough, and it even tries to select scene modes for you to use automatically (all camcorders do this these days, though).

Auto Controls

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Some of the basic auto controls, like focus, worked quite well on the HM450. We found the camcorder made quick adjustments to focus when we shot at different subjects, although using lots of zoom would often result in some sloppy autofocus performance (this is inevitable). Exposure adjustments were not so kind, with the camcorder often having trouble when we quickly moved from light to dark scenes (or vice versa).

For the more advanced user who is still afraid of using full-fledged manual controls, the GZ-HM450 has a Touch AE/AF option that can produce some good results. The Touch AE/AF option functions as a tracking feature that can track by the faces of your subject or by a specific color in an attempt to keep the tracked subjects in focus and exposed properly. It also works as a "spot" focus and exposure feature where you can touch the portion of the image that you'd like to bring into focus and expose correctly. The "spot" function works better than the tracking features, and the color tracking option was the weakest feature of the three.

You may be disappointed to see the HM450 has only two options under its scene modes submenu. The first scene modeis called Night Alive and it is represented by an owl. This is essentially a night mode that uses a combination of gain and slow shutter speeds to boost low light performance. Spotlight is the other scene mode on the camcorder, and it is meant to limit noise when shooting a subject under a spotlight (like at a concert or theatrical performance). Most camcorders, even entry-level models, offer more scene modes than this, so it's something of a disappointing list. The camcorder does have a backlight compensation feature that is found separate from the scene modes in the camcorder's main menu.

Handling

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There isn't much to make the JVC Everio GZ-HM450 special in terms of handling. The camcorder is equipped with a very basic, very flimsy hand strap on its right side, which makes it difficult to get a good grip on the HM450's body. Thank goodness the camcorder is light, because this hand strap provides barely any support whatsoever. The body of the camcorder also feels cheaply built, and the hard plastic coating will surely crack if the HM450 suffers an accidental drop.

When you actually use the GZ-HM450 you'll notice even more problems. The camcorder has one of the slowest interfaces we've ever seen, which means cycling through menus and adjusting controls takes forever. This can be extremely frustrating for people who know what they want to do with their camcorder and want to do it quickly. Beginners, however, may not mind this slow speed, as it may match their pace more closely. Still, everyone will likely be annoyed by the LCD's lack of responsiveness with its touchscreen interface. Maybe it was the small size of the screen that made touch-buttons difficult to activate, or maybe the screen was designed poorly. Either way, we had a terrible time working with the camcorder.

One positive handling feature on the HM450 is the camcorder's single customizable button called the "user button". This button allows you to do exactly what it sounds—customize it so it brings up a specific option or setting when you push it. So, if you find yourself constantly wanting to adjust exposure, then you can set the user button to bring up the exposure adjustment option for example. While the presence of this button is somewhat convenient, we would much rather have a better menu system or a faster user interface on the GZ-HM450 instead.

Portability

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For entry-level models like the GZ-HM450, portability is a key asset. The camcorder weighs just over half a pound (235g), which is lighter than most models in its class, but it is also quite a bit heavier than the ultracompact, pocket camcorders that are popular with beginners. Compared to similar entry-level models, like the Canon HF R21 (310g), the GZ-HM450 is one of the lightest camcorders of its class. Even its predecessor, the GZ-HM340, was a bit heavier at 255g.

The GZ-HM450 is too big to fit in your jeans pocket, but its overall dimensions aren't too bad: 51 x 55 x 119mm (2 x 2.2 x 4.7 inches). It will fit in a large coat pocket or a purse with relative ease, and the weight isn't substantial enough to put strain on your wrist. The 8GB of internal flash memory is a decent amount, but a little more would go a long way in making the HM450 a more portable all-inclusive device.

Battery Life

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We were pleased with the GZ-HM450's battery life performance with the camcorder's provided battery pack. In our test, the HM450 was able to record continuously for 135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes), which is about eight minutes longer than the GZ-HM340 lasted in this same test. This is a good showing for an entry-level camcorder, and we consider any battery performance over two hours to be good overall. Compare this to the Canon HF R21, which went for just 83 minutes in our battery test—a significant difference compared to the JVC. More on how we test battery life.

