Refine search for Camcorders

  2 comments      Email TrustedReviews Newsletters

As the HD10 records exclusively in the AVCHD format, editing footage is far less problematic than with JVC's previous MPEG-2-only models, such as the Everio GZ-HD6. A USB 2.0 port lurks beneath the lens for connecting to a PC or Mac. We had no problems editing the HD10's footage with Pinnacle Studio Plus 12 and CyberLink PowerDirector 7, but Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus crashed when we tried importing the files, and Adobe apps of course don't support AVCHD at all. JVC supplies the Cyberlink BD Solution bundle, which includes PowerDirector and the ability to burn your AVCHD footage to Blu-ray, if you happen to have the appropriate writer installed in your computer.

If you want to watch your recordings directly on a TV, the HD10 offers a comprehensive set of options. For HDTVs, there's a full-sized HDMI port for direct digital connection. It's HDMI 1.3 compliant, too, so supports the transmission of x.v.Color. There is also a proprietary socket for component analogue. Alternatively, the AV minijack offers composite analogue video and stereo RCA audio connectivity, but no S-Video.

Verdict

Although the use of a CMOS sensor in the Everio GZ-HD10 brings JVC in line with Sony and Canon, its small size makes this a rather middle-of-the-road model. Thanks to the small CMOS, low light performance isn't so competitive, yet its price puts it in direct competition with Canon's excellent HF10 and HF100 models. The HF10 costs a little more, and only has 16GB of flash memory compared to the HD10's 40GB hard disk. But its image quality is significantly better, and it wins out on enthusiast features too. So although the HD10 has plenty to commend it, we'd still prefer spending a tad more on the Canon HF10, or about the same on the HF100 and a couple of 16GB SDHC cards.

Add your comment