For a longer-lasting battery life, you can upgrade to a larger battery pack to work with the GZ-HM450. This is made possible due to the camcorder's open-ended battery compartment that can accommodate larger battery packs. The Canon HF R21, for example, does not have this luxury (which makes its poor battery life performance an even bigger disappointment).

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LCD

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2011 was a big year for LCDs on camcorders. Many manufacturers increased screen sizes on camcorders, and most manufacturers completed a 100% switch over to touchscreen interfaces (JVC included). While JVC did implement a touchscreen on the GZ-HM450—a welcomed change from JVC's strange Laser Touch Strip—the company did not choose to bump up the screen size on the camcorder. This leaves the HM450 with a cramped, yet decently sharp, LCD with which you must use to adjust controls and frame your video images. The screen is 2.7-inches diagonally, which may not sound much smaller than the 3-inch screen you get on the Canon HF R21, but you realize how important that extra size is when the screen is in use.

Making matters even worse is the fact that the GZ-HM450's touchscreen interface was extremely sluggish to respond when pressed. This isn't an LCD issue per se, but it is a handling issue overall (and it is one we discussed at length in the Handling section of this page).

Stabilization

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The JVC GZ-HM450 has a digital image stabilization system with two intensity options (regular and advanced). While we did find the stabilization to be reasonably effective, you must remember that this is a digital (or electronic) system, which means it may result in some loss in image quality when used (as opposed to an optical stabilization system, which shouldn't degrade the image). More on how we test stabilization.

Generally, we found the regular and advanced stabilization didn't perform much differently in our tests. At low shake, the regular IS reduced shake by up to 30%, while the advanced mode reduced it by 26%. In our high shake test, which moves the camcorder at a very rapid pace, the regular IS mode reduced the shakiness of the image by 11%. Advanced mode did do a bit better here, however, with it reducing shake by 18%.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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x.v. Color

You can record using the xvYCC expanded color gamut with this setting engaged. Unfortunately, you'll need an xvYCC-compatible television to actually see a difference.

Seamless Recording

If you think you might run out of space on your internal memory, you can turn Seamless Recording on to have the camcorder automatically switch over to recording to an inserted memory card with then internal memory fills up. This feature is especially good if you're recording a long performance, show, or event without any breaks in the action.

Tele Macro

Allows you to record ultra-close images in focus, particularly when you use lots of zoom. This feature is advantageous, considering the HM450's huge optical zoom lens (40x).

Auto Controls

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Some of the basic auto controls, like focus, worked quite well on the HM450. We found the camcorder made quick adjustments to focus when we shot at different subjects, although using lots of zoom would often result in some sloppy autofocus performance (this is inevitable). Exposure adjustments were not so kind, with the camcorder often having trouble when we quickly moved from light to dark scenes (or vice versa).

For the more advanced user who is still afraid of using full-fledged manual controls, the GZ-HM450 has a Touch AE/AF option that can produce some good results. The Touch AE/AF option functions as a tracking feature that can track by the faces of your subject or by a specific color in an attempt to keep the tracked subjects in focus and exposed properly. It also works as a "spot" focus and exposure feature where you can touch the portion of the image that you'd like to bring into focus and expose correctly. The "spot" function works better than the tracking features, and the color tracking option was the weakest feature of the three.

You may be disappointed to see the HM450 has only two options under its scene modes submenu. The first scene modeis called Night Alive and it is represented by an owl. This is essentially a night mode that uses a combination of gain and slow shutter speeds to boost low light performance. Spotlight is the other scene mode on the camcorder, and it is meant to limit noise when shooting a subject under a spotlight (like at a concert or theatrical performance). Most camcorders, even entry-level models, offer more scene modes than this, so it's something of a disappointing list. The camcorder does have a backlight compensation feature that is found separate from the scene modes in the camcorder's main menu.

Audio Controls

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Being an entry-level camcorder, we didn't expect much in the way of audio features on the GZ-HM450. Our expectations were essentially met: the GZ-HM450 includes a decent built-in stereo microphone and a wind cut feature to limit wind noise during recordings. That's it. There's no external mic jack, no headphone port, and no audio level adjustment options on the camcorder. If these are things you require, you should check out the Canon HF R21, which is one of the few entry-level camcorders that includes these features.

Editing

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The GZ-HM450 comes with the Windows-only software called Everio MediaBrowser 3. The software is built right into the camcorder itself, so don't call up JVC looking for an installation disc. You simply connect the camcorder to your PC to install the software via USB. The software is similar to previous versions of MediaBrowser that have shipped with JVC camcorders for years. It assists you with importing video clips, making basic edits, and uploading your content to the web (or burning it to DVD). 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-HM450 is capable of recording Full HD video—that's at a 1920 x 1080 resolution—but the camcorder also has the ability to record standard definition video (a new feature for JVC). Camcorders that can record HD and SD video are rather rare, although Sony includes this option on most of its camcorders (as do Samsung camcorders). We really like the fact that JVC included this SD recording feature on the HM450 because it is useful for people who don't need the quality of HD video for certain recordings (like recording a class or lecture where image quality is not important).

As the table below shows, the HM450 has four HD recording quality options and two quality options for SD recording. All record modes use the AVCHD compression system, with the SD modes using a format JVC calls AVCHD SD. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The GZ-HM450 comes loaded with 8GB of internal flash memory as well as a memory card slot that works with SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards. This is a different setup than what you find on the HM450's sibling model, the GZ-HM440, which contains two card slots but no internal memory. Frankly, we like having the internal memory instead, even if it's just a small amount like 8GB. Internal memory is great if you're in a pinch or forget to bring a memory card with you when you step out to do some recording. The 8GB won't let you store much footage—roughly 40 minutes at the highest quality setting—but something is better than nothing in our mind.

The memory card slot, which is located on the right side of the camcorder (near the bottom), looks like it is designed to fit two memory cards in two different slots. Looking closely, however, you'll notice the second slot are is filled in with plastic. So, while the HM450 certainly has the space for two card slots, JVC made the decision to awkwardly remove the second slot. Higher-end models from JVC have an identical card slot design—except the second slot actually exists on those camcorders. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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The JVC GZ-HM450, just like all Everio camcorders (and consumer camcorders in general), can take still images in addition to recording video. The camcorder will not, however, capture images with as high a resolution as you'd get from JVC's mid-range or flagship camcorders. The HM450 tops out with a 1920 x 1080 photo size, which is just over 2 megapixels—it's also the exact same size as a Full HD video image. We should point out, though, that the pixel count on the HM450's tiny sensor is just 1.5 megapixels, which means the camcorder is interpolating pixels to increase the size of the image up to 1920 x 1080 (it's doing this for video as well, but that's another story). So, the other size options on the HM450 (1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480) are the only options that take images that aren't interpolated (meaning each captured pixel has a corresponding pixel on the sensor).

Other still image features on the camcorder include a self-timer, a continuous shooting mode, and a smile shot function that snaps a photo when a smiling subject is detected in the frame. Some of these are fun features, and the continuous shooting mode is something you don't often see on an entry-level camcorder, but none of these still features really blew us away. Spend a little money on a cheap, basic digital camera and you'll get much better still images than what the GZ-HM450 is capable of capturing.

Lens & Imaging System

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The GZ-HM450 is equipped with a small (1/5.8-inch) CMOS sensor, which is the norm for an entry-level HD camcorder. The lens on the HM450 is far from normal, however, as its 40x zoom capability is one of the longest we've seen from an HD camcorder (and quite a bit longer than the competition from Sony and Canon). The lens does not have an automatic cover, so you must remember to flip the lens cover switch closed when the GZ-HM450 is not in use.

LCD

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2011 was a big year for LCDs on camcorders. Many manufacturers increased screen sizes on camcorders, and most manufacturers completed a 100% switch over to touchscreen interfaces (JVC included). While JVC did implement a touchscreen on the GZ-HM450—a welcomed change from JVC's strange Laser Touch Strip—the company did not choose to bump up the screen size on the camcorder. This leaves the HM450 with a cramped, yet decently sharp, LCD with which you must use to adjust controls and frame your video images. The screen is 2.7-inches diagonally, which may not sound much smaller than the 3-inch screen you get on the Canon HF R21, but you realize how important that extra size is when the screen is in use.

Making matters even worse is the fact that the GZ-HM450's touchscreen interface was extremely sluggish to respond when pressed. This isn't an LCD issue per se, but it is a handling issue overall (and it is one we discussed at length in the Handling section of this page).

Connectivity

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Other than lacking an external mic jack and an accessory shoe, the GZ-HM450 has all the ports and connectivity options you'd expect from a consumer camcorder. The majority of the camcorder's ports are located inside the LCD cavity, which is where you'll find the Component-out port, USB terminal, and HDMI connector all in a row. The regular AV-out port is also located in this area, to the right of the camcorder's power button. We like the way these ports are clustered together and easy to find, but we aren't pleased with the lack of port covers here. When the LCD panel is closed, however, these ports are protected, but when the LCD is in use the ports are all exposed to the elements.

The only port not located inside the LCD cavity is the DC-input, which you'll find on the right side of the camcorder. This port is protected by a small blue tab that you must pluck out from the rest of the camcorder, but stays attached to the HM450 via a plastic tether. The position of this DC-input isn't the best, as it lies right in the path where you palm will rest when gripping the camcorder with your right hand. This can be a problem if you're working with the HM450 while it is plugged into a power source.

On the same side as the DC-input, but at the very bottom of the camcorder, is the GZ-HM450's memory card slot. A long panel folds down to reveal the card slot, and the design of this compartment looks like it is meant to accommodate two memory car slots. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice the second card slot area is filled in—the dual slot system is only available on higher-end JVC models. This seems like lazy design to us. Instead of reworking the design, JVC simply covered the unused area with a piece of plastic.

Battery

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For a longer-lasting battery life, you can upgrade to a larger battery pack to work with the GZ-HM450. This is made possible due to the camcorder's open-ended battery compartment that can accommodate larger battery packs. The Canon HF R21, for example, does not have this luxury (which makes its poor battery life performance an even bigger disappointment). Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The GZ-HM450 comes loaded with 8GB of internal flash memory as well as a memory card slot that works with SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards. This is a different setup than what you find on the HM450's sibling model, the GZ-HM440, which contains two card slots but no internal memory. Frankly, we like having the internal memory instead, even if it's just a small amount like 8GB. Internal memory is great if you're in a pinch or forget to bring a memory card with you when you step out to do some recording. The 8GB won't let you store much footage—roughly 40 minutes at the highest quality setting—but something is better than nothing in our mind.

The memory card slot, which is located on the right side of the camcorder (near the bottom), looks like it is designed to fit two memory cards in two different slots. Looking closely, however, you'll notice the second slot are is filled in with plastic. So, while the HM450 certainly has the space for two card slots, JVC made the decision to awkwardly remove the second slot. Higher-end models from JVC have an identical card slot design—except the second slot actually exists on those camcorders. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The JVC GZ-HM450, just like all Everio camcorders (and consumer camcorders in general), can take still images in addition to recording video. The camcorder will not, however, capture images with as high a resolution as you'd get from JVC's mid-range or flagship camcorders. The HM450 tops out with a 1920 x 1080 photo size, which is just over 2 megapixels—it's also the exact same size as a Full HD video image. We should point out, though, that the pixel count on the HM450's tiny sensor is just 1.5 megapixels, which means the camcorder is interpolating pixels to increase the size of the image up to 1920 x 1080 (it's doing this for video as well, but that's another story). So, the other size options on the HM450 (1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480) are the only options that take images that aren't interpolated (meaning each captured pixel has a corresponding pixel on the sensor).

Other still image features on the camcorder include a self-timer, a continuous shooting mode, and a smile shot function that snaps a photo when a smiling subject is detected in the frame. Some of these are fun features, and the continuous shooting mode is something you don't often see on an entry-level camcorder, but none of these still features really blew us away. Spend a little money on a cheap, basic digital camera and you'll get much better still images than what the GZ-HM450 is capable of capturing.

Other Features

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Time-Lapse Recording

Time-lapse recording features can be useful for recording the bloom of a flower, the movement of clouds, or the setting of a sun. JVC includes this function on many of its Everio camcorders, so if you've used this feature before on other JVC models you'll know how it works already. The camcorder will capture one frame of video at every selected interval when the time-lapse record function is enabled. Interval options include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 seconds.

Animation Effects

Yes, you can add little hearts or flowers or musical notes to your recorded video using the HM450's Animation Effects feature. The choices are cheesy, and the whole feature seems like a joke, but if adding animations or frames to the edge of your videos sounds something you'll enjoy, then, by all means, play around with this feature to your heart's content.

Auto Record

Ever wanted to leave your camcorder running during the day to record stuff while you're not around? Well, the Auto Record feature on the GZ-HM450 may help you only capture the moments that matter. When engaged, Auto Record will start recording when a new subject enters the frame (or if the light levels change). This way, you can capture people who may be snooping around your apartment while your away, or see what your dog does while you're at work all day. It can also be good for birdwatching or other wildlife videography (just set up the camcorder to point at your bird feeder).

Canon Vixia HF R21 Comparison

Like most entry-level camcorders, the Sony HDR-CX160 is quite a bit more expensive than the JVC GZ-HM450. It's also a better camcorder with more features and an edge in video performance. Simply put, the HM450 is one of the cheapest entry-level camcorder's you'll find (other than those small pocket cams that can cost around $150 or less). So, when you compare the Sony CX160 with the JVC HM450 keep that in mind.

While we do think the Sony HDR-CX160 is the better camcorder in this match-up, we're not convinced it is worth the extra $200 over the JVC GZ-HM450. Yes, the CX160 did better in our tests—particularly in terms of sharpness and motion—but the JVC had the slight edge in low light performance. If you like a sharp image, however, the JVC GZ-HM450 will not be your friend, and the Sony CX160 is a better choice.

The Sony camcorder also includes a 1080/60p record mode, which is something that may attract more professional users or gadget freaks to the HDR-CX160. The problem is, if you're a seasoned videographer, you're probably not gonna go for a camcorder like the CX160 in the first place. This makes the 60p mode less of an exciting feature on a camcorder like the CX160—it's more apt on a higher-end model (and, yes, Sony does have a 60p mode on its high-end Handycams as well).

Using the HDR-CX160 is less frustrating and easier than the GZ-HM450, which is what you'd expect after shelling out an extra $200 dollars. The thing is, the Canon HF R21 is roughly the same price as the CX160 and it offers an even better handling experience (and better performance). Our recommendation: if you have the extra cash, don't spend it on the Sony. There are better camcorders in that price range (like the Canon HF R21 and Panasonic TM90).

JVC GZ-HM340 Comparison

The Canon HF R21 is an easier camcorder to use than the HM450, has a better user interface, and did better in most of our performance tests. Essentially, it's a better all-around camcorder in nearly all facets. The only big advantage the HM450 has is its huge amount of optical zoom (40x vs. 20x on the HF R21). We also like JVC's ability to record standard definition video in addition to HD, which is something the Canon can't do (the HF R21 can downconvert HD clips to SD, however, but that requires an extra process).

Other than the zoom and SD record mode, the HF R21 is the camcorder with better features. It has alternate frame rate options (PF24 and PF30), audio controls (external mic jack and audio level adjustments), a larger LCD (3-inch instead of 2.7-inch on the JVC), and 32GB of internal flash memory (compared to 8GB on the JVC). The HF R21 also has two memory card slots.

If you're willing to put up the extra money, the Canon HF R21 is the better camcorder than the JVC GZ-HM450. By extra money, however, we're talking a good $200 dollars or so (the Canon retails for around $499, while the GZ-HM450 sells for $299). It may sound like a lot, but, when you consider the fact that the R21 has four times the amount of internal memory than the HM450, the two camcorders aren't too far off in terms of value. If the HF R21's price tag is too much for you, Canon does offer some cheaper options with less internal memory (but most of the same features otherwise): the HF R20 has 8GB of internal memory and retails at $399, while the HF R200 has no internal memory and a $379 price tag.

COMP 3

Since the GZ-HM340 is effectively the HM450's predecessor, let's do a quick recap of what JVC actually went ahead and changed on its new camcorder. The GZ-HM450 has the same size LCD as the HM340, but the screen is higher-resolution (230,000-pixels), and it uses a touchscreen interface. Yup, this means JVC got rid of its Laser Touch Strip, which was a staple on its Everio camcorders for a couple of years. Whether or not you consider the touchscreen better than the Laser Touch is a matter of personal preference, but, if you read through our review of the HM450, you'll know we found the touchscreen to be very frustrating at times (and extremely sluggish in its response time).

The biggest change for the GZ-HM450 may be the camcorder's new 40x optical zoom lens, which is twice the zoom offered on the GZ-HM340. If you're a zoom fanatic, the GZ-HM450 is certainly a camcorder worth checking out. The GZ-HM450 is also a bit lighter than its predecessor, but not by all that much. The addition of standard definition recording options is a pleasant surprise on the GZ-HM450, and it's a feature we always like to see on consumer HD camcorders.

In terms of performance, the two camcorders performed very similarly in our tests. The HM340 actually did better in some tests—like color accuracy and noise—while the GZ-HM450 held a slight edge in motion. Overall, we can't say JVC improved anything in the performance department, which is rather disappointing.

Unless you love touchscreens or have the need for the extra zoom lens, the GZ-HM450 doesn't have much to offer that makes it better than its predecessor. We do love the inclusion of standard definition record options, so that is something that makes the HM450 better (but this is a feature we aren't convinced everyone will use or even discover). What we're basically saying is this: if the new features we outlined don't intrigue you, then there's no point in getting the HM450 over the HM340, particularly if you can find an older HM340 at a steep discount.

Conclusion

Even with camcorder prices dropping over the past few years, it can still be a challenge to find a good, durable HD camcorder for under $300. The JVC Everio GZ-HM450 comes close to fitting this bill—but we had some serious reservations about the camcorder's frustrating user interface and disappointing image quality in low light. Still, with a $299 price tag, the GZ-HM450 is one of the cheapest camcorders you'll find on the market (other than an ultracompact pocket cam), and its 40x optical zoom lens is the longest we've seen on an HD camcorder.

The GZ-HM450 is noticeably cheaper than the competition from Sony and Canon, but it is clear JVC had to make some sacrifices in design and quality to keep the cost of the camcorder down. For starters, the HM40 has an extremely slow processor. This resulted in sluggish performance at all times, particularly when we used the LCD touchscreen to adjust controls and navigate the menu system. If you're accustomed to lightning-fast computers or smartphones, the slow response time of the HM450 is likely to drive you crazy. But, if you're comfortable with working with slow-paced technology, or you're just a patient person in general, the interface on the GZ-HM450 may not bother you at all.

Outdoors, under bright light, the JVC HM450 was capable of capturing vivid and clear images. The camcorder's videos didn't come out quite as sharp as the competition, particularly compared to the Canon HF R21, but the HM450 produced some decent footage that the average person would surely find acceptable. In low light, the camcorder struggled to produce a clear image, instead capturing video that looked blurry and faded compared to the competition.

The GZ-HM450 is not an ultracompact camcorder that you can slip into your pocket, but it is a very light and portable device. It weighs a few ounces less than the Canon HF R21, and we're shocked to find a huge 40x zoom lens in a body that's just under five inches long. Just because the camcorder is small, however, doesn't mean it feels all that comfortable in your hand. The hand and wrist strap on the HM450 is flimsy, and the shape of the camcorder, while somewhat ergonomic, does not offer the best grip.

Along with its 40x optical zoom, the Everio GZ-HM450 has a few interesting features for an entry-level camcorder. There's a time-lapse record mode, which is great for capturing a sunset or sunrise over the course of an hour, and there's an auto record function that enables the camcorder to automatically start recording whenever someone (or something) enters the frame. Extensive manual controls, like shutter speed, aperture, or additional frame rate options, are features you won't find on the GZ-HM450, but the camcorder does have the ability to record both high definition and standard definition video. There's also 8GB of internal memory inside the camcorder, as well as a single memory card slot that works with all types of SD memory cards.

With the JVC GZ-HM450 you won't get the best entry-level HD camcorder on the market. Instead, you're getting an acceptable camcorder at an affordable price. The Canon HF R21 and the Sony HDR-CX160 are certainly flashier models with more features and better performance, but, of course, with higher price tags as well.

Photo Gallery

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